URGENT Help with Dying Rat

[JenD]

I'm hoping someone is still up. One of our babies, Rudy, developed a large tumor seemingly overnight. We took him to the vet and they tried to aspirate, but couldn't get anything out. It appears to be a mammory tumor, though he is a male and due to several factors discussed with the vet, we decided that we weren't going to put him through the surgery. He seemed to be holding his own until tonight. He was hiding in a box in our large rat house and wasn't interested in his yoggies, though he did take them from me with coaxing. I checked on him a few minutes later and he was on top of the box with a mucusy string hanging from his mouth and the yoggie vomited up in liquid like form. He's got laboured breathing and is vomiting clear mucousy stuff, and I think a little blood. I know he's not going to last that much longer and we're all crying our eyes out over here. He, of course, was the favored baby - just too sweet and loving. I'm debating whether or not I should rush him to an ER vet to be put down versus just continuing to hold him and soothe him as he makes the journey over the rainbow bridge. Does anyone have any thoughts or advice? I think taking him would stress him out and while he'd go down more quickly, he might be better off just passing away in my arms, being loved. I have no idea how long he will last at this point. Any thoughts on that? Any suggestions on making him more comfortable? He seems to get restless when he goes to puke, but otherwise, has his eyes almost all the way closed and laboured breathing. This is awful and my daughter is sleeping upstairs. I don't know if I should wake her (she's 8) so she can see him or if that is going to make everything worse as she'll be so upset. I am trying to keep the house (and our dogs) very quiet so that it is peaceful and soothing for him.

Any advice or even just a hug would help. Thanks in advance...

 

[Cinderwolf]

Well, rat's can't actually vomit, but from what I've heard, they produce large amounts of saliva/poryphrine when they choke, to help to dislodge whatever they happened to get stuck down there. So maybe he is just choking. It that's the case, there is nothing you can do but let him work it out on his own. I wouldn't give up on him yet. He may get over it. In any case, I would keep him close.

Good luck hun. :hugs:

 

[momofmany]

Hey Jen,

Sorry to hear about what is happening to Rudy! :hugs: I am afraid I have no experience when it comes to one of the fuzz-butts passing. I read and re-read your post and think that your gut reaction on keeping him near you and quiet is the best way to go, at least until you can get him to a vet.

A friend of mine just had one of her fuzz-butts pass over to Rainbow Bridge and she held her and told her what a great rattie she had been and while she would be missed there was tons of fun at Rainbow Bridge, so do what your heart tells you, it won't lead you wrong. :hugs:

I'll be thinking of you and Rudy tonight! :hugs:

 

[Dazzle87]

Sounds like he might have choked. If actual mucuous came up after the yogi had been dislodged, the other thing it could be is coughing up mucuous which is a pretty serious symptom, often pneumonia. It is also possible he coughed up his yogie and didnt choke at all. I'd want to get him to the vet asap, whether to be treated or PTS based on your vets recommendation. I do know if a rat is dying from pneumonia it's usually kinder to put them to sleep.

 

[lilspaz68]

If your baby is still choking this morning, then as dazzle says it's very likely to be pneumonia, but all his symptoms sound like regular choking, which is terrifying to watch (your are so sure they are dying!) but they work it out and are usually fine.

How is he thiis morning?

 

[Roo]

I hope things are better this morning! :hugs:

 

[JenD]

Hi all - thank you for your responses. I went to bed at midnight & checked on him at 3am and he was sleeping with laboured breathing, but snuggling with one of his buds. Then at 5:30 I got up to check again and he was sleeping in his comfy cube by himself. He's still hanging in there! And actually looks a bit better. I just gave them some bkfst and he took it right away and is eating so if he was choking, he must have cleared it himself.

Something is definitely going on, but I feel better that he made it through the night and appears to be feeling a bit better. He would pull his face "back" and kind of wince and then there would be a glob of mucous underneath him or he'd move his head and it would be on my pants. Sometimes it had little yellowish chunks so it could have been some elbow macaroni I gave them to snack on or else the yoggies I get them are red and yellow. That makes sense if he was just choking, though, as he seemed to be fine earlier in the day and then it was such a downhill change.

