Pseudonymous Kid is sad
posted by bitchphd
Today while we were cleaning out the mice's cage, we found poor Squeaky--PK's favorite mouse, because she was "stubbier" and "cuter"--dead.
Not sure what caused it; Mr. B. says he saw her last night when he fed the mice and she seemed fine, and she had seemed fine when I last saw her two or three days ago. Her rear fur seemed damp and messed, as if she'd had sudden and terrible diarrhea, which sometimes happens to mice, but we hadn't given them any special treats in several days.
Not that it matters that much what she died of. Pseudonymous Kid is very sad. (Although, interestingly, he "wants to forget about it" and is trying to distract himself and asks me not to mention it and "remind him." When I was a child and my pets died, I was inconsolable for days and refused any attempts to distract me as somehow failing in respect and propriety. I'm a little worried about his reaction, but am trying to be okay with it.)
Even worse, while checking Micky thoroughly to see if she had any symptoms of any communicable mouse disease (we also cleaned the cage thoroughly, with bleach, and rinsed it thoroughly afterwards), I found a tumor under her right foreleg. So we'll have to take her to the vet on Monday, but I think we need to prepare for her death as well. Poor Micky: she's in a strange cage waiting for her old cage to return to her without any of the familiar smells, her companion is gone, and we're going to have to take her to the vet. I'm sure all the stress is not going to help her.
Squeaky is currently in a box in the refrigerator, awaiting home cremation because PK "wants to keep her ashes with us even when we move." Here's hoping that Micky's tumor turns out to be benign.
One last thing: PK did say that "for some reason" he wanted "people to know about Squeaky dying, not just our family." Interesting instinct for public recognition. He is going to tell his schoolmates on Monday. I told him that many of you email or comment to ask how the mice are doing, and that you would like to know as well, so he said I should tell you all too.
RIP Squeaky. I will pass along condolence messages to PK when he is ready to hear them.
Not sure what caused it; Mr. B. says he saw her last night when he fed the mice and she seemed fine, and she had seemed fine when I last saw her two or three days ago. Her rear fur seemed damp and messed, as if she'd had sudden and terrible diarrhea, which sometimes happens to mice, but we hadn't given them any special treats in several days.
Not that it matters that much what she died of. Pseudonymous Kid is very sad. (Although, interestingly, he "wants to forget about it" and is trying to distract himself and asks me not to mention it and "remind him." When I was a child and my pets died, I was inconsolable for days and refused any attempts to distract me as somehow failing in respect and propriety. I'm a little worried about his reaction, but am trying to be okay with it.)
Even worse, while checking Micky thoroughly to see if she had any symptoms of any communicable mouse disease (we also cleaned the cage thoroughly, with bleach, and rinsed it thoroughly afterwards), I found a tumor under her right foreleg. So we'll have to take her to the vet on Monday, but I think we need to prepare for her death as well. Poor Micky: she's in a strange cage waiting for her old cage to return to her without any of the familiar smells, her companion is gone, and we're going to have to take her to the vet. I'm sure all the stress is not going to help her.
Squeaky is currently in a box in the refrigerator, awaiting home cremation because PK "wants to keep her ashes with us even when we move." Here's hoping that Micky's tumor turns out to be benign.
One last thing: PK did say that "for some reason" he wanted "people to know about Squeaky dying, not just our family." Interesting instinct for public recognition. He is going to tell his schoolmates on Monday. I told him that many of you email or comment to ask how the mice are doing, and that you would like to know as well, so he said I should tell you all too.
RIP Squeaky. I will pass along condolence messages to PK when he is ready to hear them.
Labels: Pseudonymous Kid
Posted at 9:25 PM
|
