Rat Life Expectancy Survey

[xiggy]

Zora- Eight months, lung disease of unknown kind. Decided to have her put to sleep when she didn't respond to any meds...  

[molucass]

Oliver, agouti hoodie, Abbi and Sara's sister 5-6 weeks old. Died the day after I got them, unknown cause. (2-8-03 to 3-17-03)



Abigail (aka Abbi), black hoodie, Sara's sister: approx. 3 months old. Unknown cause. (2-8-03 to 5-03)


Sammy, cream with brown points on nose, and base of tail: about 4 mos. old. He came down with an unknown illness about a month after I got him, and was PTS, after meds. did not work. (2-4-03 to 6-13-03)
I got him on 5-9-03.


Pippin, agouti hoodie I got him from a lady that was moving. She had bought Pippin and his brother Merry about 2 yrs. before she gave him to me from Petsmart. His brother Merry died about 2 weeks before I got Pippin.
I was bringing Pippin to a friend of mine, because Pippin was lonely, and at the time I didn't have any other male rats, so she was going to take him and try to intro him to her other male rats. Even though my windows were rolled down, and I had the air on, by the time I got to meet her, he was already in the comatose state. He died from a heatstroke, and possibly from old age. I had him 3 months before that happened.


Ilias, agouti berk. (06.02.03 - 02.15.04) Sara's son. He passed away from myco and I don't know what else was wrong with him. He was on Baytril and Doxy and the vet seemed to think he would get better, well he didn't... I found him lying in the bottom of his cage, in his tube hammock. He was my favorite rat ever.



Rest in Peace all my angels.. I miss you.

[pcratzzzz2003]

Males
Pinky 11 months after having 2 strokes
The Brain 14 months stroke and myco
Baby Mac 23 months horrible testical infetion
Mouse 19 months myco
Ivan 22 months kidney failure
Little Lee 15 months myco
Females
Emma 18 months cancer
Daisy 18 months eye infection, 2 mamary tumors, stroke and myco.
Casey 11 months small mamary tumor and myco.
Zoe 7 1/2 months cancer
Penny 16 months myco
Amanda 18 months 3 large mamary tumors
Francine 19 months stroke
Hannah 20 months myco
Kate 22 months heart failure
Blue 9 months she had a bad heart since birth.

I also had 1 litter of 3 (Hannah was the mom) died the same day they were born and 1 litter of 6 (Molly was the mom) 2 were still borns and the last one Bajeera died at 15 days.

[GaryH]

If you're not sure if I recorded your rats, please PM me, and we can figure it out.  If you've had a loss, or haven't recorded your rats' information, post here.  

The goal of this is to get a feel for how long pet rats live.  I've seen 2-4 years, but the average seems to be far closer to 2, than 3 or 4.  

I lost two standard boys this summer to breathing disorders.  Both were about 18 months old:

Maynard, male, 18 months
Mr. Tom, male, 18 months

[liza]

I want to add some, too...

Milka: approximately 2 years and 4 months. Got her as a rescue when she was about 2 years old. She was already bleeding in her vaginal area when I got her. She had a tumor in her uterus. She was treated with abtibiotics, but then became lethargic. She was helped to cross the Rainbow Bridge February 17, 2003

Stubette: Milka's sister. She had a very fast growing tumor on the side of her belly (between the front legs and the hind legs). She was helped to cross the RB Bridge March 31, 2003

little girl: sister of the above. She had an extremely fast growing tumor on the end of her spine (closer to her tail).
She went the same day Stubette went, so they were together.

Full-Stripe: sister of the above. She was the only one of in total six ladies who never had anything. She was always skinny, but healthy. She developed pneumonia and died within a week. She was fortunate to peacefully cross the RBB in her sleep amongst her sisters Half-Stripe and Brownie who fed her and kept her warm even after her death.

Vino: He was approxiamtely born at the end of November 2001. My love was limping, so he was treated with antibiotics. Then, he got worse, didn't move his hind legs anymore. More antibiotics. He felt better after a steroid shot and additional treatment with Meloxicam. He was moving his legs again, tried to walk on all four of them. His behaviour was normal, as usual. He ate and drank just fine, was active again... September 6, he got another steroid shot, very unprofessionally. The vet assistant must have hit a major nerve or something else. She killed him. For the next 24 hours, he was restless, didn't drink, didn't eat, didn't lick anything off my finger. He just wanted to be in my arms. As if he was chased by something in his cage. He died in the 25th hour after the shot. He was burried yesterday and I miss my baby. Angels in heaven have him back.  

