he was a pet rat though, not a feeder. 13 bucks. I figured he had at least 3 years in him :( I'm just really pissed because Jerry did some research and found out more than those idiots at the vet seemed to know. They never quite diagnosed what his problem was. After he died they were all "oh it sounds like congestive heart failure", but Jerry figured out it was this other very common sickness among rats that goes after their lungs and makes them weak and unable to breathe right.
Also, these vets prescribed him these meds for his heart and for infection. Jerry looked them up and saw that they were for cats and dogs. You'd think oh well maybe there just isn't any specifically for rats. Nope. Jerry found both a heart and infection medication made specifically for rats. Why didn't they prescribe him actual rat medicine? My guess is because they had no freaking clue.
With their PHDs or whatever degree in pet care they have they didn't know you're not supposed to put newspaper in a rat's cage, nor did they know you're not supposed to feed them peanut butter because it sticks to their throat and suffocates them. My little sister had to inform the vet of these things when she went to visit him and saw him in these conditions.
I can fully accept the fact that maybe he was going to get sick anyway, but it's definitely a possibility that something could have been done to give him more time and these vets just plain failed. It just angers me. Like if you don't know what you're doing don't string us along. They should have referred her to someone else or told her she may want to search elsewhere because they just weren't knowledgeable enough on the subject.
I could rant and rave about this forever, but yeah I know at the very least, the last year of his life was as good as any creature could hope to have, and he got to die peacefully in her arms feeling her love and warmth till the end.
Pet rats should cost around $25 bucks honestly. You'd be best off buying them from a breeder, pet stores lie.
Vets unfortunetly aren't always trained to deal with rats or rabbits or ferrets. It's best to find a vet that either specializes in them or really knows his stuff. They should have 10000% referred her elsewhere but vets are honestly greedy. They will tell people to feed their dogs Iams, even though they test on animals and are the WORST food to feed a dog, just because their college was sponsored by Iams. They're not always that smart.
He was definitely blessed to have your sister though, and I hope she is able to get another little guy soon.
yeah, seriously I don't know about those pet shops man...I never liked them
sadly I don't think her heart can take it. She said she doesn't want another one. However, since the first time we thought he was gonna die I decided that the next time I'd go home to visit I'd bring Domino and Iko and leave them there with her. She'd give them far more attention than I would, and she needs something to love and be in her room. I know how weird it is to be used to having something that makes noise in your room at night then suddenly not having that there, it just makes it hurt all the more, and she keeps talking about looking into that empty cage.
At the same time, I don't want her to think I'm trying to replace Nicodemus, and I don't want her to be sad every time she looks at them because they make her think about him. I'm hoping they'll just be a distraction of sorts and something else for her to channel all her love into.
...yeah if we ever decide to buy her another one again, we're going to a breeder, and if he gets sick, we're taking him to MY vet :p
anyway thanks ^_^ I wish you could have met him, he was such a sweet adorable thing. I have never known a rat quite like him.
I figured he had at least 3 years in him :( I'm just really pissed because Jerry did some research and found out more than those idiots at the vet seemed to know. They never quite diagnosed what his problem was. After he died they were all "oh it sounds like congestive heart failure", but Jerry figured out it was this other very common sickness among rats that goes after their lungs and makes them weak and unable to breathe right.
Also, these vets prescribed him these meds for his heart and for infection. Jerry looked them up and saw that they were for cats and dogs. You'd think oh well maybe there just isn't any specifically for rats. Nope. Jerry found both a heart and infection medication made specifically for rats. Why didn't they prescribe him actual rat medicine? My guess is because they had no freaking clue.
With their PHDs or whatever degree in pet care they have they didn't know you're not supposed to put newspaper in a rat's cage, nor did they know you're not supposed to feed them peanut butter because it sticks to their throat and suffocates them. My little sister had to inform the vet of these things when she went to visit him and saw him in these conditions.
I can fully accept the fact that maybe he was going to get sick anyway, but it's definitely a possibility that something could have been done to give him more time and these vets just plain failed. It just angers me. Like if you don't know what you're doing don't string us along. They should have referred her to someone else or told her she may want to search elsewhere because they just weren't knowledgeable enough on the subject.
I could rant and rave about this forever, but yeah I know at the very least, the last year of his life was as good as any creature could hope to have, and he got to die peacefully in her arms feeling her love and warmth till the end.
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Vets unfortunetly aren't always trained to deal with rats or rabbits or ferrets. It's best to find a vet that either specializes in them or really knows his stuff. They should have 10000% referred her elsewhere but vets are honestly greedy. They will tell people to feed their dogs Iams, even though they test on animals and are the WORST food to feed a dog, just because their college was sponsored by Iams. They're not always that smart.
He was definitely blessed to have your sister though, and I hope she is able to get another little guy soon.
Reply
sadly I don't think her heart can take it. She said she doesn't want another one. However, since the first time we thought he was gonna die I decided that the next time I'd go home to visit I'd bring Domino and Iko and leave them there with her. She'd give them far more attention than I would, and she needs something to love and be in her room. I know how weird it is to be used to having something that makes noise in your room at night then suddenly not having that there, it just makes it hurt all the more, and she keeps talking about looking into that empty cage.
At the same time, I don't want her to think I'm trying to replace Nicodemus, and I don't want her to be sad every time she looks at them because they make her think about him. I'm hoping they'll just be a distraction of sorts and something else for her to channel all her love into.
...yeah if we ever decide to buy her another one again, we're going to a breeder, and if he gets sick, we're taking him to MY vet :p
anyway thanks ^_^
I wish you could have met him, he was such a sweet adorable thing. I have never known a rat quite like him.
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