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?

[WildInTheWind]

First, I'm sorry to hear Gucci isn't doing well. I don't know...if he doesn't seem to be in any pain, and his attittude seems positive, maybe you should just let him go. At least for awhile and see if he gets worse. Maybe he will (or has) addapted to his handicap and will be ok with it.

[GateandGarden]

Take what I have to say with a grain of salt because I have never even had a pet other than fish and I do tend to make selfish decisions when I'm really attached to someone and I imagine that applies to pets as well, so... That being said, it sounds to me like Gucci isn't suffering and so I don't think I would worry at this point. Based on what you said about how he's faring and the life expectancy of a rat, it sounds to me like he could live that long and die no sooner than the others. But that's just my view. I'm quite ignorant about the situation but I wanted to give you my two cents. Everyone else might totally disagree with me.

[wondergirl9847]

I'm sorry to hear about Gucci. My dog is about 15+ years old and she's been getting pretty bad lately. Her back legs are shaky and give out and it's hard for her to get up sometimes. She does have incontinence now too. She eats and everything, and my dad and I have been wondering about when it's that time. She had a terribly bad day back in January or February (can't recall), and I thought we were gonna have to do it then, but she got better. I am looking into cornsilk to help with her incontinence, but we don't know how much longer. I don't think I can make this decision and my dad may have to. It's difficult and we've never had to put a pet to sleep before.

Perhaps give him another few months and see how things go. Good luck with your decision.

[amber]

Sorry about your rat. I just think you should let him hold out till he shows some signs of being in pain. I guess there is nothing you can do to fix it, I assume you've explored those avenues. I say, let him go on till he seems really sickly, then put him down (again, assuming you cannot fix what is wrong with him). If he seems happy, I say, let him be happy for as long as possible. Also, I would say, feed him extra treats, he only has a short time on this earth anyways. Love him, coddle him, give him special snacks, take care of his vet needs as much as you are able. Love him and appreciate him, and know that his time is finite, but that it was great while it was here.

[AliP]

It sounds like his quality of life hasn't diminished much. I just can't see doing anything drastic until you can see and feel that he's in a lot of pain or totally unable to move.

I know it's a hard thing. I had rats growing up. One of our rats, Scampers, developed a tumor on her left side. We had it removed and she lived for almost one more year until she developed another and died. I was only seven and I still remember how it broke my heart.

I don't think its selfish to want to keep your pet around as long as possible. I think you will know in your heart when his time is up. I hope it's not for awhile

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by 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?

My friend - I have put two of my BELOVED Scotties down. We waited until we thought there was no quality of life left. The first, Mimi, (my girl) - was "easier" because she was born with one kidney. Maggie the Moo Cow was the second and gldstwmn met her the day before the FM concert here. I knew what I had to do four days later. It was the hardest thing. But, I knew what was in store for her (we had a tumor taken out one month before ) - so I did it alone. Her other parent could (would) not be there which broke my heart. But, I have always been the stronger one. She could have lived a month longer, but I knew the pain. All I can say is:

1. PM me for support because being alone in it SUCKS

2. You will know the right time - and you will - I promise!!!!!!!

[Miss Vicky]

The problem with this case is that it isn't clear cut. I've had to have my pets euthanized many times before, but in the past there hasn't been any doubts that the decision was the right one and that the animal was suffering.
I've had him examined by the vet, most recently on Wednesday. We are pretty much convinced that it is a disorder of the nerves and cannot be fixed. Even if movement of the legs could be restored, the muscles in them have atrophied drastically and it's likely that the legs would be too weak to support him.
Making the situation worse is the fact that my oldest rat, Jolly Roger, suddenly passed away last week (The vet suspects a stroke) and on the last exam a tumor was found on my other male, Monte (who is a poor surgical candidate. He becomes overly stressed when taken away from home and basically hyperventilates). Which adds to my feelings of guilt and wondering if I'm not keeping Gucci around for selfish reasons. It's almost enough to make me stop keeping rats altogether.

