My 13 year old daughter got two baby rats about 3 1/2 years ago. She has been an excellent rat mama. She plays with them every day, spoils them with toys and love. Today we noticed that one of her rats has lost a large amount of fur and probably half his body weight within two days. He is chattering his teeth and eating a lot (despite the rapid weight loss). He has large bald spots and you can feel his back bone. When he walks, he wobbles. She had them in the living room just two days ago running around and they looked excellent at that time. Could this be an illness or is he about at his time to pass? We live out in the middle of nowhere and the only vets we have are more for farm animals, horses. I'm at a loss and she is a sobbing mess, these are her babies.

not to be mean as I'm not being mean but in all honesty a trip to the vet will probably tell you that the rat would require very expensive and possible extensive diagnostics (blood work, x-ray etc) to get a solid diagnoses and then expensive and possible extensive treatment pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

I've been through this with mine (children) and it's a tough call. You can make a trip and spend hundreds to thousands at the vet for diagnoses and treatment or make a trip and spend a small fee on very kind euthanasia

I didn't have the money when the rodents got old and sick and I had the vet put them down

It's sad but not any pet lives forever and rodents are considered an exotic and it costs a great deal to vet them.

I wouldn't let this beloved rat suffer, maybe your large animal vet could euthanize - if this is what you feel best? It's a painless simple injection and they go to sleep and never wake up.

Even though it is a rat it should not be permitted to suffer.

I'm so sorry for you and your daughter. It sounds like she has given them a very long and happy life. Unfortunately, they are coming to the end of their natural life span. This is probably his last illness. Feed him some high protein food, like egg or baby food, to try and keep the weight on. Just make sure he is as comfortable as possible. Without a vet, I don't think you can do much more.

pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

I'm so sorry, I can't imagine anything more heartbreaking than the death of one of my boys. :(

Naww im sorry to hear this but you know you have a pair of very old rats there! They live for about 2-3 years. There is also this disease rats contract at any age where they become sick with a flu of some sort and become weak. So i think that it is time for this here rats departure :( good luck ( Take it to the vet if you wish, and might have to put it down before it suffers anymore)

2 to 3 years is a really long life for rats so don't be worried, soon it will be their time, so enjoy the last of your happy rats. Sorry to hear.

Sounds like he is dying. Rats usually only live 2 to 3 years. One of my first rats became really skinny before he died

When I was 16, my 3 year old rat got a tumor and and began bleeding from different orifices. I was so devastated but I didn't want her to be in pain so I had her put to sleep. I cried forever but it was so much better then her suffering. Your daughter's rats have lived long and happy lives. She obviously loves them a lot so just help her understand that putting him to sleep will help him. But please make sure she understands that the second rat will most likely pass away soon after. When rats are raised together, after one passes away the depression takes hold of the other. My second rat passed away less than a month later because she stopped eating and wouldn't really move. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

Give her some time after and let her decide if she is ready for new babies. It took me 3 years to get new ratties. Good luck and I am sorry for your daughter's pain.

Rat owner.