isabelk
Member
I have two ratties, one is names Eloise and she is a dark brown dumbo rat with an adorable white belly. My other rat, Aylie, is a grey fancy rat, with pretty blue eyes. They have lived together all their lives and are close like sisters. They are approximately 18 months old. They have always been happy, healthy little explorers.
This summer, Aylie, who has always been a little chubby, and had always loved her treats, became lethargic and lost interest in food. Before this happened though, she and Eloise were both very itchy and Aylie was losing some hair on her head. I took them to the vets and they suggested Eloise was pulling it out, because she has a tendency to be an aggressive groomer, and the tests they took were negative for any skin infection.
They were fine for a couple months, but now Aylie is doing very badly. Within the past month she lost more hair, her tail started looking scraggly, and she lost weight. What started as slightly less interest in food resulted in a dramatic weight loss in a matter of days, because of her fast ratty metabolism. Unfortunately, the same time she lost weight, my other rat Eloise, developed two mammary tumors. I took them to the vet immediately.
He told me Eloise's tumors were most likely benign but that they could operate, and that Aylie had a very serious respiratory infection, and that the hair loss was only the beginning. I scheduled an operation for Eloise, and started Aylie immediately on anti-biotics. I was informed that Eloise's treatment would cost 800 dollars!! And I simply don't have the finances to support an eight hundred dollar surgery. After much discussion with their other mom, and even asking my parents for help, we were forced to make the tough decision that (even combined) we couldn't afford surgery, but that we would start saving up in the event that her tumors grew exponentially. They have stayed relatively stable.
After fourteen days of antibiotic, Aylie has shown little improvement. And, as I discussed with the vet, this suggested that she had cancer of the lungs.
Accepting that there is not much I am capable of doing in terms of treatment, I now have decided that I just need to keep them as comfortable and happy as I can. Eloise has been fine. But Aylie will not eat or drink. She was good about taking her meds but I can barely get her to eat one tablespoon of food a day. I have tried hand feeding her, and she just refuses after about 5 mL of food. She has diarrhea and barely moves, I can feel all her little bones in her body. This is breaking my heart, I am so close with my two little girls. I care for them so much. And the care Eloise gives Aylie just makes it so much more sad. She grooms her and cuddles her more than usual, making sure she is warm... I know their time is near, but what can I do to keep them comfortable? How else can I feed little Aylie?
This summer, Aylie, who has always been a little chubby, and had always loved her treats, became lethargic and lost interest in food. Before this happened though, she and Eloise were both very itchy and Aylie was losing some hair on her head. I took them to the vets and they suggested Eloise was pulling it out, because she has a tendency to be an aggressive groomer, and the tests they took were negative for any skin infection.
They were fine for a couple months, but now Aylie is doing very badly. Within the past month she lost more hair, her tail started looking scraggly, and she lost weight. What started as slightly less interest in food resulted in a dramatic weight loss in a matter of days, because of her fast ratty metabolism. Unfortunately, the same time she lost weight, my other rat Eloise, developed two mammary tumors. I took them to the vet immediately.
He told me Eloise's tumors were most likely benign but that they could operate, and that Aylie had a very serious respiratory infection, and that the hair loss was only the beginning. I scheduled an operation for Eloise, and started Aylie immediately on anti-biotics. I was informed that Eloise's treatment would cost 800 dollars!! And I simply don't have the finances to support an eight hundred dollar surgery. After much discussion with their other mom, and even asking my parents for help, we were forced to make the tough decision that (even combined) we couldn't afford surgery, but that we would start saving up in the event that her tumors grew exponentially. They have stayed relatively stable.
After fourteen days of antibiotic, Aylie has shown little improvement. And, as I discussed with the vet, this suggested that she had cancer of the lungs.
Accepting that there is not much I am capable of doing in terms of treatment, I now have decided that I just need to keep them as comfortable and happy as I can. Eloise has been fine. But Aylie will not eat or drink. She was good about taking her meds but I can barely get her to eat one tablespoon of food a day. I have tried hand feeding her, and she just refuses after about 5 mL of food. She has diarrhea and barely moves, I can feel all her little bones in her body. This is breaking my heart, I am so close with my two little girls. I care for them so much. And the care Eloise gives Aylie just makes it so much more sad. She grooms her and cuddles her more than usual, making sure she is warm... I know their time is near, but what can I do to keep them comfortable? How else can I feed little Aylie?
That's what I wondered.
