Bertie's getting on
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Bertie's getting on
Watching Bertie at the moment he seems very weak, though nothings actually wrong with him - he can get about alright, is foraging for food, washing etc but he's drinking from his water bottle like he's almost to weak to lick at the spout. He's also looking more and more fluffy lately - is this just because he's neutered as well as old? Is this an old age thing or likely to be medical? Maybe I'm fussing over nothing as usual
katherine- Moderator
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Re: Bertie's getting on
Aww Guess it depends what you mean by fluffy. Yes, fluffiness is a sign of age and neutering, however, do you mean fluffy as in not got a normal buck coat anymore or fluffy as in his coat is staring? Perhaps you could get pics?
Hope he's OK but he must be getting on a bit now I guess
xx
Hope he's OK but he must be getting on a bit now I guess
xx
Re: Bertie's getting on
It doesn't look like normal staring to me, just really fluffy, fuzzy sort of thing - like a duster, but not angry. I'll try but him and Maddi are really tricky when they see a camera
katherine- Moderator
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Re: Bertie's getting on
Well something's definitely up with him, he's got very slow and....... he had a cuddle with me! he's also quite porphyrin-y I'll get a photo of him today, poor boy.
katherine- Moderator
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Re: Bertie's getting on
Well in typical Bertie fashion he decided 'no pictures please'. I got one last night and will post it when I get home. It's got to the stage where last night he was falling over as he was trying to wash himself and the way he's sipping from his water bottle is really weak and pathetic I don't think he'll be here for very long
katherine- Moderator
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katherine- Moderator
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Re: Bertie's getting on
OK it looks like a stroke or a brain tumour now poor boy is eating but not easily, I fed him baby porridge from a spoon this evening and he got about a spoonful down him but I'm glad to see now I've left that he's managing it from the bowl alright by himself. However, he sort of lists to one side with his whole body when he moves and falls over quite a bit.
It's difficult to know with him... I'm sure any other rat would have died by now but he's a real fighter, when it comes to considering euthanasia I always try to think of their quality of life, but with him... he never had what I'd consider to be quality of life - he was miserable on his own but too aggressive to have company until Maddi came along and they fought constantly until she got sick.. though he did seem happier and now he manages. So I really don't know.
She's another concern. Her tumour is getting pretty massive and obviously she'd become lonely if I had him put down now... the only sensible thing would be to have her pts at the same time as she wont be here longer than a few weeks anyway, but the plan was not to do that until her quality of life suffered and she seems so pingy and happy in herself it would feel completely wrong to have her pts now..
Anyway, just venting I guess. No one can make these decisions for us, but it helps to share with people who I know will understand.
It's difficult to know with him... I'm sure any other rat would have died by now but he's a real fighter, when it comes to considering euthanasia I always try to think of their quality of life, but with him... he never had what I'd consider to be quality of life - he was miserable on his own but too aggressive to have company until Maddi came along and they fought constantly until she got sick.. though he did seem happier and now he manages. So I really don't know.
She's another concern. Her tumour is getting pretty massive and obviously she'd become lonely if I had him put down now... the only sensible thing would be to have her pts at the same time as she wont be here longer than a few weeks anyway, but the plan was not to do that until her quality of life suffered and she seems so pingy and happy in herself it would feel completely wrong to have her pts now..
Anyway, just venting I guess. No one can make these decisions for us, but it helps to share with people who I know will understand.
katherine- Moderator
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Re: Bertie's getting on
(((((((((((hug)))))))))))))))
It's never easy it does sound like he has something sinister going on alright. I think having them put to sleep together is the ideal solution, and I know many people who've had similar done, I may have done it myself (though I can't remember, I think the mind has ways of helping you forget sad times). However, I understand that Maddi is still really happy enough, and so it's doubly hard. I hope you're OK - whatever you decide will have my backing.
xx
It's never easy it does sound like he has something sinister going on alright. I think having them put to sleep together is the ideal solution, and I know many people who've had similar done, I may have done it myself (though I can't remember, I think the mind has ways of helping you forget sad times). However, I understand that Maddi is still really happy enough, and so it's doubly hard. I hope you're OK - whatever you decide will have my backing.
xx
Re: Bertie's getting on
Thanks Laura. I appreciate your support, as always
katherine- Moderator
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Re: Bertie's getting on
It sounds like it might be the kindest thing to let them go together x horrible decision to have to make thinking of you x
smokierat- Moderator
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Re: Bertie's getting on
Thank you Grace When I came home from work today Bertie was gone
katherine- Moderator
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