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So last Wednesday I woke up to find that Athena had bled on a plastic part of the cage, and was still doing so, and it was thick on her body. I realized immediately something was very wrong, and got my mom, who had fortunately taken some days off from work. We rushed to our vet who could do emergency surgery, and called ahead just to make sure we could get her in as soon as possible. Blaire, the little girl Athena had, was also in the cage at the time because we didn't have a carrier- the one we did have was chewed on too badly.
The vet checked Athena out and admitted her, I suppose. She said it could be a postpartum uterus infection, or cancer, but it was most likely the first. Athena went in for surgery (but first was given fluids). We left and and went back home to wait for the surgery to happen and finish.
It wasn't either of those things, she had a baby still in her uterus, and it was rotting and decomposing. The vet said it smelled really bad and it was rather disgusting. They removed her uterus, naturally. Athena survived the surgery, but after the anesthesia wore off, she was in pain. We gave her her pain medication for three nights, and on the morning after the final dosage (Monday) I let her and Blaire out. I wanted Athena to feel comfortable and she fell asleep next to my hip while Blaire ran about.
Then she started to show a sign that I really should have thought more about. Athena got off the bed (still weakly) and decided to go under the bed, where the ratties like to play. She just went to the wall and stayed there, no relaxing and not moving much. It reminded me of how animals like to go away when they know they're dying. I didn't want to think that so I didn't.
I put Blaire and Athena in their cage after a while, and went on about my day. As I was texting my friends, describing this whole charade, I went to check on Athena and Blaire.
Blaire was eating, perched on the food bowl. Athena wasn't breathing, wasn't moving. I opened the cage to make sure... and she was stiff. I spent the day in my room and I didn't notice when Athena died. Her eyes and mouth were open....
I think Blaire misses being with her mommy.
My first rat, really. She's gone. She was the leader of the mischief, so smart, and I think she and I had a deep connection. And now she's gone, and I don't know what to do.
The vet checked Athena out and admitted her, I suppose. She said it could be a postpartum uterus infection, or cancer, but it was most likely the first. Athena went in for surgery (but first was given fluids). We left and and went back home to wait for the surgery to happen and finish.
It wasn't either of those things, she had a baby still in her uterus, and it was rotting and decomposing. The vet said it smelled really bad and it was rather disgusting. They removed her uterus, naturally. Athena survived the surgery, but after the anesthesia wore off, she was in pain. We gave her her pain medication for three nights, and on the morning after the final dosage (Monday) I let her and Blaire out. I wanted Athena to feel comfortable and she fell asleep next to my hip while Blaire ran about.
Then she started to show a sign that I really should have thought more about. Athena got off the bed (still weakly) and decided to go under the bed, where the ratties like to play. She just went to the wall and stayed there, no relaxing and not moving much. It reminded me of how animals like to go away when they know they're dying. I didn't want to think that so I didn't.
I put Blaire and Athena in their cage after a while, and went on about my day. As I was texting my friends, describing this whole charade, I went to check on Athena and Blaire.
Blaire was eating, perched on the food bowl. Athena wasn't breathing, wasn't moving. I opened the cage to make sure... and she was stiff. I spent the day in my room and I didn't notice when Athena died. Her eyes and mouth were open....
I think Blaire misses being with her mommy.




My first rat, really. She's gone. She was the leader of the mischief, so smart, and I think she and I had a deep connection. And now she's gone, and I don't know what to do.
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