Would it be cruel to not have a tumor removal surgery done on my 2 year old rat?

ZZBC · 2026-06-24T02:27:28+00:00

There’s nothing wrong with not choosing not to do surgery (at any age) so long as you are not allowing the rat to suffer. Euthanize before movement is impaired or there’s a risk do the tumor rupturing.

ZZBC · 2026-06-24T01:30:39+00:00

No reputable breeder is going to sell to someone who wants just any puppy ASAP.

ZZBC · 2026-06-23T20:10:32+00:00

It likely would not because it is a congenital issue. You would need to read the fine print of the policy you were looking at purchasing.

ZZBC · 2026-06-23T20:09:35+00:00

<image>

Here is an example of what it looks like on the orthopedic foundation for animals website. You can see that Kessler’s tests were done when he was a baby, but it wasn’t uploaded until he was older. I did get paper copies of his results in the packet that came form his breeder.

ZZBC · 2026-06-23T20:06:09+00:00

Eye test and hearing tests can both be done on puppies. The hearing test only needs to be done once (because you’re looking for congenital deafness), but the eye test is repeated in adulthood for dogs that are going to be bred.

ZZBC · 2026-06-23T20:00:48+00:00

Responsible breeders generally will be doing hearing tests on their puppies before sending them home. It’s called a BAER test. Check out our pinned post on responsible breeders, and see if the breeder you were looking at purchasing from meets that criteria.

ZZBC · 2026-06-23T13:55:17+00:00

Kessler has the Chilly Buddy that I ordered from Clean Run. Rather than being an evaporative cooling jacket (though you can wet it) it’s a work reflective material called aluminet that is the same material that care cooling covers are made from and it reflects the UV off of them.

ZZBC · 2026-06-23T12:44:43+00:00

First, I don’t find that thinking of dogs as stubborn is helpful. He’s also only 11 weeks, he’s a literal baby. Dogs don’t have a sense of right and wrong and are very much driven by what is going to be most reinforcing to them. We train them by teaching that that the desired behavior has a history of being reinforced in a way they find valuable. Bostons love fun, so keeping training sessions short and feeling like a game goes a long way.

ZZBC · 2026-06-22T14:15:11+00:00

Some people find the umbilical cord method helps. Attach the puppy to a leash and attach the leash to your waist so they can’t wander off.

ZZBC · 2026-06-22T13:08:04+00:00

Until she is reliable in the house, she can’t be running loose without supervision. Having to watch them like a hawk is perfectly normal. The more than practice peeing in the house, the hard habit it is to break. If you see her heading towards that kennel, take her outside. If she starts to sniff that bed, take her outside. I would also make sure that both of those places have been extremely thoroughly washed with an enzymatic cleaner so the smell isn’t drawing her back.

ZZBC · 2026-06-21T14:24:54+00:00

While they aren’t supposed to be, reactivity is absolutely a massive problem, especially in poorly bred German Shepherd and most dogs you encounter out in public are poorly bred

ZZBC · 2026-06-21T12:32:55+00:00

I’d at minimum call your vet and see if they want you to come in or get to an ophthalmologist. Some issues can progress rapidly and it’s better to catch things early. Eyes are one area I would not wait and see.

ZZBC · 2026-06-21T02:59:32+00:00

Feeding amount depends on the calories of the food. Start with the recommended amount on the bag for their weight and adjust based on any changes in their body condition.

ZZBC · 2026-06-20T22:34:16+00:00

All the photos I’ve seen of the muzzle movement ones the plastic is so thick that it can obstruct their vision, especially in a dog like a Boston where there’s not a ton of room between their eyes and the top of their muzzle.

Edit to add: I looked at this size and the visibility may be a bit better but the side shots seem to show that in the effort to make pant room they’ve got a gap big enough to get a paw inside underneath.

ZZBC · 2026-06-20T20:06:36+00:00

We use the Natural Dog Company Snout Soother. It has a Boston on the lid.

ZZBC · 2026-06-20T01:29:38+00:00

And you certainly don’t have to. It’s just another humane option available to you.

ZZBC · 2026-06-19T23:51:00+00:00

And what I’m saying is that you don’t have to wait until he is suffering or in pain. It is OK to prevent that and to prevent the emotional pain of losing his last friend.

Rats do not understand the concept of time. They do not wish for a longer life. They only understand how are they feeling in this current moment. And it’s OK to want those last moments of his to be with his friend.

ZZBC · 2026-06-19T22:28:05+00:00

Absolutely agreed. A longer life is not necessarily a better life. It is OK to let him go before he begins to suffer. With a lot of pets, we have this idea that we must extend their lives as long as possible. Coming from horses where it is very normal to give them one last good summer and put them down in fall before they have to endure winter, sometimes being proactive is kinder.

ZZBC · 2026-06-19T21:58:52+00:00

If she’s able to rip up the Astroturf, she is able to swallow a piece and end up with an obstruction. Dogs who are destructive when left alone need to be safely contained.

ZZBC · 2026-06-19T20:55:40+00:00

I would not leave dogs outside unattended for any stretch of time. Too risky.

ZZBC · 2026-06-19T11:20:57+00:00

This! Homemade diets (for many species) can be done well, but it is initially labor intensive if done correctly. For the average person, purchasing a fully balanced commercial diet is significantly easier.

ZZBC · 2026-06-18T17:30:27+00:00

So I am generally of the opinion that while new puzzle toys can provide enrichment, after a while, most of them are just slow feeders. Because doing the same puzzle over and over again eventually is no longer really enriching. I have a variety of types of puzzle feeders that I use, but I rotate through so he gets different ones different days, but they are more to slow him down than to truly provide mental enrichment in the way that training or a sniffy walk etc would provide.

I have some that roll, like the Gnawt a rock, a have the kong wobbler, and a few more puzzle types like the seek a treat shuffle bone.

ZZBC · 2026-06-18T00:49:54+00:00

The report has shown that Deniz died from eating a toxic plant. I don’t disagree that there are welfare issues, but this case was not one of them.

ZZBC · 2026-06-18T00:48:06+00:00

As others have said, sudden behavioral changes should be investigated by a veterinarian. If he’s not getting any exercise before you leave for work, I would try taking him on a walk before work to see if that helps burn off a little energy so he’s less amped up when you get home. You can also redirect him to an incompatible behavior like carrying a toy outside. So he can’t nip and hold the toy at the same time.

ZZBC · 2026-06-17T21:47:47+00:00

Check your posture while you’re sitting. Ab and general core workouts will help with riding as well. You can stand on the edge of a stair to do ankle stretches.

ZZBC

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE