Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / February 2004

It sounds like he's having trouble breathing.  Even if he's not making
noise, he's putting a lot of effort into taking each breath.  If
you've got a good vet, go ahead and bring him in, but I don't know if
they'll be able to do much.

I lost Eris and Metis to respiratory something-or-other (didn't get
autopsies, so it's not entirely clear whether it was an infection or
whether they both got lung tumors).  Shortly before they died (not at
the same time), they each starting having very labored breathing.
Also, they absolutely did not want to be in the cage and got very
desperate about it, hanging on the door and trying to dig it open.  I
think they were scared by the breathing trouble, and they felt better
when they could sit with me.  They also seemed to feel better when
they could prop their chins up on something.

I didn't have a good vet when Metis died, and she went downhill so
quickly that I didn't really have time to find one.  She stopped
eating before she really showed any other symptoms.  Eris, on the
other hand, was much... healthier seems like the wrong word, but
certainly stronger and more interested in food and so forth.  When she
started having trouble breathing (intermittently), I made an
appointment with the vet, but we couldn't get in for a few days (it
was a weekend).  She got worse over the weekend, and by the time we
got to the vet, I was thinking that it might be best to have her put
to sleep, if the vet didn't think there was anything he could do.  I
didn't have to, though, because when they took her into the back to
get an x-ray, she had some kind of fit or seizure and died.

So, um... sorry I can't put much of an optimistic spin on that.

My general guideline for whether an animal is in so much pain that it
should be put down is whether it's still doing the things it liked to
do -- if it's still eating and drinking, it's probably still enjoying
its life.  On the other hand, I've never actually had anything put to
sleep; in the recent case where I really would rather have, we were
traveling and didn't have access to a vet we trusted.

--Theresa
http://tiger_spot.mapache.org

I'm sorry to hear this Kate.  Has Gizmo stopped eating too?  Has he had
respiratory problems before?  It does sound like the little fella is
struggling a bit, I think you are doing the right thing taking him to the
vet tomorrow - I hope he/she can sort him out.  Maybe a course of
anti-biotics will do the trick.

Hope things go ok, let us know what the vet says.

Tracey

This is so hard isn't it, but he has made it to old age for sure... Good ol'
man!
I sure hope the vet can give your directions and guidance in either way...
love that little man tonight and give him extra cuddles.

Sounds to me like he's having difficulty breathing.  I had a mouse that
exhibited this "heaving" when it had respiratory problems.
I would get him to a vet soon.

Kelly

PS - 3 years is a GREAT old age for a rattie... lucky you!!

Hi Kate

if Gizmo is having that much trouble breathing, he is probably in
great discomfort.. imagine having to fight for every little bit of
oxygen to stay alive.
If he is an old rat, there is probably not much more you can do for
him than end this suffering. But I'm sure your vet will be able to
tell you if there is still something you could try to make him feel
better, or that you should let him go.
best wishes, these are hard and painful decicions to make.

Klary

Hi Kate ,
Sorry I have been off line for a while. I must say it is the hardest thing
ever to decide what to do, but my old vet always said to me " When the time
is right and the decision is made in the end you are asking them to do the
deed and there is never an easy way to come to the decision other than as
big kiss, a last cuddle and then the big sleep,it is most painless way to
go. I had my dog PTS and he made it a nice experience if that's the right
word.
A big deep breathe and let him go,
Best thoughts
Jackie