Although it is sad for the end of their journey to be in sight, it has been a fulfilling 2 and 1/2 years with my ratties. At their last visit to the vet, they were prescribed a final course of various medications and I was told that the goal is now to simply keep them comfortable as they approach the end. As such, I'm seeking some end of life treatment advice:
1) Over the course of the last month, one of my two rats, Socrates, has lost about 80% of his mobility. He drags himself across the floor and often topples over. However, he doesn't appear to be in pain and seems content to cuddle and receive help grooming/eating/drinking. In your opinion, can a rat live on in this condition? If he can pass on peacefully like this, I'd love to continue nursing him until his body shuts down or whatever happens with degeneration.
2) Once one of them passes on, what is the best approach to keeping the other content? I work full-time but spend time with them in the evenings. Although this has kept them happy while they're together, my more active rat has been getting increasingly bored as his brother has become less mobile. Trying to brainstorm ways to keep him happy.
3) Would it be acceptable to move them both to a smaller single-level cage (dimensions are about 30.5 inches X 15 inches)? They're currently in a multi-level ferret cage, but Socrates can only use one level of it and Ben, the active one, has hurt himself several times through over-exertion. Even with modifications to it, it's not completely practical for Socrates. I'd hate to confine Ben since he's so active, but it might be safer for both of them and I don't want to separate them since they help each-other out so much with grooming, nesting, exc. Suggestions?
1) Over the course of the last month, one of my two rats, Socrates, has lost about 80% of his mobility. He drags himself across the floor and often topples over. However, he doesn't appear to be in pain and seems content to cuddle and receive help grooming/eating/drinking. In your opinion, can a rat live on in this condition? If he can pass on peacefully like this, I'd love to continue nursing him until his body shuts down or whatever happens with degeneration.
2) Once one of them passes on, what is the best approach to keeping the other content? I work full-time but spend time with them in the evenings. Although this has kept them happy while they're together, my more active rat has been getting increasingly bored as his brother has become less mobile. Trying to brainstorm ways to keep him happy.
3) Would it be acceptable to move them both to a smaller single-level cage (dimensions are about 30.5 inches X 15 inches)? They're currently in a multi-level ferret cage, but Socrates can only use one level of it and Ben, the active one, has hurt himself several times through over-exertion. Even with modifications to it, it's not completely practical for Socrates. I'd hate to confine Ben since he's so active, but it might be safer for both of them and I don't want to separate them since they help each-other out so much with grooming, nesting, exc. Suggestions?
Last edited: