lilspaz68
Well-Known Member
One of our wonderful members Kimmiekins posted this on another forum and I thought it was something we should all read and be very aware of. I asked her for permission to cross-post.
Kimmiekins said:To those who come across this, and are thinking of breeding their pet store rats, let me tell you a story about one of the best little rats in the world who will have a tragic end, due to a human thinking breeding pet store rats was okay.
Her name is Lil'Bit, and she is the best rat I have ever come across. She's the perfect blend of sweet and feisty, she's an enthusiastic "rodentist" and fingernail groomer, absolutely loves humans and ridding on shoulders and has a heart made of gold.
Sadly, she probably won't live more than another week or two.
She has Megacolon, and in a rat this young, it is always fatal. There will soon come a point where she will be in too much pain and will be suffering. If we let nature continue, her intestine will rupture, and she will die of septicemia.
We are trying, for a few days, the treatment that has helped only a few rats (generally late-onset, which Lil'Bit obviously doesn't have). We know it's not going to work, but she WANTS to live, so we will do what we can to try. She puts up with it all with no complaints, and hops onto our hands with glee, even if it's to "torture" her with massage. But sadly, we will probably end up having her put to sleep very soon. It breaks my heart.
Megacolon is a genetic disease, and any good breeder stays as far away from encountering it as possible. Most people who breed without knowing what they're doing, breed the "cute" rats - the high-white blazes and whatnot.
Sadly, that's what happened with Lil'Bit. Her mom, dad and older brothers and sisters were dumped on Rattie Love Rescue. Mama, still with dad [despite us being told males and females were separated] when they arrived at the quarantine house, was only 2 days away from popping Lil'Bit's litter, we didn't get mama into for an e-spay in time. 3 died in the first week, which may have been for the best. Lil'Bit pulled through and has made it to 5 weeks... But will probably not make it another week more. She is 1/3rd the size of her siblings - who are, happily, healthy. It's too bad Lil'Bit won't get the chance to grow up, go to a new wonderful home, and enjoy life.
We do what we can, but it won't be good enough in the end. We're stretching our funds thin, but it doesn't matter. Whatever happens to this little girl, she has touched our hearts so deeply. We only wish she had the chance to continue doing so.
Please don't breed. Rescuers like us have large hearts and they break every time a case like this is dumped into our hands. It could have and SHOULD have been prevented.
