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Post by adoptaratcanada on Oct 25, 2008 1:17:25 GMT -4
My darling rat-boy, Hugh, went to the great playground in the sky sometime this evening  I just went to give them a bedtime snack and he had passed, apparently peacefully, in his favourite spot, his hammock. I'm SO thankful I got some good photos of them just this past week!!! Rest in Peace, my little doll  |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 25, 2008 12:47:31 GMT -4
Sudden and unexpected?  It happens that way. If it was sudden and peaceful it was better than the other options. Lovely photo. His namesake sends his regrets:  |
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Post by pinky on Oct 25, 2008 14:14:48 GMT -4
Oh, Linda, so sorry. Maybe you thought it was coming, as from your posts Hugh hadn't been himself lately. Condolences to Locutus too--hope he can cope with the loss of his comrade.
Here's a hug for you both. *hugs*
Rest in peace, Hugh.
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Post by Hamsters82 on Oct 25, 2008 18:01:20 GMT -4
Aw, I'm so sorry Linda. We all knew how much you loved him and he was a cute boy. Rest in peace Hugh. *hugs* |
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Post by ladyjosephine on Oct 25, 2008 18:36:26 GMT -4
Aawh, so sorry for your loss Rest in peace beautiful boy How is locutus doing? I bet he's missing his mate, poor thing. Is he getting a new friend? |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 25, 2008 19:07:02 GMT -4
Yea, I was thinking of Locutus.  Hope he is fine. So sorry, again. |
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Oct 26, 2008 1:08:49 GMT -4
Sudden and unexpected? It happens that way. If it was sudden and peaceful it was better than the other options. MUCH better Although I knew that the hind-end weakness was the beginning of the end, I didn't expect him to go suddenly like that! He's been very perky (other than normal mobility) and earlier in the day was just fine. Even in the photos taken just a week ago, he looks so bright and youthful. *sigh* |
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Oct 26, 2008 1:19:22 GMT -4
Oh, Linda, so sorry. Maybe you thought it was coming, as from your posts Hugh hadn't been himself lately. Condolences to Locutus too--hope he can cope with the loss of his comrade. Here's a hug for you both. *hugs* Rest in peace, Hugh. Thanks so much, pinky. No, as a mentioned in a reply I just sent, I knew the weakness in the back legs was the beginning of the end. Just happened alot sooner than I'd have thought. For the moment, Locutus seems alright. When I had gone to the cage last night he was running back and forth at the front of the cage (in anticipation of the snack), where Hugh's head was hanging down and bumping into it. He didn't register any inkling that something was wrong. He's terribly food driven so that seem to be the only thing that gets his attention! I hadn't taken Hugh out immediately so presumably Locu must have known. He hasn't seemed to be searching or anything today (like he used to if Hugh was in a post-op cage nearby). I'll watch him to see if he becomes despondent. I'll give him a few days to get used to the situation, then I'll replace the cage shelves, etc that I removed when Hugh became to weak to manage it. Locutus is still very active and the exercise will do him good! As I say...he IS very food driven! |
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Oct 26, 2008 1:19:02 GMT -4
Aw, I'm so sorry Linda. We all knew how much you loved him and he was a cute boy. Rest in peace Hugh. *hugs* Thank you very much, Hams! I appreciate it! |
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Oct 26, 2008 1:51:29 GMT -4
Is he getting a new friend? Thank you, Lady Josephine, for your kind thoughts. As for a new friend....*sigh*......I just don't know. I'm going to cheat and paste a snippet from an email I just sent: As for myself, I'm just not sure I'm up to adopting more, since I tend to be a worrier where my pets' health is concerned and fret over them quite a bit - rats are so delicate (ironically) and there just aren't any really super-qualified rat vets where I live. On the other hand the more rats presented to vets, presumably the more they will be forced to learn.
