Her Luck Ran Out

[tcpip]

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

[17catherines]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[tcpip]

Thanks Catherine..

[iris]

Poor Lucky. :( I'm sure she was thankful for your ownership, though. She went through a lot before she came to her final home, so I think she was Lucky to have you as an owner as well. Best wishes.

[tcpip]

Thanks Iris. I do worry that her last weeks were less convenient for her, although she seemed in good spirits. There are many happy memories.

[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.

[ratfan.livejournal.com]

Very sad to hear about Lucky. It does sound that even without the delays, if there were other tumours on the way, the outcome would not have been altered. And that's indeed a good rat age. Condolences from Coconut and the boys.

[i-amthecosmos.livejournal.com]

Sorry for your loss, and thank you for this post telling us about her.

[leo-sosnine.livejournal.com]

Well, we all are going to die and soon. On the bright side, this specimen had pretty decent life I suppose. I wonder how many of his brethren made this far.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I've become a hopelessly sensitive soul as I've aged, and even despair at the death of a murderer.

It is true that in the wild that a rat would be fortunate to live more than a year. At our place, they are in luxury. Still, the succession of events that led to her passing was frustrating and stressful.

[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.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I just hope she wasn't in pain. I suspect not, as she was still eating well, and enjoying treats. I think the size of the tumor was causing inconvenience however, which is why she had taken to a rather impressive nest.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the kind words.

[leo-sosnine.livejournal.com]

It is what it is, life is a suffering and the more you think about it the more you suffer. I've buried 5 dogs during my life and now can't have dogs because when i see a puppy with my eyes i see it dying with my mind's eye. It wasn't me who started all of this, I'm just forced to play this game by the rules that I didn't set.

So, from a happiness standpoint human being should not think much, especially about death, suffering of all kinds, diseases, etc. Plus, thinking much about this can impact socializing badly, nobody wants to be friends with a person who is always in sorrow.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Good words my friend. 'To live, to live well, to live better' is how Alfred North Whitehead paraphrased the purpose of human reason.

Five canine friends would have brought you a great deal of joy. I intend to have one day; at the moment our household of two rats, one rabbit, one guinea pig, and one cat will provide more than sufficient non-human companionship.

[txxxpxx.livejournal.com]

*hugs* The stress surrounding her passing would have been felt far more strongly by you than it was by her. I am sure her overwhelming impression was that she was in a warm, happy, friendly place and was loved. And realistically, could any of us want for more?

[leecetheartist.livejournal.com]

Aw, condolences. She sounds adorable.

[delphipsmith]

I love this story. Lucky was indeed lucky. My husband and I currently have three "rescue rats" -- Smudge, George, and Nibbles. He was at the pet store, saw them in the "feeder rat" cage, went all mushy over them and brought them home. They're very sweet.

Years ago we had a bunch of gerbils; one of them got a tumor on its leg and we took it to the vet for surgery. The vet was so intrigued by the idea of operating on a tiny rodent, which he'd never done before, that he did it at cost (that is, no charge for his labor). The gerbil cost $3 and the surgery was over $100, but it was worth it :)

[splodgenoodles.livejournal.com]

Lucky was lucky, but I am sorry for your loss.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Aww, those are delightful names.

Yes, the price of animal care often surprises people. But they're just as complex as a human system (if not more so), so why should it be any different? This particular rat was free, but I think we must have spent several hundred dollars on various medical bills and medicines.

A significant part of me does think that it would be better to spend such monies on the sufferings the developing world. It's always about opportunity costs.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Oops! I forgot to offer you a dead rat (I'm full of great gift ideas, aren't I?)

I think caseopaya feels it even more keenly. But I don't think Lucky was terribly happy in the last weeks - the tumor has just gotten far to large.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Oh, trust me she was!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Thanks Splodge. I just wish she had been just a little more lucky.

[txxxpxx.livejournal.com]

Thank-you for the thought. Tony said to me a while ago that I was so easy to please. Just give me a cocktail & something dead off the side of the road & I would be in my element. :) Lots of people say to me "Hey, I saw a squashed possum today & thought of you." I consider it a compliment :)

And in the scheme of things maybe Lucky was not the right creature to go through my process. I like to think the universe provides or takes away in a manner which respects the indivdidual spirit. I'm still waiting for th beetle colony to reestablish to a point where it will be able to cope with Dantelion. He has not been forgotten :)