Hi everyone. I'm a newly registered user, so sorry for not initially introducing myself before I disclose my dilemma.
I am a new pet rat owner, however I have worked with rats in the past. Just recently, I purchased 2 baby rats from a pet shop. Unfortunetly, being naive, I purchased from a "reptile feed" shop. My reasons behind this decision stemmed from this pet shop owner's socialization and temperment breeding of his rats. I wanted a calm rat, and in the end I did get two very sweet rats.
However, unbenounced to me, one of the babys had mycoplasmosis. I did not recognize the symptoms until she began acting very lethargic and had a pronounced secretion of poryphorin concentrated on her snout. Immediately I took her to the vet and she was prescribed an antibiotic. Only after 2 days, she is responding wonderfully!!
Now, my dilemma origionates in my little rat's well being. Now that she is better, she is more active (which is wonderful!). However, she has a severe head tilt, to the point where she is not able to "right" herself and often falls over. (The vet did warn me about this.) While I am happy she is breathing easier, it breaks my heart to see her struggle along. She does fall over often, and being the explorer and friendly rat she is, is very persitant to get where she wants, despite the hardship it may cause her.
But, is this being humane? Is this suffering I am inflicting on my rat? I do not want her to suffer, and if that means I should put her down I will do it. I don't want to keep her around for solely my own benefit. While she is much healthier when it comes to the mycoplasma, I wonder if her quality of life has gotten worse. What is right for her?
She can eat, but not what she used to. Often I need to hand feed her small pieces of her food. I feel she is frustrated and if she is having to deal with this huge burden to live, I do not want her to suffer with it.
What would you experienced rat owners do? I am aware the mycoplasma may come back. Any advice on what you think is in her best interest would be appreciated! Thank you so much!
I am a new pet rat owner, however I have worked with rats in the past. Just recently, I purchased 2 baby rats from a pet shop. Unfortunetly, being naive, I purchased from a "reptile feed" shop. My reasons behind this decision stemmed from this pet shop owner's socialization and temperment breeding of his rats. I wanted a calm rat, and in the end I did get two very sweet rats.
However, unbenounced to me, one of the babys had mycoplasmosis. I did not recognize the symptoms until she began acting very lethargic and had a pronounced secretion of poryphorin concentrated on her snout. Immediately I took her to the vet and she was prescribed an antibiotic. Only after 2 days, she is responding wonderfully!!
Now, my dilemma origionates in my little rat's well being. Now that she is better, she is more active (which is wonderful!). However, she has a severe head tilt, to the point where she is not able to "right" herself and often falls over. (The vet did warn me about this.) While I am happy she is breathing easier, it breaks my heart to see her struggle along. She does fall over often, and being the explorer and friendly rat she is, is very persitant to get where she wants, despite the hardship it may cause her.
But, is this being humane? Is this suffering I am inflicting on my rat? I do not want her to suffer, and if that means I should put her down I will do it. I don't want to keep her around for solely my own benefit. While she is much healthier when it comes to the mycoplasma, I wonder if her quality of life has gotten worse. What is right for her?
She can eat, but not what she used to. Often I need to hand feed her small pieces of her food. I feel she is frustrated and if she is having to deal with this huge burden to live, I do not want her to suffer with it.
What would you experienced rat owners do? I am aware the mycoplasma may come back. Any advice on what you think is in her best interest would be appreciated! Thank you so much!