She-Buddy

[Mirg]

A few days ago, my best friend walked into her room and didnt see her rat, Buddy, getting up to say hi, like usual. She went to see what was wrong, and found out that her mom hadnt been feeding Buddy (my friend had to leave early for school so she asked her mom to feed Buddy). In addition to that, the water bottle was stuck so no water would come out.

My friend immediatly got on MSN and asked me about it and showed Buddy to me on her webcam. Buddy was half-dead and only skin and bones. I dont know much about rat sicknesses, but i thought, if Buddy was just starved and dehydrated, why wouldnt he eat or drink the stuff my friend was giving him? I looked it up and the closest thing i could find was Kidney Failure. But, i have no clue what it really was. I told my friend that it was obvious that Buddy probably wouldnt survive if they didnt get him in to a vet. She told me that her mom was at work and wouldnt be home for a few hours, so she didnt have a ride. A few minutes later, she said Buddy was dead..

But, about an hour later, she hurried and messaged me agian. Buddy was still alive! He was just still for a long time, im thinking he passed out from dehydration or something. My friend's mom was home by then, but she said Buddy was just a rat and didnt need a vet. I HATE when people think this! But, i told them that rats can get depressed if they dont have a rat-friend, so her mom went and got Nails, a 5 week old ratty. It seemed to help a little, Buddy ate a tiny bit of food and, as i suggested, my friend was putting a drop of water in Buddy's mouth about every other minute and making sure he swallowed. This is when i started to suspect it was kidney failure. We were all happy and cheering because it seemed like Buddy was getting better, but, that night, after my friend logged off MSN, Buddy died. For real this time, she checked his heartbeat and his breathing and there was nothing. Earlier, I told my friend to make a tunnel in a towel or blanket for Buddy because rats are nocturnal (sp?), and she did, Buddy looked a lot happier when he was in the comfy tunnel, so, at least Buddy died happy.

Among all of this, my friend had found out that Buddy was a She-Buddy. And, while my friend was at my house yesterday, we found out that Nails was a female, too.

I gave my friend some money and next time she gets a chance, shes going to get a friend for Nails.

I am proud of my friend though. After She-Buddy died, i told my friend that she needs to find a vet with an emergancy phone number and keep it close to the phone. The other day, Nails started climbing up her sleeve, and, just by reflex, she grabbed the tip of his tail. The skin on the tip of his tail completely ripped off. My friend immediatly called the vet that she found and the vet told her how to take care of it and that the skin would grow back.

At least She-Buddy taught my friend that vets are important if you own any pets at all.

So, R.I.P. She-Buddy. Even though i never met you, and the only time i saw you was when you died.

[Punkygirl0101]

I have a big question...it takes quite some time, atleast half a month, for an animal to become skin and bones..if the rat had been losing weight and getting skinnier, why didn't your friend notice until the other day?

And why couldn't she feed her AFTER school? (Rats should have a supply of food at all times, because they have very fast metabolisms.)

And if she originally thought Buddy was male, why did she get a female?

[Cassiepeia]

I'm so sorry Buddy had to suffer and die like that. Glad your friend learnt her lesson (I hate hearing people say "it's just a rat" too...I've heard it before and it makes me feel sick).
But Melanie has a point. It would have taken a long time for Buddy to starve like that. I'd be questioning your friends dedication to her pets, how much time does she actually spend with them and does she really like the 'idea' of the pet more than than the reality?

Cass.

[Mirg]

I know, thats the first thing i thought when she said that he was skin and bones. Obviously she didnt let him out of his cage much, either, or she would have noticed. I have no idea why she couldnt feed him at a different time. I feed my rats twice a day, once at noon (sometimes earlier), and once just before bed, so that they have enough food.

When Buddy was getting ready to die, she didnt want to leave him, so she sent her mom to get a rat for her. She must have forgot that her mom doesnt know anything about animals, if it wasnt for the labels on the cages, she probably would have gotten a mouse or gerbil instead.

Sadly, i think this is one of the cases where she didnt read about rats before getting them. I didnt read before i got Ozzy, because i thought i was going to get a mouse, but i made sure to read as much information as i could right after i got him. Im doing my best to teach her, though. After Buddy died, she kept saying that everything she touches dies, but i told her that any pet that you get without knowing how to care for it, it will die. When she came over yesterday, she brought her notebook and i noticed she had printed out about 50 pages of rat info, so i think she will do better for now on.

[Cassiepeia]

Good to hear. She's lucky she has you as a friend.

Cass.

[Mirg]

Thanks!