My new rat had an emergency trip to the vet today *Back from Vet P 21- :(*

[TenderLovingWillow]

And I am not sure who was more traumatized, me, or Gadget. He has to have surgery to be neutered, and possibly do a hernia repair. :( this is the most friendly one that I have. :( his testicles are like hugely swolen, bleeding, and there is blood pooling in them.

The good news is it's much cheaper to do a surgery on a rat than a human. I know it sounds insane, but can you pray he will be okay? I get so attached to my pets, and I just LoVE this one. Even though I just got him q few weeks ago.

Thanks!

[domesticzookeeper]

ITU :hugheart :pray4

[LoveIsGentle]

Of course. :hugheart:pray4

[Barefoot Bookworm]

:pray4

[Amber]

:hugheart :pray4

[rjy9343]

I am terrified of those, but because you are you, I will pray for him.

[TenderLovingWillow]

I am terrified of those, but because you are you, I will pray for him.

Aww, thanks! He sure is a sweetie!

[Llee]

:pray2

[LadybugSam]

:pray2

[mamamonkey]

We've never had rats personally, but a friend in HS did and her rat was a really nice rat.

So, :pray4 and :hug

[TenderLovingWillow]

I just dropped him off for surgery, I am nervous. Pray he will be alright. :pray

[domesticzookeeper]

:pray4 :heart

[LoveIsGentle]

:pray4

[Mama Calidad]

:hugheart

[LadybugSam]

:pray2

[RachelB]

Nadia was asking last night when Gadget's surgery was. :heart Hope all goes well for the little cutie.

[TenderLovingWillow]

Okay, I need someone to hold me. :cry

Gadget has some sort of an abcess, and has litterally chewed a hole in himself at the incision site of his surgery. I have looked at pics online of what he "should" look like, and he is hugely swolen, and has lots of dark tissue that could be dead.

I checked him this morning and he looked much better than this.. I called the emergency vet line and got some guy who said he did not know much about rats.

I am going to take him in right away in the morning.. But I am scared and worried.

Please pray.

[blondie]

:hugs:

[StumblinMama]

:hugheart I forget what they are called, but for dogs, vets often fashion a funnel looking contraption around the animal's head to keep them from chewing wounds. I'm sure if you google, you'll see what I mean.

[RachelB]

Oh, Jennie. :(

:hugheart

Call me if there's anything I can do.

[Amber]

:pray4

[TenderLovingWillow]

Well, I officially feel like an animal abuser. :cry

Apparently, it has been infected for some time, but I was looking for the wrong signs. I was looking for an angry red, or discolored infection, and what I got was a huge, possibly deadly hard, crusty, "normal" colored infection. :cry

The Dr sent me home with a disinfectant wash, more painkillers and ABX, and hopefully he will be okay, but she said that its a very large, serious wound, and that it is in a critical area.. so we would re-check on Tue and hope the swelling has gone down so that the vet can see if the infection is just on the outside, or if it has taken hold inside the body as well. :cry

Please pray.. I am just devestated that I missed this. DH does not get it because Gadget is just a rodent.. :sigh

He is supporting me, but without getting why this upsets me so much. :cry

Thanks!

[Amber]

:hugheart :pray4

[Heather Micaela]

Well, I officially feel like an animal abuser. :cry

Apparently, it has been infected for some time, but I was looking for the wrong signs. I was looking for an angry red, or discolored infection, and what I got was a huge, possibly deadly hard, crusty, "normal" colored infection. :cry

The Dr sent me home with a disinfectant wash, more painkillers and ABX, and hopefully he will be okay, but she said that its a very large, serious wound, and that it is in a critical area.. so we would re-check on Tue and hope the swelling has gone down so that the vet can see if the infection is just on the outside, or if it has taken hold inside the body as well. :cry

Please pray.. I am just devestated that I missed this. DH does not get it because Gadget is just a rodent.. :sigh

He is supporting me, but without getting why this upsets me so much. :cry

Thanks!
You are not an animal abuser for not knowing what to look for in a hurting rat :hug2

Also, just because an animal is tinier and has a shorter lifespan than other typical pets does not make it less worthy of care and love. Rats are wonderful pets and great at giving and recieiving affection. It is ok to care :yes :hug

[rjy9343]

You are not an animal abuser for looking for the wrong signs of a problem. You are a good pet owner who cares enough to look for the first signs so that her pet can be comfortable. I would also say if you are looking for what healthy skin and normal healing look like, you are a contentious one as well. And he is not just a rodent. He is your pet and pets are an amazing source of love and affection that people who are not into animals will never understand.

[mamamonkey]

I would have been looking for the same signs you were. And you've been taking good care of him and taking him to the vet (iow, you are NOT an animal abuser!) :hugheart

[Macky]

Hugs for both of you. :hugheart Ditto all the other posters.

[TenderLovingWillow]

They said today he has a 5O/50 chance of
Survival. On my phone, but bbl with more info.

[mountainash]

:hugheart:pray4

[LadybugSam]

:pray2 What's going on, Mama

[TenderLovingWillow]

He didn't make it.. He died yesterday afternoon.

I am grieving, he was super duper sweet, and I really loved him. :cry

The infection moved to far into his body, and I am guessing he went septic. :(

I did start a thread last night, I was on my phone and could not find this one.

[LadybugSam]

http://gentlechristianmothers.com/community/showthread.php?t=424866

I found it right after i posted this. I'm so sorry for your loss :(

[TenderLovingWillow]

Yeah, I checked that thread right after this one. :giggle

We are going to go burry him tomorrow. :heart