September555
Well-Known Member
Ugh. Everytime I come here it is bad news and I am in a delima. I just lost Lily a couple months ago. If anyone remembers I took her in to get a tumor removed and she died at the vets office.
Well during that time Bailey, my oldest (35 months old this month) had some respirtory problems. They gave her baytril and said it was most likely permanent with her weezy and breathing issues. So she has been on Baytril most of the last couple months. She is deteriorating fast it seems. I have never had a rat live this long with me, either lost them suddenly or to a tumor or cancer of some type. She now also has a large mass/tumor under her arm pit....which I am sure is not helping her breathing I am sure it is close to her lungs and not helping. At what point do I make that decision?? Here is what:
Bad:
*Breathing still labored, not a ton worse over the last month, but some.
*Lately has had a wet bottom, like she is wetting herself. I still see her come out and deficate and occastionally urinate, but it seems she is just urinating whenever and where ever she is even if she is in bed. Her bottom is constantly wet....and last night it was not only wet around her bottom and between legs....it was all the way up to her armpits (line up the middle)
*Last night when I got her out, her mouth was wet around her chin area. She seemed to be struggling a little bit with breathing, when I wiped her mouth it was slimy, clear slimy. I was going to take her to the vet er and see what they can do but she seemed to come out of it. (i have been at work all night dont know if any worse but I let her out last night after that and it never happened again, left for work 2 hrs later she seemed back)
* She has a very large tumor on her armpit....it was pea size just a couple months ago and is now quarter size.....no way would I attempt to have it removed due to her age and breathing problems, she would never make it.
Good:
*Still eating good, and drinking good. Last night she had grapes and ate one right up.
*Still gets around good, when I get her out I lay on the bed with her and she crawls all over and gets down and runs on the floor, when I get her out she does not want back in.
**Eyes still look good, she has lost alot of weight but her eyes and nose is clear and not crusty and matted etc.
I know there is more bad than good...I just dont know at what point do you say ok....she has had enough. It is so hard to tell if she is in pain. SHe doesnt cry out or make any noises of any kind and she loves to come out and walk around and be out....she doesnt seem withdrawn or lethargic.
I dont know what much else the vet can do for her, she certainly isnt a "rat vet" but she seems to know enough to get by and she listens to me when I come to her with can we try this? She is the one who tried to help Lilly and cried along side me when I went to pick her up.....she knew alot more than I thought she did.
Bailey is my last girl.......as hard as it is to NOT have one....I know after her I need to take a break for a while.....my heart can't take it.....I know alot of you have lots of rats rather its rescue or whichever, I dont know how you get used to the heartache....(not really used to but u know what I mean) it is so hard.
Any advice? Do I give her a few more days and see what happens? I dont want to have her pts. I dont want to make that decision.......its hard when you know they are sick, yet seem so full of life yet.
:sad3:
Paula
Well during that time Bailey, my oldest (35 months old this month) had some respirtory problems. They gave her baytril and said it was most likely permanent with her weezy and breathing issues. So she has been on Baytril most of the last couple months. She is deteriorating fast it seems. I have never had a rat live this long with me, either lost them suddenly or to a tumor or cancer of some type. She now also has a large mass/tumor under her arm pit....which I am sure is not helping her breathing I am sure it is close to her lungs and not helping. At what point do I make that decision?? Here is what:
Bad:
*Breathing still labored, not a ton worse over the last month, but some.
*Lately has had a wet bottom, like she is wetting herself. I still see her come out and deficate and occastionally urinate, but it seems she is just urinating whenever and where ever she is even if she is in bed. Her bottom is constantly wet....and last night it was not only wet around her bottom and between legs....it was all the way up to her armpits (line up the middle)
*Last night when I got her out, her mouth was wet around her chin area. She seemed to be struggling a little bit with breathing, when I wiped her mouth it was slimy, clear slimy. I was going to take her to the vet er and see what they can do but she seemed to come out of it. (i have been at work all night dont know if any worse but I let her out last night after that and it never happened again, left for work 2 hrs later she seemed back)
* She has a very large tumor on her armpit....it was pea size just a couple months ago and is now quarter size.....no way would I attempt to have it removed due to her age and breathing problems, she would never make it.
Good:
*Still eating good, and drinking good. Last night she had grapes and ate one right up.
*Still gets around good, when I get her out I lay on the bed with her and she crawls all over and gets down and runs on the floor, when I get her out she does not want back in.
**Eyes still look good, she has lost alot of weight but her eyes and nose is clear and not crusty and matted etc.
I know there is more bad than good...I just dont know at what point do you say ok....she has had enough. It is so hard to tell if she is in pain. SHe doesnt cry out or make any noises of any kind and she loves to come out and walk around and be out....she doesnt seem withdrawn or lethargic.
I dont know what much else the vet can do for her, she certainly isnt a "rat vet" but she seems to know enough to get by and she listens to me when I come to her with can we try this? She is the one who tried to help Lilly and cried along side me when I went to pick her up.....she knew alot more than I thought she did.
Bailey is my last girl.......as hard as it is to NOT have one....I know after her I need to take a break for a while.....my heart can't take it.....I know alot of you have lots of rats rather its rescue or whichever, I dont know how you get used to the heartache....(not really used to but u know what I mean) it is so hard.
Any advice? Do I give her a few more days and see what happens? I dont want to have her pts. I dont want to make that decision.......its hard when you know they are sick, yet seem so full of life yet.
:sad3:
Paula
