Rats...and euthanasia

[RubyRose]

I'm just wondering about Del. She bee two years old in March of next year and her back legs have weakened, and she's lost a considerable amount of weight. She's eating and all, but has trouble cleaning her belly because of her deteriorated back legs, so I clean her up as often as I can, given my schedule. The thing is (and this was suggested to me by Morr) I'm wondering if it would be kinder to put her down, or try to do the best thing for her and let her live out her days. I don't want to put her down, and will be taking her to the vet within the week to get her checked out.
:wah:
Help. Advice needed urgently
Bendithion,
RubyRose

[Ahautenites]

You should consult a vet about your options. They will tell you honestly whether they think it's best to try to save her or to put her down gently. If she seems to be in pain, definitely put her to sleep.

[Shanti]

Hon, talk to Del. Thats a very hard choice and perhaps you and Del, together, can deside. ~Hugs~

[RubyRose]

Thanks guys, yep I'll be making an appointment as soon as I'm able. It was going to be Monday, but being my mother's birthday and all ... as the rest of this week is booked, I'll have to see if my boyfriend is able to get access to a car, and we can go early next week.
It's beginning to be a real pain in the arse not having a car, and the vet that I like, is a little too far away to walk too ...

That's the other thing, when I do bath her, I hear the occasional squeal. Rhyce is no help, all he says is 'see what the vet says' she's his as well, now we've lost the others, but he doesn't seem to care.

<sigh> This is too hard. Because I feel as though whatever decision I make, it will be the wrong one.

Bendithion,
Ruby

[OriginalWacky]

Thanks guys, yep I'll be making an appointment as soon as I'm able. It was going to be Monday, but being my mother's birthday and all ... as the rest of this week is booked, I'll have to see if my boyfriend is able to get access to a car, and we can go early next week.
It's beginning to be a real pain in the arse not having a car, and the vet that I like, is a little too far away to walk too ...

That's the other thing, when I do bath her, I hear the occasional squeal. Rhyce is no help, all he says is 'see what the vet says' she's his as well, now we've lost the others, but he doesn't seem to care.

<sigh> This is too hard. Because I feel as though whatever decision I make, it will be the wrong one.

Bendithion,
Ruby
It's never a wrong choice. It's very hard to euthanize, but like the others said, I would wait until I spoke with the vet before making the choice. I'll be happy to light a candle for you.

[RubyRose]

It's never a wrong choice. It's very hard to euthanize, but like the others said, I would wait until I spoke with the vet before making the choice. I'll be happy to light a candle for you.

Thanks, that's very sweet. I think I've made the decision but I will check to see what the vet advised before I completely make up my mind.
Thanks all.
Friday, I'm going to make the vet appointment.
Bendithion,
RubyRose

[Gebo]

Hugs and energy sent your way. May I offer a way to look at the situation? Late in life, animals and people lose the ability to perform/control certain functions and/or have to rely on someone else to do the basic things for them (bathing for example). Unfortunatley, often with the loss of the ability comes the loss of dignity. Talk to the vet. Talk to Del. Listen to your heart. My thoughts are with you.

[Xeen]

Aww... poor ratty... gentle hugglesquishes go to her from me...

I wouldn't put her down unless she was feeling very uncomfortable. How does her mood seem to be, generally?

My Kazi died suddenly 2 days after I noticed she had dropped alot of weight and she weakened quite a bit. She died sometime in the night, and I believe I had a visitation from her, but before she passed, I made her as happy as I could. Kept her wrapped up warm, kept offering her to click cream cheese off my fingers...

Anyway, that's my rule for putting down critters. I've never had to do it before, but my Scsi has a real bad tumor right now, but I'm not gonna put her down until she becomes miserable.

Good luck with the vet...

[RubyRose]

Del's disposition seems okay, one thing that worries me greatly, is while she is still trying to groom herself (belly and so forth - I'm sensing the pride/dignity issue here) she ends up trapping herself on her back and having a hell of a time uprighting herself. Normally, I just pick her up and put her down so she's steady and let her go about whatever it is ... but I wonder how she gets on when I sleep. She must do okay. I just feel bad or guilty, seeing her struggle. The other thing I noticed too last night, when I was cleaning her up, was she sounded like she was having a bit of trouble breathing. I'll ring the vets today, and see when I can get the soonest appointment. While, she is clinging to like, and seems (in that she's held on for a month) like she wants to live, I don't want to have to put her down. I had a big cry over it last night, and while I was holding her in my lap, she came and snuggled into the crook of my arm, I knew then she was letting me know that she knew I loved her, and she loved me. I think she also knows what it is I'm struggling with...
I don't want to put her down it I can prevent it. And I felt horrible last night, cause I kept thinking of all the things that I may have been able to do differently. Things I could have picked up on sooner, and so forth, and I envisioned going to the vets and getting a sterner lecture on how I'm not talking care of her. It broke my heart.
My boyfriend isn't much help, I talk to him about Del's condition, and all he's said all along was 'take her to the vet' ... I felt like screaming last night, because of the amount of times he's said it. I've only finally now, got some spare cash, and he moans to me about her needing a vet checkup, I mean he barely survives, rarely has enough money to live of each week... <sigh> I could go on ... but I won't.
RubyRose

