I can see four rats in the picture.
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Monday, February 27, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Count the Rats - Episode 1
This is a photo from Christmas time. How many rats can you see? I shall post the answer tomorrow.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Found Toy- Rat Swing Set
While at the local dump, I picked up a "Rat Swing Set" from the free stuff area. Doctor had enjoyed a stuffed toy/basket when we picked him up from the rescue. I still wish I'd gotten a picture of him sitting in his swing and swinging away. Since then, I've been on the look out for another swing for Doctor.
I think I might have found it.
And, here's Doctor checking out the swing...
It's too early to give a full review as the rats haven't had a chance to truly explore and play with it. But, I'm hopeful that Doctor will enjoy swinging in his swing. (Doctor hasn't figured out how to get into it without assistance)
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I think I might have found it.
And, here's Doctor checking out the swing...
It's too early to give a full review as the rats haven't had a chance to truly explore and play with it. But, I'm hopeful that Doctor will enjoy swinging in his swing. (Doctor hasn't figured out how to get into it without assistance)
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Patches is back home with her buddies
Patches is recovering very well from her surgery. Yesterday, she rejoined her buddies in the big cage.
Today, this is her trying to convince me that she can wander on the floor. We have magnanimously decided that she's not allowed on the floor until she has her first bath after surgery which isn't to happen until she is actually more than 7 days post-op. We, however, did not consult Patches' opinion on this, and she disagrees wholeheartedly.
Her hair is starting to grow back which you might be able to see in today's photo.
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Today, this is her trying to convince me that she can wander on the floor. We have magnanimously decided that she's not allowed on the floor until she has her first bath after surgery which isn't to happen until she is actually more than 7 days post-op. We, however, did not consult Patches' opinion on this, and she disagrees wholeheartedly.
Her hair is starting to grow back which you might be able to see in today's photo.
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Friday, February 17, 2012
Post Op
Patches had me worried yesterday. When we brought her home, she was squeaking intermittently in pain and was having episodes of agitation and confusion. Fortunately around midnight last night, the agitation resolved.
Now, she's acting like a typical postop ratty, snoozing with Nurse Gwyn. She's been eating and drinking.
The vet told us that it was likely residual effects of the anesthesia that was making Patches agitated. It's just heart wrenching to watch your rat trying to run from something that she can't see, and she was oblivious to her environment. But, Patches is Patches again.
She's healing well.
This is her attempting to balance on the little litterbox, but she was successfully munching her food.
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Now, she's acting like a typical postop ratty, snoozing with Nurse Gwyn. She's been eating and drinking.
The vet told us that it was likely residual effects of the anesthesia that was making Patches agitated. It's just heart wrenching to watch your rat trying to run from something that she can't see, and she was oblivious to her environment. But, Patches is Patches again.
She's healing well.
This is her attempting to balance on the little litterbox, but she was successfully munching her food.
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Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Day of Patches' Surgery
The photo is of Patches taken yesterday.
She went in for surgery this morning at 8am, and the vet has already called to say that she is recovering well. The vet found 2 masses on her left side. One of them was under the other one. And, the vet reported that Patches just didn't want to go to sleep and required extra sedation. That's Patches. She can be extremely stubborn.
We have her hospital cage all set up and are waiting for a phone call around 3pm to pick her up.
So far so good.
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Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Patches' First Surgery
Happy Valentine's Day.
Sigh, I got to go to the veterinarian today.
We, including the moral support of Mabel and Doctor, took Patches to the vet today to find out about her tumors.
Female rats frequently have breast tumors. One of the multitude of reasons that rats are used in research.
Anyways, Patches has become quite bumpy. We had initially just been watching as she's my old lady at 2 years of age, but her left armpit lump has been growing fairly quickly. The lump is visible in the following photo.
The vet says she's still young enough for surgery to be beneficial so, Patches goes to surgery on Thursday morning to have two tumors removed. She actually had 3 bumps but the third bump hasn't grown over several months. Unfortunately, the vet does not want to tax Patches too much with the surgery because the two tumors are going to leave a large scar. To put it into perspective, one of the tumors is the size of Patches' head. Imagine how big a surgery that would be for a human.
We have a good vet fortunately. She's operated on several of our rats. I was complimenting her on how neat her stitches are and she was mentioning that she intentionally is diligent with the rats to make very fine stitches and tosses glue in, too. And, she said, that her (the vet's) hands are small which makes it easier to make really small stitches. This is all great, as I am worried for Patches. She is not as healthy as her buddies, ie she's an old lady.
Rats heal very fast, but they are also fastidious about cleaning and are well-known for chewing through a surgeon's handiwork post-op. Yeah, gruesome. Fortunately, we have never had that problem. As I said, we have a good vet.
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Sigh, I got to go to the veterinarian today.
We, including the moral support of Mabel and Doctor, took Patches to the vet today to find out about her tumors.
Female rats frequently have breast tumors. One of the multitude of reasons that rats are used in research.
Anyways, Patches has become quite bumpy. We had initially just been watching as she's my old lady at 2 years of age, but her left armpit lump has been growing fairly quickly. The lump is visible in the following photo.
The vet says she's still young enough for surgery to be beneficial so, Patches goes to surgery on Thursday morning to have two tumors removed. She actually had 3 bumps but the third bump hasn't grown over several months. Unfortunately, the vet does not want to tax Patches too much with the surgery because the two tumors are going to leave a large scar. To put it into perspective, one of the tumors is the size of Patches' head. Imagine how big a surgery that would be for a human.
We have a good vet fortunately. She's operated on several of our rats. I was complimenting her on how neat her stitches are and she was mentioning that she intentionally is diligent with the rats to make very fine stitches and tosses glue in, too. And, she said, that her (the vet's) hands are small which makes it easier to make really small stitches. This is all great, as I am worried for Patches. She is not as healthy as her buddies, ie she's an old lady.
Rats heal very fast, but they are also fastidious about cleaning and are well-known for chewing through a surgeon's handiwork post-op. Yeah, gruesome. Fortunately, we have never had that problem. As I said, we have a good vet.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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