RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:23 am

Last night I found Jewel curled up in a corner of her cage. My heart sank. Her babies are eating solid foods but I am really worried about them. They will be 4 weeks old tomorrow. I do not know what caused her sudden and unexpected death, the necro wont be back for about a week, I took her in today. Daddy is keeping the babies warm, and trying his best to be both a mother and a father to them. He is doing a great job cleaning them and sleeping over them. I was worried he wouldnt know they were his but in the situation I had to take that risk. He did exactaly what I thought he would do. I gave the babies some scrammbled eggs, and from here on out its hopeing and a lot of well wishes. I will keep you posted. Shaz

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Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:26 am

Awwww, I'm so sorry. I hope the babies make it all right. Sad

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33 rats
5 mice
4 hammies
4 Dogs
3 guinea pigs
3 rabbits
1 cat
R.I.P. Sebastian, Brently, & Bethoveen

Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:45 am

oh sweety i am so sorry! i'm glad that daddy has taken over baby duty. **hugs**

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i miss you dove, oz, briar and fern. liam, my love, i 'll never forget you.

Sat Oct 29, 2005 1:11 am

I'm so sorry. I hope the babies do well with their dad and you as surrogate mom.

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Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Sat Oct 29, 2005 1:23 am

Thank you everyone... I am just thankful this happened now instead of two weeks ago. These lil guys and gals would have never had the chance then. Its going to be a long road. Why is it bad things happen in 3's? Shaz

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Sat Oct 29, 2005 1:30 am

Oh, I am so sorry to hear that! At least the little ones are old enough to eat on their own - it would have been really bad had this happened sooner.

I am wondering what it could be that caused her death, though. It will be interesting to see what the results from the necropsy are.

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Shanna
~ Serendipity Rodentry ~

Sun Oct 30, 2005 7:25 am

I am so sorry. It is great that the dad can kinda take over for the mom. I did not know they would do that.

Crossed Fingers

for the babies.

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Rosie

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I miss you Tut, Goldy, and Raoul Angel rat

Sun Oct 30, 2005 9:25 am

Under normal circumstances, I would not advise it. However I know the temperment of my male. I figured he would be happy with babie duty and he accepted it right away. I am still worried about the littlest mouse though...its just sooo tiny. Shaz

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Sun Oct 30, 2005 10:09 am

Hey Shaz, I'm sorry to hear about Mama passing on Sad

*HUGS* ... you did show us a boy from her first litter.. how old was she?

-Melina

Sun Oct 30, 2005 8:55 pm

Aww, Shaz. I'm so sorry. I hope everything works out!

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Shadow Brook Rodentry

Bridge Ratties: Samson, Wraith, Aiko, Kasper - I <3 you & miss you.

Sun Oct 30, 2005 9:03 pm

I'm sorry to hear abut your momma mouse. Hopefully the babies will be just fine! Send the daddy mouse my love and condolences too.

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Cait

+

~~~Hendrix and Sambora~~~

Mon Oct 31, 2005 1:58 am

I'm so sorry for your loss.

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Arvay and the Squirmin' Vermin

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'

--Erma Bombeck

Mon Oct 31, 2005 1:59 am

Melina,

Yes I did...Jewel was only 6 months old. This was her second litter, and I was going to retire her after this one. I guess my lil angel just retired herself. Havent gotten results back...hopefully I will hear something on monday. Shaz

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Sun Nov 06, 2005 1:09 am

Do you know what caused it yet?

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Rosie

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I miss you Tut, Goldy, and Raoul Angel rat

Sun Nov 06, 2005 4:03 am

How are all the babies doing now? Crossed Fingers

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Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Sun Nov 06, 2005 4:47 am

Vet said it was it was a massive clot, most likey from the lung...So now I am worried about my little line. He said there would have been no warning signs with something like this, well there wasnt. I asked him if there was anything he could do to check the babies, and the father unfortunatly, he cant and he said it isnt souly genetic....he told me it was a pulinary embolism ? I know that spelling sucks.. I was acctualy shocked with his findings, any way I will Jewels ashes back in another week and a half. Shaz

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Sun Nov 06, 2005 4:54 am

On happy note with soy and scrambled eggs all 9 remianing babies are doing fantasic under Daddies watchful eye, the boys are going to be put in with him and Sonny...their big brother of course under VERY watchful eye tomorrow...I will let you know how it goes. They are so furry(the babies) most of them.....I think everyone who gets one will completely adore them
Shaz

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Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:37 am

Oh dear

Pulmonary embolisms often are very sudden. I know that in humans, the hormones of pregnancy increase the chance of a PE, as does reduced activity or an injury to a lower limb. Sometimes it's the result of a problem in the heart... but if she had no illness beforehand, it's probably just one of those freak things that no-one could have predicted.

I'm glad that the babies are all doing well. Crossed Fingers

that it all continues to go good.

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Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:48 am

But is it hereditary? He said it could be, but not always...I was like WTF is it or not....he also told me this isnt that common in mice, is that true? Shaz

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Sun Nov 06, 2005 6:00 am

I honestly don't know if it's common in mice - it's not something I've really heard of happening in mice or rats as pets, so I presume it's not common, though I know it can be induced in a research setting. Then again, I'm far from an expert in mice (and still have plenty to learn about rats) so I honestly can't say for sure. Also, I don't think the majority of people do a necropsy on sudden deaths, and if they saw a rat or mouse suffering difficulty breathing they're likely to assume and treat for pneumonia or other respiratory issues.

As for the hereditary issue - it's both. Like in humans, and in many conditions (from breast cancer to high blood pressure to stray clots) - it's multifactorial. Some people (and mice) can suffer from a genetic change that makes the platelets (the cells that are basically responsible for clotting) more sticky, so clots can form easier. In that case, that change would likely be hereditary, and the mice would be more prone to clots... but , as in humans, there is almost certainly other things involved - such as an injury, hormone changes or some such thing that triggers off the clot formation more than others.

So it really is hard to say - I know that's got to be hard, worrying about the babies and the rest of the line - but there isn't a firm answer. It could be hereditary, or it could be simply a rare unlucky fluke. How about the rest of her littermates - have any of them had problems?

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Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Sun Nov 06, 2005 6:34 am

I have adopted out all of her brothers except one, and all of her sisters. There has been no problems that I know of. I keep in pretty good contact with my adoptees, I guess I keep watching them. They are pretty small but this was her biggest litter. Her first was only 4 three lived...but they were pretty large for mice. This line I have been only working on for 2 years, 7 generations..I really would hate to stop this line, but if they arent going to be healthy I have no choice. Shaz

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Sun Nov 06, 2005 7:54 am

Something like that, though, Shaz, it's really impossible to tell. I'd lean toward it not being hereditary simply because I've heard more cases of such things (in both humans and animals) that are situational rather than hereditary.

I'm glad the babies are doing well!

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Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Sun Nov 06, 2005 7:04 pm

It sounds like it is mostly not hereditary, but genetic problems can increase the chance of them having it.

Good luck introducing the babies to your other boys!

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Rosie

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I miss you Tut, Goldy, and Raoul Angel rat