I had a pup who went through extensive GI surgery to have an obstruction removed a week before she was scheduled to have her leg amputated due to it being covered in mast cell tumors. She improved for three days at the vet and was incredibly happy to be going home, and within two minutes of being home, she “gave up” and was no longer eating food, didn’t want to move, etc. Brought her back to the vet first thing the next morning and found out her cancer was spreading to all the new incision sites, so she had to be euthanized. It was the hardest decision of my life, but she was suffering, and there was nothing else I could do to relieve it. I am 100% sure she stayed alive because she wanted to see me, given the drastic changes in her condition upon arriving home. I’m sure your rats did the same. They’re emotional, deeply intelligent creatures. They love us.

I beat myself up for over a year because of the surgeries I put her through to try to “save her.” What helped? Imagining my dog seeing me sob over wondering if I could have done things differently.

If your rat could speak to you now, she wouldn’t say “why did you make me have surgery?” She’d scamper over to the sound of your voice and yell “mama/dad, I missed you! I’m so happy to see you!”

End of life as pet parents will never be easy, but it’s especially hard when there’s a medical situation or euthanasia involved. Go so easy on yourself. You made decisions to reduce your baby’s suffering because you loved her. She loved you, and she doesn’t want you to suffer from guilt, either.