follow up question about SuzyQ

Question
I saw the woman you recommended. She was very nice. She declined surgery due to the nature of the tumors.  She says they are  growing too fast.  She said I have a few days to a few weeks w/ Suzy.  She says I will know when its time to put Suzy down but I'm not sure I will.  Do you think it is inhumane to let her die naturally? I am a mess, my rats are my whole life, this is my first time with this decision and I know there is no way I will know what to do. In other words: Won't the tumors take her, do I need to put her TS?

Answer
I am sorry to hear that....

But you know what? Trust your heart...YOU WILL KNOW when its time to put her down. I cant really explain it but you will know.  She will tell you. She will stop eating, become weak and will lose that spark that all rats have in their eyes.  When the spark starts to die out you will know she is ready to go... but she may also let go on her own. You should not allow her to become a skeleton, so weak and so frail and thin she cannot walk or function. If she gets to that point, it is time to let her go.

I have done this so many times...too many...I have loved and lost over 45 rats and many of them I let them go to sleep and only a few died on their own. Most of those that died on their own did not die peacefully like I wanted...they would have panic attacks, bite the cage bars trying in vain to get out to get to me, gasping, having seizures in my hands till they die, only to defacte and urinate as they pass.  Its a heartbreaking thing to see and it stays with you for a long long time afterwards.  Its not always a peaceful thing for them to die naturally and if my rats get very sick to the point I know they cannot possibly be comfortable, I let them go to sleep forever with the help of the Vet.