(no subject)
Its been a while since my last update and I have some sad news on a few ratties.
If you think you want rats, bear all of the below in mind. They're not healthy animals.
Since my last update, I've lost Ramsay, Fry, and strudel :(
Ramsay died unexpectedly, seemingly in his sleep. I came out to find him dead one morning. He was an elderly boy, but not ill in any way and not so old that I was expecting to lose him anytime soon. Im happy he died in his sleep without ever having known illness, thats what you hope for all rats. I just wish it hadn't been so soon :(
Fry and Strudel both had bad respiratory infections, Strudel had had his since I got him, and both began to worsen despite treatment so euthanasia was the only kind option. They were both old boys, well over 2.
Also since my last update, Gordon has been in for his neuter, and came through well, so is now living happily with the other boys once more, and not throwing his weight about anymore. Lenny, who if you look at the last entry's photos had a lump growing on his back, has since had it removed. It began to put on a growth spurt, and looked sore, and it was bleeding whenever he knocked it so I opted for surgery. The lump was probably grape sized, but the incision was almost the whole length of his back! I was quite surprised when I saw them bring him out of the operating theatre! The histopathology revealed mainly good news because it shouldn't have spread, and if all the tissue was removed, which the histo said it was, it will not come back. At least, that was the gist I got. Vet seemed fairly positive about it.
My two hairless, ace and giblet, both have reoccuring eye infections which are regularly treated with drops, but giblets particularly doesn't seem to improve much and comes and goes. Im not ure if eventually he may need the eye removed completely as its the same one each time while the other is fine. Both he and Lenny have mystery tail wounds right now too, which Im still not sure how they got.
Lenny got his first, the end of his tail was mangled looking, and I assumed he'd been bitten, since rats can leave tails looking like pieces of beef jerky if they wanna be nasty, I've seen it. But I've not seen any bullying, and then when Giblet got the exact same, I had to decide they may well be catching the ends of their tails in something. Im still not 100% sure yet, but it could have been them catching their tails in the entrance hole at the back of the big chinchilla ball they sleep in, then the ball rolling a bit and crushing them. Thats the only thing I can possibly think, so I've fixed that now just in case.
Still a bit worried about them though, since they're nasty wounds, and I don't want any infection to travel up the tail. Will be bathing them in salt water tomorrow, just in case, though they seem to be healing relatively well.
As well as this, Springer has kidney failure. This is very common in old rats, particularly males. After respiratory and cancer, I'd say its the most common cause of rat death. Most people don't realise their rat has it, since the signs can be very similar to simple aging: weakness, lethargy, weak hind legs, sleeping more. But there are things like drinking more and pale teeth that are more specific.
He is having some dietry supplements, like ipakitine, vitamin b, linseed oil, and a 6th of a rennie tablet everyday (rennie's bind phosphorus, which helps the kidneys) None of it is a cure, but it may prolong his life a bit. Ultimately, Im not giving him much longer as he is now quite weak, though he eats well and seems to like his cuddles now more than ever.
Kitt, one of the old lads I got from a friend of my brother's, appears to have an internal mass. He has been losing a bit of weight and condition, so I had a feel about and there it was. He's doing ok for now, but I should think it will be a month, if that, for him :(
And finally in health problems, Matilda appears as if she had a stroke a few days back. She is only an 8 month old rat, so really not expected, but she went from being a perky, active, cheeky thing to a rat that was circling, unable to sit up, and very disorientated. The vet said it most likely was a stroke, though could possibly be meningitis or an inner ear infection too. He gave her a steroid shot and she is on synulox, and already she is almost 100% better. I honestly thought she would die, as I rarely see rats come back from these kind of things, but she's done amazingly well. Im not saying she might not have another stroke, but for now, she is doing well. So thats something positive I guess.
Anyway, onto some pics! All taken in cage tonight as no-one was particularly interested in coming out.
First, my new arrival.
Last night, I picked this boy up from someone in Norwich who was moving house and couldn't take him.
This is Luciano (oh ziggy, when will you stop with the blatant Marco Pierre White inspired names?!http://www.lucianorestaurant.co.uk/ )
He was given to me with the warning 'he's not a rat to pick up' and 'you'd never be able to rehome him' and general allusions to him being nasty. So far, he seems very nervous, very unused to being handled, and clearly very worried around people who try to touch him, but no biting so far. Im being cautious with him, but I am hopeful that a week or so of gentle handling will bring him round. At least he doesn't seem hormonal-aggressive, just fear-aggressive. I find the latter much easier to work with.
Luci without flash, so you get a better idea of how he really looks:
Luci with flash:
Now some warlock spam, because he likes camera and me:
Lollipop. She was very in season tonight, so wouldn't keep still for a second:
I spy a Reggie:
And a Bertie!
