gramma2jaakk
Well-Known Member
I know Lucy is an old girl, but I'm not ready to let her go yet. We have had her for 1 1/2 years and the vet said she was already an older girl when we adopted her. Yesterday she was running around the room, playing with Sally and Josie. This morning she was fine, sleeping cuddled up in the hammock with them like they always are. And lately we've noticed that her face is getting more and more white as she ages. But tonight she is different.
She didn't want to wake up, be moved or anything when we were cleaning the cage. She was sleeping HARD. She did wake up, but stayed in her basket looking out at us. And she looks MUCH older.
I told Neal that this might be the end for her. We have been trying to prepare ourselves for this. After the cage was cleaned, Lucy crawled into the toilet box and went to sleep. After seeing that, I said I was going to sleep downstairs to be near her. Neal asked me what I was going to do and I said I was going to cuddle her all night, I didn't want her to pass on in the toilet.
I've decided if she makes it through the night then I will take her to the vet tomorrow and see if there is anything we can do for her. If it is old age, then so be it. But now, after cuddling with her for the last hour, she is having a little cough that isn't even a cough but more like a little gasp. Lucy has been lying still for me, and I've done the rat-phone thing. She does not sound congested, her heart sounds strong. She just isn't moving much, and sometimes when she does move she will leave her front legs curled under herself.
She just looks so pitiful. I would take her to the vet tonight but the emergency vet knows nothing about rats, hamsters, mice and such. I do have some medicine left over from when Lucy and Sally had a URI back in April, but I'm not even sure if giving her any would help.
So, now I'm crying and trying to mentally prepare myself for her no longer being with us anymore, and trying to figure out what to say to my grand-daughter about it if Lucy should die tonight. My grand-daughter loves all my rats so much, and this will be very hard for her also. So, I will let you all know what happens later, if Lucy goes to the vet or not in the morning. Neal says to just remember that we have given this little pet store girl a good, cumfy life, which was much better than being snake food. (sorry to the snake owners here. i only respect snakes but could not have one as a pet)
UPDATE: Lucy is now gone. She passed within minutes of my posting this here. The local time was 12:20am. She gave me a few shudders and a small squeak, yawned big and was gone. I'll miss her so much. She was Sally's best friend, and was Neal's rat.
She didn't want to wake up, be moved or anything when we were cleaning the cage. She was sleeping HARD. She did wake up, but stayed in her basket looking out at us. And she looks MUCH older.
I told Neal that this might be the end for her. We have been trying to prepare ourselves for this. After the cage was cleaned, Lucy crawled into the toilet box and went to sleep. After seeing that, I said I was going to sleep downstairs to be near her. Neal asked me what I was going to do and I said I was going to cuddle her all night, I didn't want her to pass on in the toilet.
I've decided if she makes it through the night then I will take her to the vet tomorrow and see if there is anything we can do for her. If it is old age, then so be it. But now, after cuddling with her for the last hour, she is having a little cough that isn't even a cough but more like a little gasp. Lucy has been lying still for me, and I've done the rat-phone thing. She does not sound congested, her heart sounds strong. She just isn't moving much, and sometimes when she does move she will leave her front legs curled under herself.
She just looks so pitiful. I would take her to the vet tonight but the emergency vet knows nothing about rats, hamsters, mice and such. I do have some medicine left over from when Lucy and Sally had a URI back in April, but I'm not even sure if giving her any would help.
So, now I'm crying and trying to mentally prepare myself for her no longer being with us anymore, and trying to figure out what to say to my grand-daughter about it if Lucy should die tonight. My grand-daughter loves all my rats so much, and this will be very hard for her also. So, I will let you all know what happens later, if Lucy goes to the vet or not in the morning. Neal says to just remember that we have given this little pet store girl a good, cumfy life, which was much better than being snake food. (sorry to the snake owners here. i only respect snakes but could not have one as a pet)
UPDATE: Lucy is now gone. She passed within minutes of my posting this here. The local time was 12:20am. She gave me a few shudders and a small squeak, yawned big and was gone. I'll miss her so much. She was Sally's best friend, and was Neal's rat.