I'm going to see if the rat vet comes in today (she usually doesn't get there until 7pm - it's an all night place) and if so, we'll get him in. In the meantime, I don't recall him sneezing much, but his right eye (the side by the tumor) has been reddish and closed more than normal for the past week. I hadn't heard any wheezing or gurgling from him until last night, which sounded more like a high pitched chirp. When I look at him, his breathing is definitely laboured and his sides are pulled in, which as I recall, is a sign of pain? His body looks a bit puffy, but his fur is not puffed up, if that makes sense. Do you guys think he's in pain? And would you euth at this point if the vet feels he's going down now? I don't want him to suffer, but I like the idea of a peaceful passing at home, ya know? Opinions? Thanks

 

[JenD]

OK just read the section in my Rat Heath Care book on choking and YES, you guys were right on. He was definitely choking and must have worked it out as he ate something. His eye is still reddish around it and his breathing is much more pronounced. His sides are also concave, but his fur isn't standing up at all. Will get him to the vet if she's in today she comes in at 7pm ish and not every day ;(...

The book mentioned that there could be throat swelling, a tumor, or respiratory infection who could influence this, too.

With anyone that has had a rat that passed of a large mammary tumor, what should I expect to see near the end? Will it be painful for him and would you recommend euthing? I just want to be prepared and prepare my daughter. Thank you.

 

[mamarat]

How old is your boy? Where's the tumor? Males can also develop mammary tumors. Is he on meds now?

 

[KatTheHippie]

I'm glad to heard that your little guy made it through the night and seems to be getting better, it sounds like you went through a terrifying ordeal. Choking is awful x_x. I've never had a rat with a tumour (knock on wood) So I wouldn't know what to tell you in that aspect, but hopefully the vet will be in, and you guys will be able to come to a conclusion that's best for Rudy. You're closest to him, so I think you would know when his time is coming, and when he doesn't want to fight anymore, and you would be able to make the decision from there, weather or not it would be more comfortable for him to pass while at home in your arms, or at the vet with a little bit of help. Hopefully it doesn't come down to that :/

Sending lots of hugs your way, I'll definitely keep you two in my prayers

 

[JenD]

Thanks guys. Mamarat, I feel like he's young to go through this. He's going to be 2 years old in one month (so 23 months old). He is not on any meds at all. I noticed the tumor seemingly out of nowhere in January and it was already the size of a walnut on his right side behind his front paws (so mammary, right?). We took him to the vet and she tried to aspirate so we could get more info, but was unsuccessful. She told me that we could operate (for around $400), though rats don't always tolerate anesthesia well. She's an exotic vet, but I don't know how *good* she is. I like her bedside manner, but I did not get a referral to her from a rat owner who swore by her or anything. She told me that if we don't elect to do the surgery, the tumor will probably just keep growing quickly and eventually be hard for him to move and he will be susceptible to having it rub on things as he drags it along the ground and then at that time, when we're ready, we could bring him in to PTS.

We had long discussions over whether or not to do surgery. She said if we were to do it, that we should do it asap before it grows too much bigger. We discussed with DD who is his "owner" and she was concerned about him passing during surgery and didn't want to put him through that b/c he's a senior. It has been a painful decision and one that, esp now, I am questioning, but we decided to not put him through surgery, esp since we didn't know if he'd grow another one quickly, whether or not it is malignant, etc. We are just all sad that we will be losing him in the next few months as I can't see him dragging it if it gets any bigger.

Are there meds he should be on that could help shrink the tumor or halt it? I feel like he'd hang in there if it weren't for this darn growth. And we all just love this guy to pieces. I know we made the best decision we could at the time, but watching him and waiting like this is awful. Shoot.

And Kat, thanks for the prayers and kind words. That is so appreciated. The choking was awful but now I know and am going to be way careful in the future.

 

[mamarat]

I don't know of any meds to shrink the tumor. I know if my rats are healthy they get those tumors removed and they make a full recovery. I've had some tumors removed at 32 months with a good outcome. Fingers crossed for your little one.