[Shanti]

~hugs~
I know its so hard. My son had a rat named Loafer, when he was about 8 yrs old. The rat was a sweetie for sure. When Loafer turned 2 he started loosing weight. Then he walked funny. I took him to the vet and it was cancer....very common in pet rats due to their gentics from over breeding and in-breeding to make them domestic and get all the pretty varieties we see today. They all did come from the wild brown rat and it took a lot of breeding, carelessly done more often than not, to get todays domestic, pretty rat. Anthow, the vet could hear with the stephascope that Loafers lung were full of growths. We took Loafer home. He lived for a few more months but his moving became more and more difficult and then his breathing got louder and harder. I waited until Loafer struggled for each breath before I had the vet put him down. I didnt want to break my sons heart or mine. I hated doing it, but at the same time I wish I had done it sooner. Loafer suffered a lot. It was so hard to do. I know how you feel. I felt so many emotions, bad ones, all the while before and for awhile after.
I wish for you strength to get through whatever lies ahead. ~Hugs~ some more.

[Xeen]

I know how to feel about the "What could I have done better?" feelings. I have had them because of my Kazi since January. They won't go away easily.

[RubyRose]

Just thought I'd let you all know that Del passed away tonight. Its weird. I'm not crying as much as I thought I would. I'm strangely calm. I guess loosing 3 rats in just over a month, you kinda get used to death. Oh, I think I'm being somewhat cynical here. Forgive me, I get this way sometimes. The hardest part will come tomorrow morning, when I bury her, near where her sisters, Rowan and Seraph are buried. Right by a red rose bush. Rather fitting I thought, with my love of red roses.
I suppose I can be thankful she didn't suffer too long, and from the looks of it, she went peacefully, I just wish I could have spent her remaining hours with her, but instead I happened to be out, in the City.
Okay, I'm probably beating myself up, but maybe I desearve it.

[Shanti]

Hon, I left a post in the other thread...~hugs~

[RubyRose]

Hon, I left a post in the other thread...~hugs~

Thanks, I read that first.

[OriginalWacky]

Just thought I'd let you all know that Del passed away tonight. Its weird. I'm not crying as much as I thought I would. I'm strangely calm. I guess loosing 3 rats in just over a month, you kinda get used to death. Oh, I think I'm being somewhat cynical here. Forgive me, I get this way sometimes. The hardest part will come tomorrow morning, when I bury her, near where her sisters, Rowan and Seraph are buried. Right by a red rose bush. Rather fitting I thought, with my love of red roses.
I suppose I can be thankful she didn't suffer too long, and from the looks of it, she went peacefully, I just wish I could have spent her remaining hours with her, but instead I happened to be out, in the City.
Okay, I'm probably beating myself up, but maybe I desearve it.
You certainly don't deserve to be beaten up over providing a life of love and caring for a rattie. You may be right, you can become a bit hard and cynical when death is hitting you hard.

I'm so sorry you've had all these losses recently.

[RubyRose]

You certainly don't deserve to be beaten up over providing a life of love and caring for a rattie. You may be right, you can become a bit hard and cynical when death is hitting you hard.

I'm so sorry you've had all these losses recently.

Thanks, it means a lot.

Whenever I have the tv going in my room, I keep thinking I need to turn it down, because of Del, or I need to keep the lights low and then I remember that she's gone. It's hard getting use to that.

Bendithion,
Ruby

[Shanti]

~Hugs~

[Mumsy]

Don't beat yourself up, hon. You did the very best you could. Del knew she was loved and her snuggling with you the other night was probably her way of saying "I love you but we're going to have to say good-bye soon."

I've been there so many, many times with critters of every shape and size. And, no, it doesn't get any easier. Sometimes you get a bit numb to it, but it's never easy.

Put Del with her sisters/companions, maybe bury one of the rose blossoms with her, tell her how much you'll miss her, and allow yourself to feel the sadness. :heartbrea :hugz:

[Maurigan]

I'm so sorry that you lost Del, but I am sure you did everything you could for her, I am also sure that she knows that, so don't beat yourself up over it, hugs and blessings. :)

[OriginalWacky]

Thanks, it means a lot.

Whenever I have the tv going in my room, I keep thinking I need to turn it down, because of Del, or I need to keep the lights low and then I remember that she's gone. It's hard getting use to that.

Bendithion,
Ruby
I have to think that she is off scampering around with my precious Jynx. I lost her in 2001, and to this day I miss her sorely.

I'm so sorry.

[RubyRose]

I have to think that she is off scampering around with my precious Jynx. I lost her in 2001, and to this day I miss her sorely.

I'm so sorry.

Thanks.