My pet rat just passed away...

[Lille]

She had a mammary gland tumor for the past couple of weeks, well it was noticeable atleast. She is my second rat to pass away in like 6 months. The worst part is we're leaving town tomorrow for 5 days. I'm not feeling like leaving now. I'm ready to cry.

 

[jojackson]

"Ben, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I'll never be alone
And you, my friend, will see
You've got a friend in me
(you've got a friend in me)........................."

"Ben, most people would turn you away
I don't listen to a word they say
They don't see you as I do
I wish they would try to
I'm sure they'd think again
If they had a friend like Ben
(a friend) Like Ben
(like Ben) Like Ben ...."

Sorry for your loss, Cant really relate 'stuart little'-ish, with something I feed my pets, But I do understand Losing a pet.

 

[Howdyco]

our condolences.....the loss of any pet sucks.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My sister had a pet rat, Emily, who would get out of her cage in the morning and warm herself by sitting on my sister's feet. She was really cute. We raised mice for pets when I was growing up. The mice and rats sometimes seem prone to these tumors. We had a one-eyed mouse we called "Winky" (clever, huh?). When he passed away, I think it was from tumors, we made a little tombstone for him out of poured concrete and buried him in the garden.

Time heals all wounds. Perhaps the trip will help after all.

 

[Julirs]

I have had 2 pet rats over the years. I was actualy buying pet store "feeder" rats-those poor things are usually so inbred and messed up it is scary. They both lasted under a year, one died of pneumonia ($2 rat-$200 Vet bill) and the other died of tumors. They do make excellent pets-far better then hamsters or gerbils. Sorry about your loss.

 

[Lille]

I talked to a girl at Petsmart that I've grown to know a little and she own's countless everything and she told me the last time this happened that without nuetering female rats the get tumors real easy.

Thank you all for your sentiment, and thank you for the poem jojackson it makes me tear up a little but helps me realize that I was lucky to have a wonderful little furry person for as long as I did.

Julirs, tell me about the vet bills, my first 2 rats got terrible URI's we went to the vet and walked out with like a $400 something bill, and a prescription for antibiotics. Worth every penny! They had gotten so sick they were coughing blood and I couldn't stand the thought of that being the end of the wonderful thing I had with them.

And a couple of years ago I had a furless rat that I rescued from a friend of the family. They're kids hated her and would pick her up by the tail and hold her, carry her. I couldn't stand it. She kept getting out of her cage and finally lived under my couch. Every time I'd sit down, she'd scurry up the side of the couch and get in my lap or under my hair on my neck and just chill with me.

People really underestimate how good of pets they really make, and the whole that they leave when they pass on.

Thank you all again for such kind words, it really helps.

 

[WelshOneEmma]

i think Rats make excellent pets, and should i ever have kids I would encourage them to have rats over mice, gerbils or hamsters. We have had a few over the years, and currently have 3 girls. We have lost two of them in the last 6 months. One (Blondie) was 4 years before we had to have her put down. She also had a tumour the size of a tennis ball, myco and arthritis in her back legs. Was a fighter. Ceridwen died a month ago, we think from a respiratory infection. She had a mammary tumour when she was eight months old which we had removed. One of her sisters had one removed a month ago. it is a shame they are prone to them, and such a shame they have a short lifespan. I am so sorry for your loss, they are amazing creatures with their own little personalities and people need to see that. i will light a candle for you tonight.

 

[Lille]

It's truly times like these that make me appreciate being on a forum like this, your all so thoughtful. Because of the tumors and such I might try a different rodent like something for a while. It's just to hard to lose something so sweet and cute. I might go with something meaner and uglier. lol

 

[WelshOneEmma]

i wouldn't let the tumours put you off. they are suscetible to them, but they are often benign, and can live a long time with them. Our rat had her tumour for a year, and was put down because of the arthritis, and not the tumour which she coped with just fine.

 

[BigR]

I lost my pair of rats in january, about 3 weeks apart. Surprisingly, the sick one was the one that died last, the one that appeared completely healthy was the one that passed away first.

I feel for your loss though, you really get attached to them.

 

[philanddeb818]

Love to you Lille, I found this poem for you and hope this helps to ease your suffering. Just remember, you're not alone. We're all here.


I Am Not There


Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn's rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there, I did not die.