Background info: I came into possession of the pet from someone who could no longer take care of it around 2 months ago. I have been going to university online for around the same amount of time. This means I am home alone with the pet a lot of the time. I am also the sole caregiver, so I notice when it isn’t itself. Boyfriend is home on some days due COVID but does not take care of the animal(s).I know how to care for the animal and had researched it before accepting it.This being said, My boyfriend and I went on a mini vacation around the middle of the month. We were gone for five days. I have a routine with my pet(s) in order to give them the proper care they need. I have one mammal, amphibian, and reptile. The mammal and amphibian are relatively low maintenance and do not need as much attention. The reptile however needs specific humidity and temperature. As well as constant access to dripping water. ANYWAY, before we left I fed, watered, and cleaned their enclosures and such to prepare for when we were away. When we had came back the dripper was empty and I had forgotten to fill it up that day. The next day came and I filled it up mid-day and changed the drip setting. This would allow it to drip all night (12~ hr cycle). In the morning it was empty and I forgot to fill it up again. So it went another day without water. We have been back for a a little over a week and that has happened another time since and I had been forgetting to mist it.So, I noticed a few days ago that it was not eating and hadn’t been to the bathroom in a few days. By this time I was watering him regularly but forgetting to mist and also had been staying up late studying so his sleep schedule may have been a little interrupted. He was also sleeping in the day which I thought was weird but figured it was my light effecting him. I let this go on for a few days because I feed him every other day and this morning he looked really bad and I could tell something was wrong. After deep-cleaning his cage thinking that must’ve been it I researched what it may be. Then it dawned on me he is probably dehydrated. So I tried to encourage drinking for maybe 10-15 mins naturally and then put him back for an hour while I studied. Then I decided to try a more intensive method and put him in the shower with the head pointed away but droplets for him to drink. He didn’t drink any so I put him back to rest. Another hour went by and I decided I would try to force hydration with a dropper. So I got his little mouth open and got him to drink and have been doing that every 45-60mins. During this time my boyfriend started criticizing me because I was trying to save this animal I had clearly neglected. He said there was nothing wrong with it etc, and I was just anxiety ridden and had spent “all day” trying to fix something that wasn’t broken. I tried to explain to him that the animal was lethargic and hasn’t drunken, eaten, or made any bowel movements and his behavior has changed. My boyfriend has no knowledge on how to take care of the animal. I have only asked him to make sure it had water and had been misted when I had been away for two days. So his reasoning is, he doesn’t think the animal is any different AND because I started decorating yesterday for another holiday a little later in the evening — I must be freaking out. While I was stressed and kind of short with him yesterday it did not spill into today (and I apologized yesterday), also, I know my pet.Now, he is trying to convince me to just leave the animal to prove that it is “fine.” I know now the animal is dehydrated and I am taking care of him in an attempt to preserve his life. It’s so frustrating because this animal is clearly suffering and I can’t just leave him to die because he’s trying to prove some point that he’s wrong about. I know I neglected the animal and didn’t realize it sooner. I feel terrible. I have a timer to hydrate him and will probably sleep on the couch in order to keep up the fluids throughout the night. My boyfriend is so upset that I am trying to help the animal, instead of studying or because he thinks I’m having a mental breakdown.TDLR, Went on 5 day vacation, prepped animals, forgot to keep up routine with specific animal first few days after being home, animal started showing symptoms after starting routine again, thought it was due to other factors, saw lethargic animal today cleaned cage and tried various methods to get it to rehydrate, boyfriend upset because he thinks I’m having an anxiety attack and trying to do some Munchausen syndrome by proxy thing, boyfriend suggests I neglect the animal further to prove it is fine even though clearly ill, my point is to take as best care of it I can until/if it clearly does not have a chance.Also, I don’t have anxiety and don’t show signs of anxiety. I think he’s just projecting but it’s frustrating! via /r/relationship_advice https://ift.tt/34GSG4M
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