Boo hoo :o(

My rat Chester died tonight. I had to have him put to sleep. We think he had a stroke - he couldn't hold his head up at all, and it was tilted on a strange angle. When he tried to walk, he went in circles with his face on the floor. His pupils were fixed and dilated, and he was really distressed by the disorientation of having no balance. He'd been quiet for a few days. I thought he had a UTI and put him on some antibiotics. I realise now he had a little stroke, and then a much worse one today. Could I have prevented this if I'd gone to the vet straight away? Maybe, but he probably still would have had another stroke anyway. And he wasn't even licking water from my finger anymore. Better to let him go in peace than suffer and starve.

I feel sorriest for his brother, Bart, who has been with him their whole life, and is now all alone. I will attempt to integrate him with my girls, seeing that he's been neutered, though, at around 2 yrs old, none of my rats will be very accepting of newcomers. Worth a try though. If that doesn't work, he'll need lots of extra attention and love. He's an old boy, so he may like to spend his twilight years relaxing in his hammock, rather than being beaten up by a gang of rowdy girls.

This weekend Chester will join my eight other past ratties at the Pets Garden of Remembrance, an idyllic spot just north of here, where there are trees and gardens and beautiful birdsong.

I am sad tonight :o(