Toffee to be put to sleep continued...

Question
Hi sandra
thanks for the reply. I will tell the vet to anesthetise her fully when time comes. She still has got that sparkle in her eye, she still eats and drinks anything I put in the cage and when I put my hand in she climbs into it to come out. Problem is her body is failing her. Her HLD is now so bad she can barely walk and her tumour is getting bgger by the day. God I wish they could talk and say when they have had enough

vicky

Answer
My boy, Smudge was like that and so was Holly. They found a way to  propel around, dragging their legs behind them. They would prop themselves up on something in order to be able to balance their front end so their front paws could be free so they could hold their food  easily.  All of my rats have been litter trained so it was easy. The bottom of the cage was a plastic base and they  were able to propel around with great ease and even SPEED! LOL! They would shimmy into their litter box, backwards, backing their bottom side in so they could poop and pee and would shimmy all around the bottom again back to their nest.  Smudgie had a ferret ball attached to the side of the cage. This became his wheel chair in a way. He would be able to lean into the sides easily since it was round for him.  He had a stroke and went blind when he was only 14 months old. He had a type of cerebral palsy after that. Holly was an old lady and had tumors all over her. We took them out even though I was scared since she was older,but the tumors left permanent damage to her back legs even after they were removed.
Remarkable rats.....smart as heck. One of my other older girls, Oreo, would slide down her plastic ramps. It was hilarious. She could not really use her feet any longer but lived with lively girls and I could not put them on seperate cages etc....she loved being with her sisters.....so I kept her in a three story. She only went up the first level but knew she would need to get down one level so she used the ramps as a sliding board.  It was also so super cute not to mention CLEVER too. She lived to be 6 months past her 3rd birthday.  You dont need your girl to talk.....she will let you know just by her  eyes a nd her desire to go on...or let go.  I am sad about this....