Polo is 2 and we took him to the vet's a couple of weeks ago with wheezy breathing. He had baytril for a fortnight and his breathing seemed to improve but on Tuesday this week, we noticed he had a lump under his chin.
Because it has seemingly arrived so quickly we hoped (?) it was an abscess. Took him to the vets on Wednesday and they though not, but we came home with more anti-biotics and anti-inflammatories. Last week, he was taking the medicine fine in grapes or with cream cheese. This week, I can't get him interested in eating anything and his breathing is laboured. He seems very poorly and it's happened quite rapidly from Tuesday night.
DD and I are on holiday all next week and although DH will be at home, he's not the main rat carer. I don't want to have Polo getting worse all week whilst we're away so I think sadly, we might have to have him PTS tomorrow morning.
DD (7) knows we've been to the vet and that Polo is poorly but she thinks he will get better. I asked her today to consider the possibility that he might not but I think the idea of us having him put to sleep is going to be a horrible shock to her still. These rats are our first family pets so I'm looking for any advice on the best way to broach it with her - in particular the idea of us choosing to end his life rather than have him die naturally (sorry).
thanks
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Small pets
Talking to DD about very poorly rat - delicate conversation
6 replies
AuntieBulgaria · 14/08/2015 16:21
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