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LouiseA

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Since: Sep 22, 2003
Posts: 1



(Msg. 1) Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2003 2:57 pm
Post subject: Old rats
Archived from groups: alt>pets>rodents>rats (more info?)
How do you know when it's the right time to have a pet rat put to sleep?

Hebe is nearly 3 and has led a pretty healthy life other than sometimes
needing treatment for mites. She's very thin, frail and weak but still
loves tasty titbits and is still keen to come out of the cage and potter
about. The main problem is that she keeps falling off things as she's so
weak and breathing looks like it's quite an effort. Her eyes are bright, her
ears are forward and she rests a lot, and I assume that if she was in any
pain there'd be some signs, like lethargy. I think she still has some
quality of life, but it's so hard to tell.

Can anyone comment on old age in rats?
Thanks,
Louise.

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Susan Aplin

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Since: Jun 27, 2003
Posts: 118



(Msg. 2) Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2003 2:57 pm
Post subject: Re: Old rats [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Hi Louise,
It sounds to me like Hebe is an old lady that needs special care and
consideration.If you are sure that she isn't in any pain (and you would be
the best judge after looking after her for three years)all you need to do is
to make sure that everything she needs is on one level of the cage so that
she doesn't have to waste her energy.The fact that she is still interested
in her treats is a good sign and you should continue to give her all her
favourite foods.If you are really worried about her take her to your vet and
get her checked out,but really all she needs now is lots and lots of love
and cuddles-which i'm sure she gets anyway.We wish you and Hebe all the very
best - nearly three is quite an age for a rat!
Sue x
"LouiseA" <louise.DeleteThis@pivotalgames.com> wrote in message
news:3f6eff92$0$256$ed9e5944@reading.news.pipex.net...
> How do you know when it's the right time to have a pet rat put to sleep?
>
> Hebe is nearly 3 and has led a pretty healthy life other than sometimes
> needing treatment for mites. She's very thin, frail and weak but still
> loves tasty titbits and is still keen to come out of the cage and potter
> about. The main problem is that she keeps falling off things as she's so
> weak and breathing looks like it's quite an effort. Her eyes are bright,
her
> ears are forward and she rests a lot, and I assume that if she was in any
> pain there'd be some signs, like lethargy. I think she still has some
> quality of life, but it's so hard to tell.
>
> Can anyone comment on old age in rats?
> Thanks,
> Louise.
>
>

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BasserX

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Since: Jul 04, 2003
Posts: 33



(Msg. 3) Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2003 5:56 pm
Post subject: Re: Old rats [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
While I haven't experienced life with an older rat yet, I did have a
rat who was sick for quite some time and eventually had to be put to
sleep. Her symptoms were similar to old age, she was weak, frail,
losing weight, tended to fall off things, and didn't get around as
well as before. I mention this because of what Paghat mentioned about
older rats seeming to enjoy the attention of their people more. When
she was in her prime, Jackie viewed me as a tolerable nuisance and a
chew-toy. When she was sick and had to spend mealtimes in my arms
being hand-fed, petted, and generally doted on, she seemed content
being held and petted. She bruxed more in the last 4 weeks of her life
than she did in the whole year before that and would spend
after-dinner naps in my arms, quite content to be there as far as I
could tell.
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Kate

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Since: Jun 28, 2003
Posts: 171



(Msg. 4) Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 8:57 am
Post subject: Re: Old rats [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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The only advice I can give... Is to always keep in the back of your mind
that you have to do the best for your Rat. Old age comes to them all and I
personally would help let my Rat go if I thought he was anything less than
the Rat I had come to know and love. I see no purpose in letting a rat get
older and slower and weaker... I like to think they have dignity as well.
These are my views alone and are probably not in agreement with all here.
I think deep down with a little soul searching you will know when the time
is right. We all would love a bright neon sign in the sky telling us when
the time is right... Sadly the responsibility rests with us.

Best wishes,
Kate.
"LouiseA" <louise DeleteThis @pivotalgames.com> wrote in message
news:3f6eff92$0$256$ed9e5944@reading.news.pipex.net...
> How do you know when it's the right time to have a pet rat put to sleep?
>
> Hebe is nearly 3 and has led a pretty healthy life other than sometimes
> needing treatment for mites. She's very thin, frail and weak but still
> loves tasty titbits and is still keen to come out of the cage and potter
> about. The main problem is that she keeps falling off things as she's so
> weak and breathing looks like it's quite an effort. Her eyes are bright,
her
> ears are forward and she rests a lot, and I assume that if she was in any
> pain there'd be some signs, like lethargy. I think she still has some
> quality of life, but it's so hard to tell.
>
> Can anyone comment on old age in rats?
> Thanks,
> Louise.
>
>
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Kate

External


Since: Jun 28, 2003
Posts: 171



(Msg. 5) Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 6:54 pm
Post subject: Re: Old rats [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
That sounds wonderful.... I experienced the same thing with my last
"pensioner" I had... It was the only time he sat still for loves and
cuddles...
"BasserX" <kanebo5 RemoveThis @dog.com> wrote in message
news:ac17776a.0309221656.56c2b8d6@posting.google.com...
> While I haven't experienced life with an older rat yet, I did have a
> rat who was sick for quite some time and eventually had to be put to
> sleep. Her symptoms were similar to old age, she was weak, frail,
> losing weight, tended to fall off things, and didn't get around as
> well as before. I mention this because of what Paghat mentioned about
> older rats seeming to enjoy the attention of their people more. When
> she was in her prime, Jackie viewed me as a tolerable nuisance and a
> chew-toy. When she was sick and had to spend mealtimes in my arms
> being hand-fed, petted, and generally doted on, she seemed content
> being held and petted. She bruxed more in the last 4 weeks of her life
> than she did in the whole year before that and would spend
> after-dinner naps in my arms, quite content to be there as far as I
> could tell.
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