I've not posted about my rats here before, bar a brief debate about woodshavings, but I'm feeling so down about one of them I just wanted to write it down somewhere.

Barry, my little 2-yr-old black hooded boy, is going to be PTS on Monday.  Him and his bro Morris have been having respiratory problems since they were 8 months old, and despite four rounds of treatment, the time has come for me to throw in the towel on Barry's behalf.  He's been on antibiotic injections for the last 6 weeks, it looked like he was going to pull through, but this week he's gone badly downhill - gasping fits, he's lsot 50g this last week alone, it isn't good.Morris, thank dog, is better, and he still has their other bro Monty to keep him company.

So, Barry's got a weekend of yoghurt drops and Yakult, then off he goes.  I'll take his brothers as company I think.

Thats sad news. I like rats though I've never owned one. My friend lives on her own in a flat and her only friend is a little rat called Treacle. I often think its only Treacle that keeps her sane... Awww. Poor Barry.

Awh bless I used to breed show hooded rats when I was much younger & they are gorgeous highly intelligent little beasties & make great pets

Cuddles to your boy

awww sorry to hear about barry.

milomum, is your friends rat not able to live iwth other rats? really they should do.

Im dreading the day Moose goes, he is 2ish, not sure how old but definately showing the signs of old age. He's a rescue and is now in with my four y oung boys and gets on really well with them, they have really livened him up and now he climbs and can jump and free range where before he would just shuffle about his tiny one level cage, four inches to the food bowl, four inches to the water... booooooring.

Em

Hi theemx
I think she originally started with two and one died. She's got so much on her plate at the moment that she hasnt got round to getting Treacle a little friend. Mind you he gets loads of attention from her. I'm sure in time she may get another.

I lost one of my rats - Druid - to respitory problems. It was horrible to see him go downhill so quickly :( Sorry to hear about Barry :(

Sorry to hear about Barry :( I had to have one of my lovely rats PTS on Tuesday, he was 2 in September so quite a good age, there was nothing in particular wrong with him, just old age and he'd lost his spark :( So he went off and joined his 4 brothers, mam, and 2 aunties :)
I still have Izzy(male) and his sister Abbie who will be 2 in July and they are both very fit and healthy...and living seperatley before anyone asks!!

I have vowed they will be my last rats, they are such great little animals but I just cannot cope with them living for such a small amount of time, but I've had the pleasure of knowing over 15 rats of my own and I miss them all.

Emily
xxx

Poor Barry - we lost our last rat (we did have 3) recently, he died of old age and we found him peacefully 'asleep' on christmas day morning, was quite nice really as my youngest child (aged 8) said that father christmas had given Ratigan a christmas present too which was a chance to be back with his two brothers Toffee and Charcoal in ratty heaven :)  They were all hooded rats, and very lovelyand intelligent - although Ratigan was the only one who would play hide and seek with me :D

Bless him,I have never had a rat,as I have always had a cat,thinking of you.

Sheila.

Really sorry to hear about Barry.

I must have missed the woodshaving debate, but i do believe woodshavings cause or add to a lot of respiratory problems in caged animals, one of my guinea pigs succumbed to this and I was in touch with the Cambridge Cavy Trust, who think woodshavings are terrible and a big cause of such problems :(

It's difficult when most pet shops sell and promote them as bedding.

I started to use a special very absorbent vet bedding thing from my vet...forgotten the name, but it was fab and easy to clean out, and a relief not to have to use shavings.

I hate losing small animals, to the extent I don't keep any at the moment, it's just too sad when they eventually go. Take care,

Lindsay
x

So sorry to hear about Barry

He's had such a good life with you xx

Sorry to hear this, hope youre ok :-( x x x

All done now, he went in at 10.30 this morning. :( I promised myself I wouldn't cry, but to no avail... but at least he's not suffering any more.  The vet was very kind as always, wrapped him up for me and offered to let me pay next time I was in so I could go out the back way, although I didn't in the end - just wanted to get it out of the way.  Good thing too - one of the vet nurses started talking to me about my course and distracted me nicely :)

Aww I am sorry Nikita...its always difficult at the end even when you are expecting it :(
Just think what a great life he had with you and how you did the best for him right until the end. Have a good cry, let it all out :)
Edited to say....the lovely man from the Pet Crem has just this minute dropped off my babies, so all the brothers are back together in a bigger casket so much more room for them and its lovely :)

Nikita, I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I too have had rats before, starting with my beautiful blonde Delores, who happened to be pregnant when i got her, I fell in love with her and then soon after fell in love with her 13 babies too! I had 15 rats at once and most of the babies due to the high number did not make it and Delores went a few months after. I understand your greif though many don't. Rats are beautiful and gentle pets, so lovable and fun! They become your babies and the loss of them is as painful as the loss of a puppy. I hope that your other companions do well to help you greive for little Barry.I'm sure he and my little Delores will get along in the land of fresh woodshavings and warm mazes! ((((((hugs))))))

That reminds me of my first two rats - a himalayan rex and a himalayan smooth coat - they both had babies, I ended up with 17 at once, along with a few waifs and strays.  The high point was 28.  Those babies did all make it though, it was chaos!

Sorry to hear about Barry :(

Scurry free at the bridge :)