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Simba
9-4-02 to 3-17-05
On
March 17, 2005 (St. Patrick's Day)at approximately 2:45 MST Simba was
helped over the Rainbow Bridge by Dr. Phyllis Dressen at the Colorado
State University. Also, in attendance was Dr. Terry Spraker who
immediately performed the necropsy.
Simba was a special guy before he took sick last fall. He was the runt of the litter and, as a baby, had infant rickets which left his front legs crooked. At his knees, his lower legs turned to the outside. He always remained on the small side averaging around 275 grams.
His legs didn't keep him from being active. He would still wheel every night but he knew his limitations and would stop quicker that our other runners. He did not enjoy being held and would make sure you were pooped on and/or bitten if he could get close to a finger. Thus, we left him have his space but not without lots of love and treats, especially mealworms.
Last fall Simba stopped wheeling. Soon thereafter he could not stand without toppling over. We did a round of Prednisone which had no effect. Around Christmas,
he would no longer scotch to his water and food and I began syringe feeding. He was also moved to a basket which stayed at my side of the bed with a heating disk and a heater to keep the disk warm.
All was status quo until the night before about 7 MST. He no longer wanted food and could barely keep his eyes open. He was unresponsive to touch - we didn't expect him to last the night. But he did and was better than the night before. However, he could only take 1 1/2 syringes of baby food that morning which again left him weak and unresponsive. The same thing happened at his noon feeding. By just eating that little amount of food, it wore him out.
I consulted with Dr's. Dressen and Spraker that morning and the time was set. Dr. Dressen, preparing to leave on vacation the next day, agreed to meet us at her office at 2:30. She immediately took him to CSU where the necropsy was done within minutes after our Simba had crossed. The quickness of the necropsy after death should be very helpful in the WHS research as the samples were collected so quickly.
We will miss you sweetie and I especially will miss your beautiful legs. I know you are running races and frolicking at the Rainbow Bridge with your new legs. I know you chose to leave on this St. Patrick's Day because it made you even more special than you already were. Godspeed our little leprechaun. We love
you and will see you someday.
Love, Mom and Dad
Simba was a special guy before he took sick last fall. He was the runt of the litter and, as a baby, had infant rickets which left his front legs crooked. At his knees, his lower legs turned to the outside. He always remained on the small side averaging around 275 grams.
His legs didn't keep him from being active. He would still wheel every night but he knew his limitations and would stop quicker that our other runners. He did not enjoy being held and would make sure you were pooped on and/or bitten if he could get close to a finger. Thus, we left him have his space but not without lots of love and treats, especially mealworms.
Last fall Simba stopped wheeling. Soon thereafter he could not stand without toppling over. We did a round of Prednisone which had no effect. Around Christmas,
he would no longer scotch to his water and food and I began syringe feeding. He was also moved to a basket which stayed at my side of the bed with a heating disk and a heater to keep the disk warm.
All was status quo until the night before about 7 MST. He no longer wanted food and could barely keep his eyes open. He was unresponsive to touch - we didn't expect him to last the night. But he did and was better than the night before. However, he could only take 1 1/2 syringes of baby food that morning which again left him weak and unresponsive. The same thing happened at his noon feeding. By just eating that little amount of food, it wore him out.
I consulted with Dr's. Dressen and Spraker that morning and the time was set. Dr. Dressen, preparing to leave on vacation the next day, agreed to meet us at her office at 2:30. She immediately took him to CSU where the necropsy was done within minutes after our Simba had crossed. The quickness of the necropsy after death should be very helpful in the WHS research as the samples were collected so quickly.
We will miss you sweetie and I especially will miss your beautiful legs. I know you are running races and frolicking at the Rainbow Bridge with your new legs. I know you chose to leave on this St. Patrick's Day because it made you even more special than you already were. Godspeed our little leprechaun. We love
you and will see you someday.
Love, Mom and Dad
