SnowyShiloh
Well-Known Member
My girl Stevie McQueen died during the night. She outlived my other three rats, her two sisters and a rescued boy who we neutered. She lived to be 20 1/2 months old. I would have taken her to the vet to have her examined and probably euthanized, but no vet was open.
Unlike the other three rats who I either found dead or close to death, I knew Stevie was going to die. On Friday night, I could see that she was a little less boisterous than usual, though no porphyrin or difficulty breathing. She ate her baby food excitedly as usual. She spent most of Saturday curled up in hammocks or in her hiding pouch, but moved around still.
Then last night, she wasn't moving much unless I talked to her and stimulated her by petting or kissing at her (my rats all reacted to the kissing sound more than anything else). At one point she even tried to leap up into her hammock but couldn't make it. It was heartbreaking to see her clinging to the side of her hammock, then fall because she didn't have the strength. I opted to leave her on the bottom of her cage, lying on top of towels and a soft blanket, because I was afraid if I put her in a hammock she'd try to climb out and fall. I moved her water bottle down farther so she could reach it and surrounded her with lasagna baby food, lemonade Gatorade and chocolate Ensure. She loves those things and ate/drank a little of each, getting her face messy, but I had to move the Ensure because at one point I found her with her face submerged in it. When I pulled her out, she sneezed and shook her head. I wished for her to die quickly and peacefully, but not by drowning in chocolate milk!
I stayed up until 4 am keeping an eye on her. Stevie eventually crawled into her hangy pouch (made from two washcloths sewed together around 3 sides), I think she wanted to die there. I checked on her before going to bed and she was still there, but when I woke up she was gone.
I'm sad that she's gone and that her death took so long. I really wished I had some Metacam handy to at least take her pain away since I don't know if she was in pain or not. I think she may have been having some uterine issues since under where she was sitting was stained darkly, I didn't want to distress her by picking her up and poking her though. I wish I could have ended her suffering sooner, but I tried to do my best by making sure she had a soft, clean place to lie down and her favorite foods and drinks. I'm also glad that she didn't have to live too long as an only rat- Colby Jack died a couple weeks ago and this was the first time Stevie was alone. She seemed to handle it fairly well though, so thanfully I don't think she died from a broken heart. She and Colby cuddled sometimes, but she was much more bonded to Cranberry and Peppermint who died months ago.
Now, a little bit about Stevie. Paul, my boyfriend, named her Stevie McQueen after the rat, Steve McQueen, on an episode of House. When we got the girls from the feeder tank at the pet store, I couldn't decide which ones I wanted to save, so I just had the girl pick any three out. Stevie was the first one out of the tank and she immediately ran up my arm and hid in my hair. She grew to be the alpha ratty, often bossing her sisters around and starting quarrels, but she also protected them if they were afraid. When she was about 10 weeks old, she escaped from the cage while I was cleaning it and it took me about 3 hours to catch her, luring her with baby food on a spoon and eventually tricking her into going back into the cage! I think she was the smartest of the four rats and was always the hardest one to handle. She bit me a couple times, but it never really hurt. She lunged at Paul a few times out of nowhere, once when I was petting her and she was very relaxed. Like I said before she was very spunky and sometimes difficult to handle, but once I got her relaxed, she'd lay on my lap for a very long time getting her ears rubbed and grinding her teeth in pleasure.
So I think that's it. Have fun in heaven, Steebers! You were such a delight. I'll miss you, maybe I'll have ratties again one day. It's amazing, since November I've lost 7 pets. First was Lily my old hamster, then Cranberry the rat, then Peppermint the rat, then my darling Tallulah, then Data the hamster, then Colby Jack the rat, and now not too long afterwards, Stevie. I now have the two bunnies and my two cockatiels.
Unlike the other three rats who I either found dead or close to death, I knew Stevie was going to die. On Friday night, I could see that she was a little less boisterous than usual, though no porphyrin or difficulty breathing. She ate her baby food excitedly as usual. She spent most of Saturday curled up in hammocks or in her hiding pouch, but moved around still.
Then last night, she wasn't moving much unless I talked to her and stimulated her by petting or kissing at her (my rats all reacted to the kissing sound more than anything else). At one point she even tried to leap up into her hammock but couldn't make it. It was heartbreaking to see her clinging to the side of her hammock, then fall because she didn't have the strength. I opted to leave her on the bottom of her cage, lying on top of towels and a soft blanket, because I was afraid if I put her in a hammock she'd try to climb out and fall. I moved her water bottle down farther so she could reach it and surrounded her with lasagna baby food, lemonade Gatorade and chocolate Ensure. She loves those things and ate/drank a little of each, getting her face messy, but I had to move the Ensure because at one point I found her with her face submerged in it. When I pulled her out, she sneezed and shook her head. I wished for her to die quickly and peacefully, but not by drowning in chocolate milk!
I stayed up until 4 am keeping an eye on her. Stevie eventually crawled into her hangy pouch (made from two washcloths sewed together around 3 sides), I think she wanted to die there. I checked on her before going to bed and she was still there, but when I woke up she was gone.
I'm sad that she's gone and that her death took so long. I really wished I had some Metacam handy to at least take her pain away since I don't know if she was in pain or not. I think she may have been having some uterine issues since under where she was sitting was stained darkly, I didn't want to distress her by picking her up and poking her though. I wish I could have ended her suffering sooner, but I tried to do my best by making sure she had a soft, clean place to lie down and her favorite foods and drinks. I'm also glad that she didn't have to live too long as an only rat- Colby Jack died a couple weeks ago and this was the first time Stevie was alone. She seemed to handle it fairly well though, so thanfully I don't think she died from a broken heart. She and Colby cuddled sometimes, but she was much more bonded to Cranberry and Peppermint who died months ago.
Now, a little bit about Stevie. Paul, my boyfriend, named her Stevie McQueen after the rat, Steve McQueen, on an episode of House. When we got the girls from the feeder tank at the pet store, I couldn't decide which ones I wanted to save, so I just had the girl pick any three out. Stevie was the first one out of the tank and she immediately ran up my arm and hid in my hair. She grew to be the alpha ratty, often bossing her sisters around and starting quarrels, but she also protected them if they were afraid. When she was about 10 weeks old, she escaped from the cage while I was cleaning it and it took me about 3 hours to catch her, luring her with baby food on a spoon and eventually tricking her into going back into the cage! I think she was the smartest of the four rats and was always the hardest one to handle. She bit me a couple times, but it never really hurt. She lunged at Paul a few times out of nowhere, once when I was petting her and she was very relaxed. Like I said before she was very spunky and sometimes difficult to handle, but once I got her relaxed, she'd lay on my lap for a very long time getting her ears rubbed and grinding her teeth in pleasure.
So I think that's it. Have fun in heaven, Steebers! You were such a delight. I'll miss you, maybe I'll have ratties again one day. It's amazing, since November I've lost 7 pets. First was Lily my old hamster, then Cranberry the rat, then Peppermint the rat, then my darling Tallulah, then Data the hamster, then Colby Jack the rat, and now not too long afterwards, Stevie. I now have the two bunnies and my two cockatiels.
. I already see my little 1 year old Louie slowing down. He was from Petco, so I have to accept it.
