Samantha

A few weeks ago, I'd rearranged the cages in Vermin Village because Samantha was going to have to be put to sleep (PTS), I wanted to help Zelda, her very nervous sister, become used to the other girls so she could move in with them, but I didn't want Sam stressed having to deal with introductions, so cages were placed side-by-side.

This past Thursday Sam seemed a little worse, so I made an appointment for today for her to be PTS. I removed her from the cage with her sister because dealing with Zelda become too much of a trial for Sam. Friday Sam appeared to rally, but Saturday morning she was looking very ill. I had class today so when I got home, we went to her appointment. On the way there we went to Burger King to get her a small order of french fries. Her last meal. She munched on the fries while resting in the carrier in the car.

For the past 2 nights, Sam had been sleeping in the chair with me after she had her nightly dish of ice cream. Today, I took her to Burger King to get her a small order of french fries as a treat.

It is with great sadness that I had to put Sam down today. She was just over a year old. She is survived by her sister, Zelda. And despite my feeding her ice cream and french fries, which she agreed with me that they are yummy, her diet was very healthy until the end when we both felt that she didn't have to worry about maintaining her girlish figure.

Samantha and Zelda were adopted from the Oregon Humane Society in August 2007 at 6 months of age. Zelda is going to be introduced to new cage mates today so she can work on making new friends.

An active little girl, Sam developed cancer that I noticed just before the March 2008 Rat Show. Her leg just looked slightly misaligned. I made an appointment for her and by the time her appointment came, the slight misalignment was an understatement and a mass started to show and was finally palpable. Eventually, her entire leg was enlarged and she lost use of it. While she could have gone through a leg amputation, the doctor felt she had an aggressive form of cancer and since the tumor had tentacles wrapping around the leg, the chances were great that it was in the body as well. And that proved to be the case.

Unfortunately I was never able to get a real good picture of Samantha, she was just too busy. So much to do in so little time. The one above is her mug shot from OHS.

And the angel could hold her breath no more.

A saddened Rat Slave.

Ratties and Food

Well Hades and Diego are big boys, half brothers about 8 months of age. They are getting accustomed to their new digs. They were in a home without other rats and were not ill ever so they got to go right in the room. Both are big boys. I will post a picture as soon as the camera is charged!

Sam is doing ok. She greets me at the door of her cage for her food. Every time I think she is starting to move slower she shocks me and runs around!

I found out that Harlan has the 2018 diet available commercially as Native Earth through PetFoodDirect.com. That isn't the diet I really wanted, but it is good that there is one. I'll have to place an order for May/June to last until the September show when I'll run up to Seattle to get some more. (Sounds like a jaunt rather than a 180+ mile drive. :-)

Well, gotta go and get cracking on cleaning the last 2 cage parts and dismantle the shelves. After almost getting the room done I decided the shelving was going to have to be scrapped as it takes up too much room. Total bummer.

Samantha and Tweek News

Well, Tweek gave us quite a scare on Monday. Doctor called and said he was prepping her for surgery and after he shaved her, she stopped breathing. He brought her back and said he wanted her on heart medication for a few days and then they would try the surgery again. Her tumor was a damned if you do and damned if you don't tumor as it was already getting very large and it would kill her sooner than her heart would. I gave her medication, Lasix and Enapril. Diuretic and a blood pressure medication. She had her surgery rescheduled for Thursday. I asked if they could see Sam then (Sam's appointment was made for Saturday). They moved her to Thursday too.

I was anxious at work while I knew Tweek was going under. After lunch I just couldn't wait any longer so I called them. Tweek had made it through surgery and was waking up. Phew. Doctor was examining Sam.

Doctor called about 10 minutes later. Tweek was waking up fine and was still a bit groggy. But Sam was the bad news. Her tumor was really bad news.

I originally noticed a slight oddness in her walk and in the alignment of her leg. When I made Tweek's surgical appointment, before the Mercer Island, Washington rat show, I tried to get Sam in to be seen that same day but no openings. But I was able to get her in when Tweek went in for her second attempt. By the time she got into the vet (2 days before her original appointment), the "oddness" with her leg had gotten bigger and worse. The news from the doctor was grim.

At the very least he would have to amputate the leg. But he was certain he couldn't get all of it and he was really certain it was one of 2 cancers, possibly three. The tumor was very deep and so wrapped around the leg he was certain it was already in the body as well. He said he'd do the surgery, but he couldn't promise anything. I asked how long she had without the surgery. He said possibly 2 months. So we made the choice to give her hospice. I want her last bit of time on earth to be happy with her sister and helping her sister adjust to getting used to new ratties so when Sam has to leave, Zelda would be ok.

So here it is, late Saturday night, and I'm rearranging the rattie room to accommodate this tragedy. The upside is that I'm glad Sam and Zelda have been with me since 6 months of age. I originally adopted them from the Oregon Humane Society and we got off to a rocky start but they're wonderful little girls. They are now only 13 months old.

By rocky start I mean I didn't take the cage with them when I adopted them from the Humane Society. That was a mistake. Zelda pouted for 18 hours. As long as it took me to get her home and in her new cage until the next evening when I got home from work and went in to check on her to see if she was still pouting as she was that morning. I broke down and went to Petco and found the same cage only bigger. After putting her in that, she stopped pouting. Now she is completely out of that cage, but has a similar wheel--that's how she keeps her girlish figure. Of course Sam usually runs on it with her. Now Sam doesn't run on the wheel, but she does get on it and walk.

I hope Zelda is okay when Sam has to go. I think this time will allow Sam to prepare Zelda. I think they know.

I've lost one mouse by walking in and finding that he had passed. I lost my very first rat, Pokey, in 1994, when I walked in and she had died at 9 months of age. I've lost 2 senior boys adopted this past July. One passed in my arms at home, the other at the vets when I had him PTS. I honestly can't say it is easy, but I do prefer being there when they pass so they know they aren't alone.

I wish this was a happier post. I thought I would be happy about getting the room done this weekend, but it isn't as exciting with the knowledge that Sam won't really get to play in it for very long.

One saddened Rat Slave says goodnight.

Tumors Suck

I'm so bummed. I found a tumor on Tweek and she is having surgery on Monday, March 17th. Today, while doing the weekly check on Sam, I found a tumor on her back leg. I'm so bummed. Sam will go for her pre-op appointment on next Saturday. Poor little girl. I feel bad because her cage mate, Zelda, will be by herself. I'm thinking I should introduce her to the other two girls so she can start bonding with them and then introduce Sam and Tweek to the three of them. That would be good for all of them to have so many companions of varying ages. We shall see how it goes. Tumors suck. I don't care if they are benign or not, they suck.