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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / September 2004Spaying/Neutering Ugh!
Some people have asked me what I have decided to do about spaying Maggie and/or neutering the boys. I live in a remote area, and there is a local vet here, but I don't like her at all, and I believe she has a strong prejudice against rodents. She may be technically competant, and is willing to do the surgery, but still... Unfortunately she is the only vet within 100 miles who is even willing to spay or neuter any rat. So I called the vet where we used to live (4 hours away) and they will happily do either surgery, for the price of $204 US for a spay and $189 for each neuter. The local vet here only charges $60 US for neutering. I have literally just put the decision off. The boys will be 8 weeks old next Tuesday and I have to decide what to do. My husband is still reminding me that I have spent $170 US on my Martin's cage and accessories. I love my rats and would never want to value money over their health, but I just don't know what to do. I am afraid that if I spay Maggie and do not neuter the boys, they will be chasing after her non-stop. I am afraid that if I let the vet I don't like neuter the boys, something may go wrong. I am afraid that if I go back to my old home town and have them do it, I will go broke! Suggestions? Meghan I would just get another female rat for company and go with boys and girls cages. If this isn't an option, I would opt for neutering the males...a much simpler and less invasive operation compared to the female version. Good luck! Jaimie Mom to the M*A*S*H ratties: Margaret, Radar, Rosie and Sophie > Some people have asked me what I have decided to do about spaying Maggie > and/or neutering the boys. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Suggestions? > Meghan I guess the "two cages" isn't an option because the cage Maggie is in (the one she came with) is very small - less than half the size of the Martin's 695. The boys have a palace and the girls cage would be a prison. I got the biggest cage I could afford due to the advice of this group (always go bigger) but didn't count on taking in a needy female in addition to my boys from the breeder. Meghan > I would just get another female rat for company and go with boys and girls > cages. If this isn't an option, I would opt for neutering the males...a [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! > -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- > Some people have asked me what I have decided to do about spaying Maggie > and/or neutering the boys. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Suggestions? > Meghan That is a dilemma! Some vets charge more because they do more in regards to procedure: warm plate, antibiotic shot, pain meds, oxygen etc... I would be worried about the $60 vet. All surgeries are risky, spaying is more invasive than neutering but Maggie gains more benefit from the spaying. It's a hard decision indeed...  SignatureJoanne Mom to 11 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 Why don't you try networking yourself a new used cage? Thru the vet's, animal supply store, newspaper. It would be cheaper, than neutering any of the rats. Somewhere out there there is a person who has a cage you could use. >Some people have asked me what I have decided to do about spaying Maggie >and/or neutering the boys. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >neuter the boys, something may go wrong. I am afraid that if I go back to >my old home town and have them do it, I will go broke! where are you located? maybe somebody knows of a vet. $200 for a spay and $189 for a neuter are ridiculous, imho! geez. i've paid $90 and $115 for neuters. suzie's spay last week was $112. you could also consider the option of splitting the 695 into two separate sections by sealing off the middle floor. both halves would comfortably house two rats. i'd wire the ramp opening shut somehow and put tile down, or something to that effect. i did it once to separate two boys in a 690 who were fighting and it worked great until i could get the one neutered. --- han solo shot first. http://shattering.org I really have thought of this option - splitting the 695 in two. It's certainly big enough. I wasn't sure if this would be "torture" for them because Maggie is *dying* to get together with the boys, and being that close without being able to touch them... I wan't sure if that would be cruel or not. Meghan > >Some people have asked me what I have decided to do about spaying Maggie > >and/or neutering the boys. [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > han solo shot first. > http://shattering.org But then you would have room for another female. :) Jaimie Mom to the M*A*S*H ratties: Margaret, Radar, Rosie and Sophie > I really have thought of this option - splitting the 695 in two. It's > certainly big enough. I wasn't sure if this would be "torture" for them [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Meghan yep, exactly. >But then you would have room for another female. :) > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >> >> Meghan --- han solo shot first. http://shattering.org > I really have thought of this option - splitting the 695 in two. It's > certainly big enough. I wasn't sure if this would be "torture" for them > because Maggie is *dying* to get together with the boys, and being that > close without being able to touch them... I wan't sure if that would be > cruel or not. If I recall correctly, rats can mate successfully between cages if the two cages are close enough. (I might be getting rats mixed up with some other type of critter but... if you don't want pregnant rats.... well think about it.) Where are you located? I know I have quite a few spare cages people have given me so maybe someone in your area has spares & could help. We have a public e-mail at work where people list things for sale. I don't know if you have that but it's an idea. I sympathize. I finally had Roscoe neutered due to aggression. I was able to buy 2 cages and keep them very far apart. The girls cage isn't as big as I'd like but they have their own table they run around on during out time. I wouldn't go with the $60 vet. But it sure is costly to have the other do it. Roscoe was $75. And I am always spending money on the little rascals so I know how it is to be broke. They eat better than I do. Janine, mom to 4 boy and 14 girl rat babies, 3 parakeets, and 2 cockatiels (whew) > > I really have thought of this option - splitting the 695 in two. It's > > certainly big enough. I wasn't sure if this would be "torture" for them [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > some other type of critter but... if you don't want pregnant rats.... well > think about it.) I am in northern, northern New Hampshire up by Canada. If anyone can recommend any good rodent vet within 100 miles I would be VERY grateful!! I have considered going to Montreal but I'm not sure what the border crossing issues are with ratties. Thanks, Meghan > Where are you located? I know I have quite a few spare cages people have > given me so maybe someone in your area has spares & could help. We have a [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > some other type of critter but... if you don't want pregnant rats.... well > > think about it.) >I am in northern, northern New Hampshire up by Canada. If anyone can >recommend any good rodent vet within 100 miles I would be VERY grateful!! I [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Thanks, >Meghan Nothing listed here for New Hampshire, unfortunately, but there is a good recommendation for one in Fryeburg, Maine, which may be close enough to you (?), and several more in Maine and Vermont who are probably a bit too far away. There's also one listed for Montreal (see the state/country drop-down box): http://www.rmca.org/Resources/vets.htm SignatureMariette <:3 )3~~ <:3 )3~~ <:3 )3~~ http://community.webshots.com/user/wabewawa (wabewawa61-at-earthlink-dot-net) Meghan, I live in Ontario Canada. I work at a vet clinic that is fairly good with rodents, we've certainly done neutering and we also are one of the only laser surgery facilities in the southern Ontario region I also know of one in Oakville (south of Toronto 30 kms), and there is a very good rodent vet in Toronto itself that the rat breeder I know recommended Kelly . You certainly don't need to go as far as Montreal. >I am in northern, northern New Hampshire up by Canada. If anyone can > recommend any good rodent vet within 100 miles I would be VERY grateful!! [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > well >> > think about it.) |
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