A Soft Goodbye - Proper Rat Euthanization

PLEASE READ - This is one two basic ways that vets use to put down PET rats. Anesthesia should be used so your rat simply sleeps and feels nothing (their eyes will stay open which is normal. when humans go into surgery, their eyes are taped shut for the same reason).
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Many vets still simply jab a needle into your rat while he or she is wide awake to feel all the pain, the lungs collapsing, and the terror, just because it is cheaper.
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Don't be afraid to ask how your vet intends to help your friend pass on, especially since you may not be allowed to watch due to different policies of different vet offices. If they say "a quick and simple heart stick" demand that your pet rat be anesthetized first. It will cost a little more but it is worth it.
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In the video, you will see Elise gasp for air at one point, but that is because she was on her side and her tumors were compressing her lungs. If she hadn't been anesthetized, she would have fought to get back on her tummy immediately.
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Elise was 36 months old in this video. She had three large tumors and various small ones. Normally, i would have had the tumors removed from my lovely rat but hers developed when she was about 32 months old, and she would not have made it thru the surgery because of her age. Tumors are not an instant death sentence, and in most cases are not painful for the rat, just an annoyance.
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The amount of time it takes for your pet to pass on will vary with circumstances. It will usually only take a few moments but Elise's tumors were soaking up the the euthanasia drug which is why it took so long.
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I have heard from many people of their rats living 5-6 years. My rats are all adopted from rescues, given a second chance to have a good life. They usually come from homes that don't give them good care, bred from parents living in the worst conditions with no concern for their health so I feel blessed for whatever time they can be with me.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• pet
• rat
• rattie
• death
• tumors
• euthanize
• goodbye
• pets
• animals
• Fancy rat

[battler1111]

What's in there, anyway? Poisonous gas?

[angelratgirl]

@battler1111 no, the gas inside the mask is just to make her sleep, anesthesia. altho if the doctor kept her under for too long, it would eventually kill her but that would have taken alot longer. it is the stuff in the needle that was, essentially, "poison."

[Freddeboy28]

i had a rat, almost 3 years old :( it was getting blind on both eyes D: so we bought a time at a vet to but her to sleep. my other rat is almost 2 years and has very much energy...so before i went to school i left my thrashed t-shirt a little too close to the cage and my ray pulled it in and then when my blind rat took her normal walk around the cage she got stuck in it and...we think she strangled her self :´( but hopefully she got scared and died instantly anyway :( poor Sofy...R.I.P :(

[angelratgirl]

@Freddeboy28 oh no, that is awful! poor girl. i hope you are ok and don't blame yourself. it's just one of those things that couldn't be helped.

[FreefallingIsMyHobby]

Awe, poor baby... I'm glad you made sure that she felt loved. :')

Um, I have a question.. what happened to her arm?

[angelratgirl]

@FreefallingIsMyHobby her arm is basically surrounded by several tumors. it looks like one huge tumor (or a large bicep to all those thinking of making that stupid joke) but i believe there were eight separate tumors just around her arm, and i don't know how many around both legs and abdomen. they were benign, but that didn't keep them from growing fast (from pea sized to what you see in two months).

[angelratgirl]

@hookbastard gosh. am i supposed to say i'm sorry i didn't entertain you? you disgust me.

[FuzzyBerries]

Poor rat. I understand what you had to do, I saw her arms. May she rest in peace. :(

[chrischeyari]

@hookbastard Hey Dip, you should change your channel name to Dumb Bastard

because it suits you. Maybe even Lonely Bastard, Stupid Bastard, Plain Ol Bastard,

Silly Bastard -take your pick. Or better yet, be creative and use one randomly

every day since they all describe you to a tee. Oh and if you'd like to see something cut off, try cutting off those marbles in your pants since you don't erally need them anyway.

This way, you ensure that a Useless Bastard like yourself doesnt breed.

[angelratgirl]

@MrRadaikon it depends on the vet office. i have seen a bell jar used (because my girl was simply that small and fit under it nicely). i have also seen the vet use a chamber similar to a nebulization chamber. but all methods were simply for the anesthesia. afterwards an injection was used to stop the bodily functions.

[UGOMANGO12]

I just love people who love their animals. And for those(of you) that don't actually understand (us) and how we bond and welcome animals into our families as a family member, I hope one day you have a chance to enjoy the experience. Nothing can match it. And if they pass on (before you) remember this (video). Only then, will you understand its depth. **This comment was for those who posted distasteful comments to the woman who shared the video with us**.

[fluteplayer]

@Dectheboner a person like that needs help and prayer and i'm not afraid to pray for those that really need it the most.