After a week and a half trying to treat a sudden illness (what could have been either a horribly stubborn ear infection or, what we think is more likely, a fatal pituitary tumor) we said goodbye to our little rat Boo today.
Boo and Blinkin entered our lives in March 2013 at a low point for me-I was in a job I was miserable at, and needed some hope and challenge. They were litter mates and a closely bonded pair.
Boo was a challenge in many ways; she could be a curmudgeon with personal boundary issues. But she had so many sweet and funny moments, too. She was obsessed with running-nay, leaping-on the wheel. She was timid about new food til it has passed Blinkin's poison checking taste test, but had a huge sweet tooth. She would often sit in a corner on the highest perch with her little chin tilted high in the air, or (when free ranging) burrow deep into a pile of boxes. She nested like crazy for a while, dragging huge scraps of paper to the top shelf of the cage and arranging them just so, making sure the food dish was totally covered. She sometimes wanted more space than her sister, but would always settle in for a snuggle in the hammock.
After a sudden decline yesterday, and spending hours last night on my lap administering meds and nutrients, today I could tell she was just too miserable to fight anymore, and we didn't feel right about having her suffer even if we found a new medication that would bring about a recovery. After a final cuddle with Blinkin, I brought her in to the vet and they let me stroke her fur and hold her as they administered the sedative and an aesthetic. She relaxed and slowly her heart and breathing stopped. I kept stroking her body. The vet was very kind, didn't push and kept checking on us, until I was ready to go. They will be preparing an imprint of her tiny, finger-like paws to take home.
We hope we can help Blinkin be happy and comfortable as a solo rat for a while longer. (She has a mammary tumor that we have decided not to pursue a difficult surgery on.) They had just turned 2 years old, which is about as long as most live. We're lucky that their health has been great up until now, without the serious respiratory issues plaguing North American rats. We gave them a great life, with a huge cage, yummy healthy food, and a private walk in closet/playground full of things to chew and explore.
Give your furry friends an extra cuddle tonight, OK?
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