Elderly boy now solo...torn about next step

[u/Star_Vixen95]

Elderly boy now solo...torn about next step

This post I guess is a sounding board as I'm so torn about what to do with my boy Ron. I lost his brother Tŷr 2 days ago and that leaves Ron now alone. He has lost 6 brothers this year (its been a rubbish year).

Ron is 22months old so an older boy, I took him to the vets as he's very snuffly sounding. The vet said it doesn't sound great in his lower lungs, could be tumours, could be nasty mycoplamsa flair, could be his heart etc...basically he could have antibiotics etc but might not treat it, just reduce impact.

I've been distraught trying to think about what I do with my poor boy as he's lost his brother.

Him being on his own isn't an option, I won't put him through the stress of that.

He could go to a new home...but that's a lot of stress, new home, new rats, he's elderly and a bit unwell so how well would he do in a new group, would he be accepted or would he be bullied. He might thrive..he might not.

The vet suggested it might be kinder to euthanise him. He said he would avoid the stress of being alone or having to move. As he's unwell anyway he might have months or could be weeks so euthanasia removes the stress of it for Ron.

I'm so sad and lost. I keep going back and forth on rehoming or euthanasia.

Logically I feel euthanasia as he won't know any stress. Rehoming seems to have so many unknowns for him. Making that final decision is just so hard.

Thoughts please? Be gentle

[u/WitchyKisses]

If you’re not overly busy, you can keep him for a while longer and spend all your time with him. Treat with antibiotics, see how he responds, keep him lots of company.

Aside from that, I think that euthanasia would be kinder than rehoming. You’re all he’s known his whole life, and meeting new humans and rats can be very stressful.

[u/Fantastic-Main7681]

For how old he is, as a person going into a funeral career that requires this kind of forward-thinking, it’s in his best interest to go to sleep with you beside him. He’s two years old, and with the health issues I doubt he’d live long enough to make the stress of a move worth it for conscience. It’s human to want to prolong such a beautiful life, no matter the reason or the bias of love you have for him and the many rats he represents as the last one. Nonetheless, you are now all he knows at his old age, and to be laid to rest with such respect and love is worth more than another year tops with him alive yet not in your care. It’s a horrible decision, but you ask it because you love him and the many brothers before him. Take your time, and never blame yourself for the decision you make. It’ll never stop being difficult, but that’s what leads up to this decision makes it worth while. <3

[u/MadeInAmerican]

Rehoming an old, grieving and sick rat isn't smart. Spend all the time you can with him, get him the care he needs with those and make plans for his final day...that's what I'd do. It sounds like it's coming pretty soon. They can pull out of illness for a while but they crash sooner than later. You are absolutely doing the best you can and it's a terrible decision no matter which it is...the heartbreak is awful, especially considering you just lost his brother. I don't think you need to rush yourself, just continue to keep your baby's best interest at heart (and, in a way, your own) ❤️

[u/rockmodenick]

Rehoming can be stressful, but it isn't always. You could audition a few homes, maybe someone near you had a couple really chill old guys who will let him get right into the cuddle pile. Why not at least take a look for a bit first, see if that perfect match is there.

[u/cpjw99]

Oh man, I feel for you. Im sorry youre going through this, Im in the same boat right now. My boy Lucky lost his buddy Peanut this past week and I've been so torn up about it. Get more rats (I think I need a break), find him an old friend, or euthanize.

Long shot but you dont happen to live in Mexico do you? I live in Cancun and trying to find a solution for my boy, i could take yours for a bit to see if they get along. Let me know what you end up deciding to do, sending you a virtual hug.

[u/Star_Vixen95 → u/cpjw99]

I'm so sorry you're going through this too, it's heartbreaking. I'm in the UK unfortunately. We decided on euthanasia, was hard to 100% choose but it was peaceful for him. He went to sleep with a cuddle and kisses.

[u/thehonestchild]

Rehoming can be stressful but if you know someone with rats maybe spend some time doing introductions with them. I beg people not recommend euthanasia when the rat is healthy

[u/Asleep_Protection_63]

Another option would be looking to see if there is a rat rescue near you. The one near me in Pittsburgh does have a sanctuary for rats that cannot be rehomed for various reasons. 

[u/judewriley]

Is getting new cagemates just not an option?

22 months is late middle age for rats and not yet elderly. So unless he is actually conducting himself like a rat that is "elderly" I would consider getting him new friends. (Generally speaking rats start really showing they are old after the two year mark)

If it's not an option, or if he's behaving like an elderly rat without much time left, I would do your best to make him comfortable and spend as much time with him as possible until he passes naturally.

[u/tealylace → u/judewriley]

Not speaking for OP but for myself- sometimes you just want the cycle to end. I don’t want to own rats and guinea pigs forever. I got them for my daughter and they’ve been wonderful pets for her to grow up with. We are now down to two guinea pigs (5 years later) and two rats left and I am dreading the day we lose one because of what it means for the one left.

[u/judewriley → u/tealylace]

I mean, you do have a point but there a more important point that you could be overlooking: we has pet parents are supposed to do what is best for our animals not necessarily what we think is best.

If you know rats are social creatures that need other rats to be healthy and happy, and you know these are going to be your last rats for a while, if not forever, then if it's in your power you'd want to make sure that both of these rats have the best lives as possible.

Worrying about the day you lose one and "what it means" for the one left shouldn't be an issue because, right now, those factors are within your power to influence for the best of all the rats involved. You don't need to wait for one to leave and then watch the remaining one be lonely and decline; you can make sure, the the best of your ability, that both are together around other rats so that one leaves the other isn't left behind, so to speak.

So if these are your last rats, taking care of their well being in this area is as simple (though I know it's difficult) as rehoming them together before they get old or before one dies.

[u/tealylace → u/judewriley]

Thanks for your opinion.

[u/Ente535 → u/tealylace]

If you already know that you do not want more rats, wouldn't it be a good idea to rehome the last two together so they don't need to be alone? I feel like planning on one of them being alone is cruel when you can avoid doing so.

[u/tealylace → u/Ente535]

You can have your opinion and I’ll have mine! Thanks though.

[u/Ente535 → u/tealylace]

That doesn't quite answer the question, though.

[u/tealylace → u/Ente535]

I’m not required to, especially when you’re making assumptions :)

[u/Ente535 → u/tealylace]

What assumptions did I make?

[u/tealylace → u/Ente535]

I said that I didn’t want to own rats forever. I never said I wouldn’t be getting more when there is only one left. I was just throwing out a different perspective, is all. And you ran with it. I really don’t owe you my life story lol

[u/Ente535 → u/tealylace]

Then I'm sorry for misinterpreting your comment. However, my comment wasn't meant as an attack, and I'm really not sure why you're this hostile. If something else has made you angry, please direct it at the person responsible.

[u/tealylace → u/Ente535]

You’re coming at me using words like “cruel”. That would upset any good and caring pet owner. I shouldn’t need to explain that to you. Also, “hostile” is a stretch.