Quote:
Originally Posted by shcirerf
I work for a vet, but we don't see a lot of rats.
Just our area.
Hope things go well!
I can understand why she might have been a bit cranky!
Sometimes even where rats and other pocket pets are popular, vets don't see many, mainly because rodents are sold so cheaply, they're often seen as being virtually disposable. Even dedicated rodent owners often self-train for most medical needs, simply because most vets don't have much experience.
When I took my Gussy to be euthanized, the vet actually praised me for bringing her in rather than trying to do it myself without training. I told him I had actually had to learn in college (in theory) how to quickly break a rodents neck in case emergency euthanasia was necessary. He then asked me why I had brought her in rather than do it myself, and I told him I was afraid of botching it as I'd never actually had to do it. He assured me he would use an overdose of sedative so she wouldn't feel it, and I could hold her while he did it, and I could have the body if I wanted. I couldn't bear to do either, so he gave her the injection in another room, and disposed of her body for me.
That's the worst part about having ratties, their short lifespans and vulnerability to cancers (so their passing can be rather difficult).
They have all the intelligence, temperament, trainability, and social bonding (lovieness) equivalent to canines (but some of the independence, acrobatics, and grooming habits of felines), so they're like itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie catdogs.... that unfortunately live on average, only two years.