X<:3 === )~~~~~

[amber]

Originally Posted by Miss Vicky

The problem with this case is that it isn't clear cut. I've had to have my pets euthanized many times before, but in the past there hasn't been any doubts that the decision was the right one and that the animal was suffering.
I've had him examined by the vet, most recently on Wednesday. We are pretty much convinced that it is a disorder of the nerves and cannot be fixed. Even if movement of the legs could be restored, the muscles in them have atrophied drastically and it's likely that the legs would be too weak to support him.
Making the situation worse is the fact that my oldest rat, Jolly Roger, suddenly passed away last week (The vet suspects a stroke) and on the last exam a tumor was found on my other male, Monte (who is a poor surgical candidate. He becomes overly stressed when taken away from home and basically hyperventilates). Which adds to my feelings of guilt and wondering if I'm not keeping Gucci around for selfish reasons. It's almost enough to make me stop keeping rats altogether.

X<:3 === )~~~~~

Aww, gosh, I'm so very sorry. But I don't think you are keeping him around for selfish reasons. I'm sure he'd want to live long as possible. Especially if he is in no pain, which is what it sounds like. Strandelah is right, you'll know when it is time, it will be when you can see your pet suffering much. I'm sorry for your losses.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by Miss Vicky

The problem with this case is that it isn't clear cut. I've had to have my pets euthanized many times before, but in the past there hasn't been any doubts that the decision was the right one and that the animal was suffering.
I've had him examined by the vet, most recently on Wednesday. We are pretty much convinced that it is a disorder of the nerves and cannot be fixed. Even if movement of the legs could be restored, the muscles in them have atrophied drastically and it's likely that the legs would be too weak to support him.
Making the situation worse is the fact that my oldest rat, Jolly Roger, suddenly passed away last week (The vet suspects a stroke) and on the last exam a tumor was found on my other male, Monte (who is a poor surgical candidate. He becomes overly stressed when taken away from home and basically hyperventilates). Which adds to my feelings of guilt and wondering if I'm not keeping Gucci around for selfish reasons. It's almost enough to make me stop keeping rats altogether.

X<:3 === )~~~~~

I'm so sorry about all of this. But I don't think you're being selfish. Something Ali said really struck me, and I if I'd had more pets of my own I bet I'd be promoting it even more. She said that in your heart, you'll know the right time. I think perhaps it is the strong connection people have with their pets that allows them to know when that time is, especially those who are so dedicated to them as you are.

[HomerMcvie]

Having just spent 4K on radiation and chemo for my dog, I'm probably not the right guy to ask, but I don't think you're being selfish. As long as he doesn't seem to be in pain, I'd let him live. As AMber said, he may learn to live with the disability. Best of luck to him.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

I'm so sorry about all of this. But I don't think you're being selfish. Something Ali said really struck me, and I if I'd had more pets of my own I bet I'd be promoting it even more. She said that in your heart, you'll know the right time. I think perhaps it is the strong connection people have with their pets that allows them to know when that time is, especially those who are so dedicated to them as you are.

You really do make a strong connection. When Mufy was in the hospital and I went to visit him I knew he was going to be okay and come home very soon, like he told me. Seems crazy but that's how I felt and he came home the next day.

[seeker007nmss]

I say you let congress, the president, and courts decide. I hear its the "In" thing to do these days.

[xxxmx]

my brother josh, who happened to be a poodle, fell down the steps and dislocated his hip when he was eleven. he didn't appear to be in pain, but he couldn't walk easily and began falling to the side. i was sixteen at the time and couldn't imagine life going on without josh in it. we took him in for an examination and decided that if during surgery the vet wasn't optimistic about his recovery, that he would be euthanised during the procedure.

i vividly remember handing him over to the vet and then running out of the office. i'm tearing up thinking about it. i knew it was the right thing to do, as he was already 'getting on in years' and i did not want him to struggle while doing the most basic of things. his whole life consisted of happily making me happy, and it was so hard watching him in that state.

although i know that my decision was a mature and selfless one that was made with his "quality of life" in mind, recalling the confusion in his eyes as i handed him over still makes me sick eight years later.

because you asked advice, i will be of service: if your rat is still getting around and isn't in pain, let him be happy until he isn't so happy anymore.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by seeker007nmss

I say you let congress, the president, and courts decide. I hear its the "In" thing to do these days.

That kicks ass. I wish I'd thought of that.