Her Luck Ran Out

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Lucky rat died today during surgery for a malignant tumor, aged 34.5 months (or around 85 in human years). Even if she had survived she had other tumors growing, so perhaps really it would be providing her but a scant few more months of quality living. It was a series of tragic events that led to her passing; her tumor went from the benign to malignant variety and grew quickly, but of course, she'd kept it hidden from us. Our usual vet was overseas, and the locum - unfamiliar with rodents - didn't feel confident enough to attempt surgery and spaetlese, who provided us the rat in the first place, was interstate. When we made the booking for Lort Smith it was further delayed by another week during the Easter break.

Lucky was so named because she had been earmarked as snake food, was rescued from such an event by spaetlese. Before she made it to us she had escaped her cage and had spent a couple of nights in a house with non-rat friendly cats. Having cheated death twice, she did lose a tip of her tail to a cage accident, but made it through that fine. She had also already gone through one tumor operation. Ever lithe of form, gregarious and curious of nature (yes, even on the rodent scale of things), I like to think that we provided her a happy life. But my parting moment as she looked up at me whilst holding my finger with her front paws is in burned into my memories forever. Farewell, Lucky.

Comments

[ecosopher.livejournal.com]

Oh, she did very well to live to such a ripe old age with so many close shaves! But of course, it's still so sad to see them slip away. Adam and I have discussed having rats again when the children are a bit bigger, but... I'm not sure I can cope with losing them so often. Sigh.

Lucky was also lucky to have such a loving home. The memory you describe is a wonderful one.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I have become used to the expectation of their mortality, if not the actual events (and certainly not in this case, due to the particular circumstances). Despite the sadness it can bring, their enthusiastic and even nutty companionship makes it worthwhile.