Why do girls do this >:/
Kitt, eating weetabix off Kyuss.
If you think you want rats, bear all of the below in mind. They're not healthy animals.
Since my last update, I've lost Ramsay, Fry, and strudel :(
Ramsay died unexpectedly, seemingly in his sleep. I came out to find him dead one morning. He was an elderly boy, but not ill in any way and not so old that I was expecting to lose him anytime soon. Im happy he died in his sleep without ever having known illness, thats what you hope for all rats. I just wish it hadn't been so soon :(
Fry and Strudel both had bad respiratory infections, Strudel had had his since I got him, and both began to worsen despite treatment so euthanasia was the only kind option. They were both old boys, well over 2.
Also since my last update, Gordon has been in for his neuter, and came through well, so is now living happily with the other boys once more, and not throwing his weight about anymore. Lenny, who if you look at the last entry's photos had a lump growing on his back, has since had it removed. It began to put on a growth spurt, and looked sore, and it was bleeding whenever he knocked it so I opted for surgery. The lump was probably grape sized, but the incision was almost the whole length of his back! I was quite surprised when I saw them bring him out of the operating theatre! The histopathology revealed mainly good news because it shouldn't have spread, and if all the tissue was removed, which the histo said it was, it will not come back. At least, that was the gist I got. Vet seemed fairly positive about it.
My two hairless, ace and giblet, both have reoccuring eye infections which are regularly treated with drops, but giblets particularly doesn't seem to improve much and comes and goes. Im not ure if eventually he may need the eye removed completely as its the same one each time while the other is fine. Both he and Lenny have mystery tail wounds right now too, which Im still not sure how they got.
Lenny got his first, the end of his tail was mangled looking, and I assumed he'd been bitten, since rats can leave tails looking like pieces of beef jerky if they wanna be nasty, I've seen it. But I've not seen any bullying, and then when Giblet got the exact same, I had to decide they may well be catching the ends of their tails in something. Im still not 100% sure yet, but it could have been them catching their tails in the entrance hole at the back of the big chinchilla ball they sleep in, then the ball rolling a bit and crushing them. Thats the only thing I can possibly think, so I've fixed that now just in case.
Still a bit worried about them though, since they're nasty wounds, and I don't want any infection to travel up the tail. Will be bathing them in salt water tomorrow, just in case, though they seem to be healing relatively well.
As well as this, Springer has kidney failure. This is very common in old rats, particularly males. After respiratory and cancer, I'd say its the most common cause of rat death. Most people don't realise their rat has it, since the signs can be very similar to simple aging: weakness, lethargy, weak hind legs, sleeping more. But there are things like drinking more and pale teeth that are more specific.
He is having some dietry supplements, like ipakitine, vitamin b, linseed oil, and a 6th of a rennie tablet everyday (rennie's bind phosphorus, which helps the kidneys) None of it is a cure, but it may prolong his life a bit. Ultimately, Im not giving him much longer as he is now quite weak, though he eats well and seems to like his cuddles now more than ever.
Kitt, one of the old lads I got from a friend of my brother's, appears to have an internal mass. He has been losing a bit of weight and condition, so I had a feel about and there it was. He's doing ok for now, but I should think it will be a month, if that, for him :(
And finally in health problems, Matilda appears as if she had a stroke a few days back. She is only an 8 month old rat, so really not expected, but she went from being a perky, active, cheeky thing to a rat that was circling, unable to sit up, and very disorientated. The vet said it most likely was a stroke, though could possibly be meningitis or an inner ear infection too. He gave her a steroid shot and she is on synulox, and already she is almost 100% better. I honestly thought she would die, as I rarely see rats come back from these kind of things, but she's done amazingly well. Im not saying she might not have another stroke, but for now, she is doing well. So thats something positive I guess.
Anyway, onto some pics! All taken in cage tonight as no-one was particularly interested in coming out.
First, my new arrival.
Last night, I picked this boy up from someone in Norwich who was moving house and couldn't take him.
This is Luciano (oh ziggy, when will you stop with the blatant Marco Pierre White inspired names?!http://www.lucianorestaurant.co.uk/ )
He was given to me with the warning 'he's not a rat to pick up' and 'you'd never be able to rehome him' and general allusions to him being nasty. So far, he seems very nervous, very unused to being handled, and clearly very worried around people who try to touch him, but no biting so far. Im being cautious with him, but I am hopeful that a week or so of gentle handling will bring him round. At least he doesn't seem hormonal-aggressive, just fear-aggressive. I find the latter much easier to work with.
Luci without flash, so you get a better idea of how he really looks:
Luci with flash:
Now some warlock spam, because he likes camera and me:
Lollipop. She was very in season tonight, so wouldn't keep still for a second:
I spy a Reggie:
And a Bertie!
Why do girls do this >:/
Kitt, eating weetabix off Kyuss.