Pet Advice: A Moral Dilemma

[Miss Vicky]

I need bluntly honest advice here:

One of my rats, Gucci (who is pictured in my avatar), has what the veterinarian and myself can only assume is some sort of degenerative nerve disorder in his hind legs. I first noticed it about eight months ago. It began with slightly diminished control of the hind legs and poor balance. Since then it has progressed to near total paralysis. The rest of his body seems fine. He hasn't lost bowel control and his tail and hindquarters are not paralyzed. His legs are not at all painful and he seems to have little or no feeling in them at all. His attitude remains positive; he is still perky and alert and interested in food and his surroundings. I've been dilligently replacing the bedding in his cage every 2-3 days and keeping it well padded. He hasn't developed any pressure sores or urine scald resulting from his disability.

I worry though about his quality of life. He seems to be able to maneuver himself well enough, even managing to climb on top of his little plastic igloo. I don't think he's suffering physically from it, but I wonder if I'm keeping him around for selfish reasons. He is already about 2-2 1/2 years old and the average lifespan of a domestic rat is only 2-3 years. Ultimately, I will make my decisions regarding euthanasia based on what I feel is right. However, I'd like to know what you all think. If this were happening to your own pet, what do you think your decision would be?