Walter and a Tomato

I handed out grape tomatoes to my mischief. They like them.



But taking pictures of rats can be challenging.



As Doctor had to investigate the camera. That is his ear. The focus is awful because he is touching the camera.




Ah, Doctor got out of the way, and here's Walter enjoying his tomato again.



What is Gwyn doing?


Stealing Walter's tomato, of course. Walter is nibbling on the crumbs, and that is Doctor's tail.

These photos were taken essentially as fast as my iphone would take them, except I did not include the several fuzzy photos of Doctor blocking the camera.

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Rose

Wowzers, I guess we have been busy. As Patches bounced back so beautifully from surgery, we noticed that Rose had a bump on her rump. Thinking it was an abscess which the vet thought it was too, Rose had an I&D aka incision and drainage. But, no pus. How bizarre that it is a bad thing that there was no pus. Instead, just tissue. Our vet closed her up after she took out as much as she could, but the mass had entwined around poor Rose's vagina, so our vet was thinking fibrosarcoma, aka cancer.

Rose bounced back faster from the surgery than even Patches, and lo and behold, the biopsy report says fibroadenoma. Rose does not have cancer. Shock.

So, now, both Patches and Rose need to return to the vet and have their operations completed. sigh.



Rose, post surgery. I do have pictures of her rump, but that's so undignified for a lady rat.

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Count the Rats -- Episode 1 Answer

I can see four rats in the picture.


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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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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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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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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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