Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / January 2005

They say that the true measure of a person's character is their
treatment of small animals. In this, I hope I have made Keiichi proud.

A previous post details Keiichi's rapid decline. A visit to the vet
confirmed that it was not a disease. The vet was unable to figure out
exactly what was wrong, but a quick examination of the teeth also ruled
out abscesses or tooth problems.

A full work-up would have cost over $300, including x-rays and other
stuff. This was money I didn't have, but there was also another
consideration. The vet simply couldn't guarantee that the problems could
be fixed. Keiichi's left eye had already succumbed to Glaucoma (sp?),
and would have to be removed due to surface scarring. The Glaucoma
/could/ have been causing him enough pain to prevent him from eating,
but this was not a certainty. Other potential problems could also have
included a tumor behind the eye, certain growths and any number of other
medical conditions.

With such a small chance for a recovery (even from the beginning, two
weeks ago), coupled with a strong possibility of lingering pain and a
missing eye, I knew that I had to make a hard decision. Keiichi was
already pushing 18 months. As such, he was an "elderly rat". To go
through all of this to give him - maybe - another six months was simply
not worth it. Especially if additional pain and suffering was a result.

I made the call and asked him to be euthanized. I held him while the vet
attended another client, petting him and telling him I loved him. He
bruxed weakly, probably the most he was able to do by that point. We put
him into the gassing chamber, and I kept him calm as the gas put him to
sleep. Once he was well under, the vet gave him the shot, and let him
have more gas just to ensure he stayed under. Once the shot was given,
it took him about five minutes to stop breathing, and another fifteen
minutes for his brave, strong heart to stop beating.

I had a duty. Not to keep him alive, but to ensure that he had the best
life possible. He was my responsibility, and when the time came, I had
the moral fortitude to realize that my selfish desire to keep him alive
was outweighed by my duty to keep him from pain and grief.

It tore me up to be there, but I could do no less. He gave me eighteen
months of joy, and I honored him by being there until the end.

If anyone is living in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia (cities
of Kelowna, Vernon, etc.) you may wish to patronize the establishment of
Tri-Lake Animal Hospital. Dr. Linda Kaplan is their Exotic Animal
Specialist, and she was the one who attended Keiichi and I. Her
professionalism, honesty and kindness has made this day just a little
more bearable. If you do go see her, tell her that Keiichi the rat sent you.

I think Keiichi would have liked that.

...Geshel