I picked her up about an hour ago. If I may explain a few things that might be boring...when dogs or cats go into surgery, they are able to "knock them out", and then "bring them around" with medications. Rats can be "knocked out", but my vet doesn't like to "bring them around" with medications, because it makes them...as he says, "crazy".
Rats are crazy enough as it is, so I'm fine with this.
Anyway, when a rat is "knocked out", they don't close their eyes. So, they look quite dead. In fact, "new" employees at that vet who have been there during operations on my rats have falsely declared them dead in the past. xD It's a little disturbing, actually. But, they just need to be kept warm, and they start coming around eventually.
Usually, they keep a rat at the vet for me until he/she is pretty much back up and moving around semi-normally. But, this time, they had a power outage, so their puppy/kitten incubator was out of power. They called me and told me the surgery went fine, but they had no power, so they wanted to send her home, so I could keep her warm. If she was there overnight with no power, and she got too cold, "there would be problems", they said.
So I went to get her. They covered her in towels and bottles of hot water in the meantime, and she looked...well, dead. But I kept telling myself, they always look like this, she's fine, everything's good. Paid my bill ($275, in case anyone is curious! That's about right for a rat's growth removal) and took my poor dead-looking rodent home.
I set her up here with a lizard heater and the hot water bottles the vet put in there with her, and I keep poking her to see how she's doing. I put some Terramycin in her eyes, since one of them was looking...really dry. Oh right! Their eyes dry out if you don't keep them moist, forgot to mention that.
...But my boyfriend and my mom keep asking me, "how do you know she's alive?" xD Which is unnerving, I have to admit! But she's definitely alive, and I just poked her again, and she's starting to move her arms a bit. I'm pretty sure she'll be fine.
However, I go leave at an ungodly hour tomorrow morning, so my boyfriend has a lot to deal with...medications, and checking on stitches...haha...he's in for a crash course on rat care. He'll be fine though, I'm sure, and she'll be up and running in no time.
Edit!! -- She's awake!! ...And bumbling around, looking VERY confused. xD My poor baby!!
Thank you for all your well-wishes!! Just thought I'd let you know how she's doing!
Yeah, I'm a little worried about her cagemate and the stitches! Hopefully, she'll let them be! But right now, they are separated.
Soon, she'll be up and running again, and I'm sure she'll be happy to be lump-free!
Just a little rat-owner advice, if the time's been too long, you might want to reintroduce them to each other ^^
And yeah! Those stitches.. >_> It's always a question if they'll leave it or not >)
I've seen a rattie wrapped into a sock just to keep him from it X) He was apperantly REALLY determined to get those out!
I'm away now, but I told my boyfriend to make sure they see each other during "play time", but they are separated when he is not able to watch them. I was worried about that same thing! I have never been good at getting rats to get along, no matter how much I've read about introducing them, so that these two like each other is a BLESSING, I'd hate to lose that.
So, I'm trying not to keep them apart for so long that that happens, but if it does...I'll do my best to get them to be pals again. xD
You're welcome to note if advice is needed!
I have a few friends in a Rat shelter/Rescue, and they're pretty much really good at intro's, seeing as they do it a LOT of times
So I could put your questions through to them if you'd need that ^^
Good luck with your babies <3!
Hope to see some cage and rattie pics, because I ALWAYS love those!
Thank you, I will definitely ask you for advice if I need it! xD
Oh! Okay! While they're away, the main cage is mostly in the wash (all the hammocks and stuff) but when I get it reconstructed I'll see if I can get some interesting photos!
I have seen some way better cages than mine. I am jealous, and once I move into a bigger house, I have plans. xD
Haha plans! Sounds determined and awesome! 8D
I don't have rats (yet) but I've already stocked up on a LOT of hammocks (A lot..) and toys/houses/name it!
I'm so ready too X)
Ive had them before (10 in total but not all at the same time) and I'm just ITCHING to start again ^^
Haha, it's fun to make rat plans. I was thinking of converting a closet. But now that my boyfriend loves the rats, too, maybe they can have an entire rat ROOM. <3
RATS RULE!
YAY!
Man when I see things like ;
http://www.guineapigcages.com/photos/data/531/bigfndecorated.JPG
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lv2f34RjuS1r6dbdwo1_500.jpg
I'll admit, it itches!
I just LOVE all those bright colors @ u @
I'm so glad to hear she's home and starting to wake up! Best wishes to Samuel for a speedy recovery.
pokes the rat with a stick 030 poke, poke, poke, poke, poke she's gonna be a grumpy ratty when wakes up >:P
I'm so happy to hear that Samus' surgery went well! Augh, that must have been awful for them to have a power outage at the clinic, that sounds pretty terrifying. I can't imagine sending a pet home that hadn't fully recovered from anesthesia, but I guess under the circumstances it's more understandable. Sending lots of well wishes for a safe recovery!
Oh gosh, I'm so glad you were able to afford everything and she's okay now!
Rats seriously aren't the only animals that look (and feel!) dead. Puppies and Kittens when they get spayed/neutered do a pretty darn good impression of it too!
But seriously, I'm so happy she's okay and everything!
PS - The combination of relief and cute animal syndrome probably meant she was hilarious when she first woke up oh my gosh it sounds adorable.
Link
Kashmere
Cute to read! I would be scared too, having her constantly looking dead!
Let's hope she'll be back to playing with her cagemates soon and feeling all dandy and fine! ^^