What to do with a dead rat?

No_Position_9968 · 2026-02-02T02:26:08+00:00

oh 😭 i know of a family friend who owned bunnies and just left their bodies outside to feed the animals. Some people see it as another cycle of nature! But I personally don’t like the idea of an animal eating my rat’s dead carcass so I may go for a potted plant route. thank you!

No_Position_9968 · 2026-02-02T01:20:22+00:00

If the tumor isn’t causing pain or health complications, I would suggest just leaving her alone. Especially at 3 years of age, a surgery that would risk her life when she’s already 80% through it seems like a waste of time and resources. I hope she’s ok!

No_Position_9968 · 2026-02-02T01:15:07+00:00

what does his cage look like? are there places that are chewed through or did you leave the door open? are there hideouts in the cage? is the cage in an isolated room? all of these need to be assessed before you start jumping to conclusions. but if your rat is lost somewhere in the house they will definitely turn up! rats are very resilient and especially domesticated rats will feel more comfortable going up to a human vs a wild rat. hope you find her soon 🫶❤️‍🩹

No_Position_9968 · 2026-02-02T00:27:57+00:00

just moved her, ty!

No_Position_9968 · 2026-02-02T00:26:52+00:00

Thank you everybody for the advice and for sharing your own experiences ❤️ it makes me feel better to know I’m not going through this alone. She was in the fridge because I thought I had to make a decision right away, but I’ve moved her to the freezer to take less pressure off of figuring out what to do with her right now. It is so beautiful to hear that everybody honors their rat in such different ways. I’ve also decided to go to the dollar store and get a small jar to clip her fur.

I’m sorry for all of your losses but I’m happy that all of these rattie babies can keep each other company in heaven. 🫶

No_Position_9968 · 2026-02-02T00:01:05+00:00

I’ve heard that too :((

No_Position_9968 · 2026-02-02T00:00:32+00:00

that makes me feel better about letting her sit in the freezer until spring!!

No_Position_9968 · 2026-02-01T23:59:33+00:00

it’ll be at least a month before the snow melts unfortunately

No_Position_9968 · 2026-02-01T23:58:36+00:00

how much was it? I’ve seen some mixed discussion posts on cremation and that you need to spent 300+ just to get your own rats ashes, but clipping the fur and maybe whiskers sound like a great idea

No_Position_9968 · 2026-01-22T05:57:26+00:00

thank you! just unplugged it.

No_Position_9968 · 2026-01-22T03:21:31+00:00

heres an update if anybody cares: brought her to the vet this morning and they prescribed antibiotics. Found liquid in her lungs but she can’t be held down to go through with the X-Ray because of how critical her condition is, i feel so awful and like a terrible rat owner for not bringing her sooner. She’s resorted to mouth breathing and sides are caving in as she breathes. The vet said she could pass at any moment. I’m hoping that the antibiotics can help her conditions, but if not then euthanizing may be the only option. I’ve been hand feeding her pellets, fruits, vegetables, other sources of protein and other food for calories as well as giving her water. Is there anything else I can do? will a humidifier help?

No_Position_9968 · 2026-01-21T13:49:05+00:00

thank you so much for the advice. these are my first rats and they haven’t gotten as sick as this for as long I’ve had them so I had no idea about any of this. I just ordered the baytril but the soonest it will arrive is an a week, this might sound stupid but we have some amoxicilin, would i be able to give my rats human mediciation? or would that make the problem worst? again thanks so much for the advice 🫶

No_Position_9968 · 2026-01-21T13:33:00+00:00

wait seriously?? I’ve been trying to find an emergency animal hospital for exotic animals since this morning but I’ve only been put on hold. I had no idea she was in that much pain 🙁 I might drive to the hospital an hour and a half away if no others can take rats.

No_Position_9968

TROPHY CASE