is my rat dying?

[Bleurghghghgh]

Adopted five rats at the weekend. Two over two.

One of the older ones had a lump on/in her belly which felt as though it had gone down but today is golf ball sized. She's incredibly subdued - currently asleep in the crook of my arm - and quite smelly; I wiped her down with a towel before sitting down with her but there's still a whiff. She's still breathing but deep asleep on me, I've never known a rat to do this

I can't get to a vet before tomorrow and I'm panicking

I'm just sat stroking her now - I don't know what else I can do? I need to go to bed soon but I'm thinking of putting her on one side in a sort of circle of twisted towel so she can lay near me. Or should I put her back in with her sisters so if she does go they know?

Not a RatMum but if its got bigger in such a short period , it sounds like an abscess? (That would account for the smell too)

Do you think her cagemates would annoy her , even unintentionally?
Could you make her up a little seperate box full of soft bedding so she can be comfortable but still have the security of knowing they're near?

If she's gone very subdued , is she maybe in shock?

Poor soul

Phone the Out of Hours vet for advice if you can. Their number will be on your vet's answering machine message or website.

Thank you for answering. She seems to spend all of her time separately from the others (house rather than hammock) snd the three younger ones are very lively. She seems happy sat with me so I'm going to keep her here for an hour or so, then I'll decide whether to have her in with me or not. She's a lot slower than she was yesterday even when awake so I don't think she could escape without me knowing even if I am asleep.

I was thinking abscess too. The smell is more like an 'ill' smell than a poo smell, if that makes sense?

Is it her belly or more a mammary tumour? Are they fancy rats or pet shop type rats? I ask as 2 is a ripe old age for an inbred pet shop rat. Is she having any water/food? If you can go to the vet tomorrow they will advise. if you lift her head under her chin does she keep it up, or drop it back down? Hope everything works out for her :(

Belle, I only got her two days ago but I think she's a pet shop rat as they had them with sawdust bedding, reggie rat etc.

She doesn't keep her head up. Breathing was shallow and quick but now quite slow. Won't eat, I gave her some baby food mixed with water in a dropper but she wasn't reactive.

Called out of hours vets and they said bring her in. But it's an hour long drive away and I'd have to get a bus and worry that would stress her out

Oh bless her. It doesn't sound good to me, I'm sorry. I've had a lot of rats over the years and now unless they are clearly in distress/not eating for a while we let nature take its course. Ask the vet what their method of euthanasia is as ours uses an injection into the heart which is a last resort. One of my sweetest girls wouldn't get out of my scarf around my neck and died in there.

It might be her wee that smells - I had to carry her to the loo because I needed to wee and she's weed on my hand - it smells awful but not like normal rat urine.

Belle, this is where she's insisting on being now. I don't think it's good :(

If she has a large tumour her body could be shutting down. At her age and so unresponsive I'm not sure the vet will do much beyond euthanasia, but I can't advise over the Internet. Would she settle strapped to you in a scarf? I took mine on the train to the vet just laying in there. She didn't make it all the way and it's one of the reasons I stopped the mad dash in the final stages. We've had a couple have quite ugly end stages that have needed urgent vet treatment. It could just be a bad infection though, so if you can go to the vet it will put your mind at rest.

I would take her now if it seemed like she was suffering but there's no exotic vets in (and my local opens the same time as their exotic vet will arrive tomorrow) and I really can't watch another rat die with injection unless totally necessary. I'd rather sit up with her all night

She's quite happy sat on me so I'm just going to stay here where she's comfy for as long as I can

I'd do exactly the same. Just keep her warm and safe and see what the night brings. Will be thinking of you and will give my boys some extra biscuits :(

She's a beauty! Haven't had such a lovely coloured rat for years. She looks like such a little old lady from her fur in that pic. How lovely she's snuggled in and comfortable.

Aw poor rattus :(

My last one has a large abdominal tumour that suddenly seemed to get larger over a couple of days. He wanted to be on his own, lay on me like yours is now. I took him to the vet, had to be put down , it was awful. My other one did similar, suddenly got subdued and isolated himself from the others . Just wanted me to hold him. He died over night on his own.

They were pet shop rats, clearly not healthy to start with :(

Oh dear, she is very old and I fear beyond help. If I was in your shoes I'd let her sleep peacefully rather than drag her out on public transport.

Sorry you have this as soon as you've got her.

BTW I'd love to know the back story. How did you come to give a home to 5 rats?

Sleep well, sweet little rattie

For some reason the first pic has only just loaded. Her eyes say it all to me :( it's so sad when they go downhill

Thank you everyone, I was worried I was doing the wrong thing by not whisking her straight there.

Fort, I posted a thread about it here on Saturday

Belle I could always tell from their eyes too. She peeked up a bit and ran/sniffed about earlier but seemed more confused than anything

I think just keep her cosy, if she wants to be with you (and you must;ve built up quite a bond after only a couple of days) then let her .

She sounds like she's just winding down, make sure you have something absorbant under her to catch any wee (my piggie peed on the vets table after she was PTS) and cuddle her.

Sounds like a vet trip would be stressful for her.

If you do find that nature has taken its course overnight, put her body in the cage so her cagemates know she's gone.

She's such a sweet looking little thing .

I'm such a bloody softie I've bonded with seagulls on the walk to work but it's nice to think she trusts me so soon, thank you.

I was wondering that - I don't want to put her back in because she's happy on me but I should let her sisters see her should I?

She's definitely weed on my chest since she's been laid up here but I don't even mind.

Bloody animals :(

Now read your other thread I'm quite behind on the goings on, on this board - too much chasing after my sporty daughter.

She's gone downhill so much in two days - it's hard to believe this is the same ratty but I'm pleased we had some happy times. I'm kind of hoping she's just very sleepy in the evenings... clutching at straws I know.

I don't even care that one of these pics has my full face in it

My pics won't post :(

I am betting you sleep in that chair tonight. . .
Good luck for tomo with the vet. .