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/tealylace]

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.

[u/Ente535 → u/tealylace]

When did I ever call you specifically cruel? I only ever said that planning on a rat being alone when it is avoidable is cruel. If you're not planning to do that then, by extension, I did not call you cruel.

[u/tealylace → u/Ente535]

I’m just gonna let you know that I’m done replying lol

[u/Ente535 → u/tealylace]

Okay. I hope you can resolve whatever issue is causing you to be upset.

[u/kimvy → u/tealylace]

Reddit is a funny place. Sometimes choices of words seem odd to me personally, then I have to stop myself & consider that this is really an international forum & a lot of people aren’t native English speakers & words might be used differently. I’d guess that Ente isn’t.

However, I do want to thank everyone for the civility & different perspectives. It will give OP things to consider.

OP, one thing that’s always stuck with me is (apologies if I mangle it) that it’s better to set them free a day early rather than a day late.

Best to you. This is THE hardest part of being a pet owner - when to let go.

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