I've only talked to a few folks about Mrs. Snuggles, my very first breeder rat. She recently weaned her last litter of 12. When she had her babies, I noticed a slight swelling above her left front leg and was heartbroken.

I knew I really couldn't do too much while she was nursing a litter, and I didn't have another mom to foster off her babies to.

So, this swelling has grown, and after talking to Tim and Monica when we were in Birmingham, they told us that it sounded like a blocked mammary gland and that in their experience, it grows until it eventually bursts and leaves a gaping wound.

Well, I fed off Mrs. Snuggles' litter this past weekend, so I knew it was time to get her into the vet and most likely humanely euthanize her. Dr. C is an awesome vet, he had told me before that whenever my breeder rats needed to be euthanized, he'd do it for no charge.

So, he felt it and didn't feel it was a blocked mammary gland, he felt it was more likely a tumor. He took a needle and tried to see if he could get anything out of it (Mrs. Snuggles was a champ all that time, but she did pee on him). Nothing.

He goes, "take her home, put some warm compresses on it, and see if that helps, but I can just as easily do surgery on her and just pop that on out".

I said "how much money for the surgery, Dr. C. She's an aging rat, and while she's otherwise healthy, I don't want to do un-necessary expensive surgery to prolong her life, and I'd rather humanely euthanize her". He goes "Oh, I'll do it for $20 or $25, just bring her in Friday morning and we'll take care of it. If it was a dog, it would be a $400 surgery".

Um...YEAH!!!!! Of course we're going to do it! I'm so thrilled! She's my little squishy rat, the only rat allowed to run around in the apartment. I get to bring her home that afternoon.

He loves rats, he took extraordinary measures to try to save Noel my Christmas rat last year (she didn't make it for those who weren't here at the time).

He didn't even charge me for today's visit. You guys know he became a hero with Noel last year, today I love him even more!

Here's Mrs. Snuggles when I first brought her home.





So, Becky - question for you - aftercare - I have a separate enclosure for her - can she be on aspen, or what do I need to keep her on?

I'm so happy I get to keep this old rat - she's a fantastic female who is very doting on any other female she's with, and loves babies - so I'll use her to referee unruly weaned females in their grow out tub.