At the moment, I don't know what I'll do. It's been a very stressful period, the last month, because my cat was at death's door, too! Now I have to give him daily subcutaneous fluids, and that had been a HORRIBLE challenge until the last few days. I'm in to the doc for a routine check-up on Monday...I'm sure she'll have something to say about my blood pressure!!Quite honestly I really DO spend so much time worrying about them - the air quality; ESPECIALLY the temperatures (heaven forbid the power -and a/c- should go out during a hot spell!); actual physical conditions (thankfully these boys have been very healthy). I've been a big, weepy mess for a few weeks, and that is so NOT me. It's not simply a question of "just not worrying". It's too deep a thing with me. I used to say that in spite of the stress and distress, pets need homes so I'll be a mental/emotional sacrifice to provide them with that. However, maybe it's age, or too much loss over the years, or maybe there's just too much going on right now, but I just don't know if i can face it. Especially when rats live so short a time. Maybe if I had ONLY rats and be more focused it would be different -- but right now I have the 2 cats and the dog, and they are ALL elderly seniors. Strangely I didn't see that coming, way back when. Sorry to ramble so long! I'm very conflicted about the whole thing. I can't imagine being WITHOUT rats, and at the same time I'm just feeling in a weakened state. I don't like to wait TOO long if I'm going to decide to get more because in the meantime, Locutus is alone. |
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Oct 26, 2008 1:57:53 GMT -4
...to continue my last post.... ...there's the question of the massive "Theme Names" list I have for future ratties....  So...who knows.... |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 26, 2008 16:43:38 GMT -4
>> Sorry to ramble so long! I'm very conflicted about the whole thing. I can't imagine being WITHOUT rats, and at the same time I'm just feeling in a weakened state. I don't like to wait TOO long if I'm going to decide to get more because in the meantime, Locutus is alone. << I very well know precisely what you mean about all this. Most of the animals I have were not just rescues from a nice no-kill shelter such as Bide-A-Wee; they were literally taken off the street or out of horrid pet stores, or, in the case of the rats born here almost two years ago (a surprise), were kept in lieu of going to the snake bin. The finches (ten) were going to be left on the street in their big cage by the mother of the teenager who has them. And on and on. Caerbannog the rabbit was literally left on the street in her cage in front of a pet store - they called me, but kept the big cage.  Poppy the rabbit was seen by me in a garage/basement sale crammed into a 20L tank, skinny, and although still a growing bunny, with way too little room. Ophelia is a rescued GP who had a litter at a ridiculously young age (five weeks old) in her previous residence and the entire litter did not survive owing to her age. (At least GP litters are small). Tana the parakeet (and her late sister, Breena) I rescued as she has deformed feet and cannot perch in cage (she lives in a tank). Etc. I was just at a local fair at a nearby small botanic garden, complete with dog costume show. Nice weather; fun time. There was nearby a rescue group with cats, dogs, birds. I tried doing that once, but it was all too melancholy for me, although I commend those who do it. I could barely look at the animals as I have so many now. If I had, say, just one cat care and attention could be ideal. But what I do supply is a lot better than the alternatives. I suppose I am saying if you see or hear of some rats about to be abandoned to a dismal fate only then might you rescue them. Be hard to resist. Maybe Locutus will not notice if he gets enough food! Anyway, best of luck to you all. |
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Post by ladyjosephine on Oct 26, 2008 17:03:27 GMT -4
I know, rats are just so fragile..not many people will say that, but it's true! I Don't think it's fair for Locutus to live without a cagemate, but I understand what you're saying..It's so hard when they die. I almost stopped keeping rats because of their health issues and the fact that they usually Don't get older then 2 yrs. But I just fell for their funny habits and they are just nice looking an sweet natured companions.. In the netherlands we have some great Rat-shelters, and some vets that adore rats and know a lot about them. But most vets still don't know enough about treating rats or diagnosing diseases unfortunatly |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 26, 2008 18:15:47 GMT -4
>> I almost stopped keeping rats because of their health issues and the fact that they usually Don't get older then 2 yrs. But I just fell for their funny habits and they are just nice looking an sweet natured companions.. <<
That was why of all the primary rodent pets (Syrians, dwarfs, gerbils, fancy mice, GP's, and rabbits who are lagomorphs, I know), rats were the last I got. And only then as I saw some basically dumped in a pet store. Those were Moet and Chandon - who turned out to be pregnant! So I had babies, and that story is up in the Rat forum in November of 2006. They are sweet, charming, and fun.
Owing to the health issues, I would be hesitant to promote more rats, although I might be tempted if I saw some lovely colors and types at a good breeder. But if I ever saw some abandoned with a dismal future I would of course rescue them.
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Post by ladyjosephine on Oct 27, 2008 14:50:11 GMT -4
Yesterday I discovered that my precious Moortje(The girl I got to be Stella's New friend) has a lump on her throat. And today I saw there weren't any bite marks, so It's probably not an abcess And the little guy I kept of the litter I was raising has an Abcess on his hip, because he got bit by an other rat of his brother's new owner...So health issues all around here at the moment. Tomorrow I'll make an apointment to see the vet with moortje, because I fear it's a tumor an Jackpot has it's daily wrestling moment when I'm trying to clean the abcess... |
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Hope he is fine.
Poppy the rabbit was seen by me in a garage/basement sale crammed into a 20L tank, skinny, and although still a growing bunny, with way too little room.