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Jan. 4th, 2009 04:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aprilstarchildMy other rex dumbo rescue rat, Bluebell, died last night. She'd lost most of her appetite after Pinky died, and I'd been bribing her with Nutrical (a disgusting-smelling oily paste for puppies/dogs who've lost their appetite--it's high in calories and vitamins and unfortunately not vegetarian at all), but eventually she lost interest even in that. The last time I tried to give her any, she bit down on the spoon!
I could tell she was getting old, and she was otherwise fine--I saw her drinking water, she got around the cage fine, no lumps or bumps or sneezing or red stuff (aka poryphrin, if I spelled it right). I got her and Pinky in a rescue in August of 2007, and they were both full-grown by then, so I have no idea how old they really were.
Poor sweet baby. She was my favorite of all my rats, because she was so affectionate with me. She loved nothing better than to be on my shoulder. I didn't even have to pet her or talk to her, if she was on my shoulder she started bruxing and boggling her eyes out. I have so many cell phone pictures of her on my shoulder because she was so happy to be there. I remember the day I met her, when I picked her up, the first thing she did was stick her whole head in my mouth. ("ooh, did you eat something tasty recently?")
I wish I'd spent more time with her over the last week. Maybe she would have eaten more. I don't know. I mostly just put her on the bed and tried to get her to eat some Nutrical before putting her back in the cage. Maybe I should have taken her to the vet. I guess there's no point in torturing myself over it now.
Rats are such sweet lovable creatures but they just don't live very long. I've met people who tell me they had pet rats but stopped after their first ones died, because they couldn't deal with how short a time they lived. I think I'm starting to sympathize.
Sammy and Pippin are in fine health, although they seem a tad agitated. Bluebell's body isn't in the cage but I think they can smell her.
I may adopt another girl, a youngish one. There's room in the cage for three or four girls, but I think three is a good number of rats for one person to take care of. Plus when the next older hooded girl goes, the other won't be all alone.
I thought I was okay with Bluebell dying but the more I type about it the sadder I get so I think I might stop now. I have to do some laundry anyway.
I could tell she was getting old, and she was otherwise fine--I saw her drinking water, she got around the cage fine, no lumps or bumps or sneezing or red stuff (aka poryphrin, if I spelled it right). I got her and Pinky in a rescue in August of 2007, and they were both full-grown by then, so I have no idea how old they really were.
Poor sweet baby. She was my favorite of all my rats, because she was so affectionate with me. She loved nothing better than to be on my shoulder. I didn't even have to pet her or talk to her, if she was on my shoulder she started bruxing and boggling her eyes out. I have so many cell phone pictures of her on my shoulder because she was so happy to be there. I remember the day I met her, when I picked her up, the first thing she did was stick her whole head in my mouth. ("ooh, did you eat something tasty recently?")
I wish I'd spent more time with her over the last week. Maybe she would have eaten more. I don't know. I mostly just put her on the bed and tried to get her to eat some Nutrical before putting her back in the cage. Maybe I should have taken her to the vet. I guess there's no point in torturing myself over it now.
Rats are such sweet lovable creatures but they just don't live very long. I've met people who tell me they had pet rats but stopped after their first ones died, because they couldn't deal with how short a time they lived. I think I'm starting to sympathize.
Sammy and Pippin are in fine health, although they seem a tad agitated. Bluebell's body isn't in the cage but I think they can smell her.
I may adopt another girl, a youngish one. There's room in the cage for three or four girls, but I think three is a good number of rats for one person to take care of. Plus when the next older hooded girl goes, the other won't be all alone.
I thought I was okay with Bluebell dying but the more I type about it the sadder I get so I think I might stop now. I have to do some laundry anyway.
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Date: 2009-01-05 01:51 am (UTC)Pinky and Bluebell were rescues, and I sometimes wonder if Bluebell was so affectionate just because she was so glad to be out of a terrible situation, or if it was her natural personality.
I remember when I had six (six!! far too many for a single person renting a room!) rats, and I let them all out on my bed together the first time...Bluebell and Sammy and Merry (RIP) were trying to figure out who was Head Rat, and they kept mounting each other! It was so hilarious watching them chase each other around on the bed.
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Date: 2009-01-05 07:17 am (UTC)So sorry to hear of your loss. I'm glad you posted a pic with Bluebell in it and shared some stories about her! (Also I love that you had a Merry and a Pippin! Is Sammy short for Samwise?)
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Date: 2009-01-05 08:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-05 08:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-05 04:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-05 06:44 pm (UTC)I think you need to try to stop feeling guilty when they die that you didn't do enough They have a good life and it really wouldn't do them any good to prolong it a few weeks trying to get them to eat. Let them decide when it's time to go.
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Date: 2009-01-18 06:59 pm (UTC)(Yes, I'm just catching up on entries now, and I completely understand about the f-list limitations. Bah.)