One day, I will be with all of you and I will be happy again!

Liza

[SBContreras]

Jerry, female, @ 34 months, pet store rattie, brown agouti hooded, unknown cause - seizure, stroke ? Couldn't move except for head and forelegs, wouldn't eat or drink. After staying up with her for half the night, and not expecting her to make it through the night, was surprised to find her still breathing in the morning.  Had her her pts.

[Yavannasgrandmom]

Lost another one last week.

Magellen, age 26.5 mos.  

Age related failing, I believe. She lost weight, but acted okay. Suddenly got very lethargic, soon became cold (feet a little blue). Put her on heating pad, she revived for a few hours, then died in my daughter's hands.

Her mom is still going strong! Her brothers have started to pass away, and one of her sisters has benign tumors, and the other is beginning to fail.

Seems about 2 years is average. I've noticed those that are bred seem to last a bit longer. Anyone else see this? We had one hit almost three, but most go between two and three (closer to two).

I had a vet recently really give me heck about this. He maintained rats could live until four or five and ought to. I wondered what planet he was from. I've seen three rats in my whole life that hit age four.

[Demonic_Dumbos]

I'm not going to post all ages just the oldest. Too many have passed over the years.  

Cookie: 41 months Congestive Heart Failure

Sunshine (her sister): 42 months Congestive Heart Failure

Frances: 38 months, still very healthy and kicking, the little fireball

Arnold: 37 months, still alive and healthy

All were bred here. There are probably are more but the records have been lost. Cookie and Sunshine were from 2 pet store rats. Our first rats quite a while back.

[Demonic_Dumbos]

I just talked to the breeder I buy my blues from and she said she has a rat that is 6 years old!!

Whoa!  That's impressive.

Met a lady in Rhonda, NC claiming she had a 10 year old rat, still skeptical because she wouldn't let me see him

[ratluver]

Ruby 13 monthes ( mammary tumor removel)

[JillyBeanSalad]

Kirby Champagne Hooded Rat F 26 months

[Rattsie]

About 3 years lived Freckles a pet store rat!!!

[kim]

anchovy -- 27 months, F - lymphoma, euthanized for prolapsed uterus though.
gobo, sister to anchovy. 28 months, F - died from broken heart i believe (seriously - went downhill fast after her sister died, they had never been separated)

OSED uno -- 23 months - CNS infection, F

acorn - 17 months, F -- necropsy pending

ayla - F, 23 months- euthanized for mammary tumor

mia - F 19 months, respiratory infection

nova - 19 months, F - pituitary tumor, euthanized

[Willow]

some of my rats and also rescues, and the roomie's rats...

Hazel - 18 months, female, mammary tumor - pts
Thorne - 23 months, male, passed in his sleep
Samara - 4 months, female, poisoning?
Chloe - 20 months, female, heart disease
Ghijed - 25 months, female, pituitary tumor
Merna - unknown (2-3 years), female, myco related respiratory infection - pts
Pippin - 14 months, male, pituitary tumor
Goran - 17 months, male, chronic respiratory problems - pts
Syenne - 10 months, female,  heart & lung problems
Poe - 15 months, female, pituitary tumor
Xara - 15 months, female, heart disease
Waco - 28 months, male, respiratory problems
Zen - 29 months, male, died naturally
India - 17 months, female, mammary tumors - pts
various baby rats - 4-8 weeks, male and female, megacolon, pts
Merlin - 19 months, male, heart condition, pts
Webster, 18 months, chronic severe lung problems, pts
Beans - 7 months, severe aggression due to neurological problems, pts


I will add to this as I think of more...

[Ali]

I don't think I responded to this.

Poppy, female black hooded - approximately 29 months, respiratory infection (put to sleep after a serious gasping attack).

Lupin, female black capped - approximately 32 months. Put to sleep after a respiratory infection, abscess and recurring tumour became too much.

Bless my babies.  

[jen]

Warner - 6 months, Myco

Emily - 18 months, tumour  

[rodent_luver]

zylah: female berkshire rat, adopted, dyed at a young age of 1 year, *tumor*

[devaney]

Louie - male - to 10/1/03 - died of what seemed to be old age.
Brie - female - to 10/4/03 - Louie's longtime companion. Contracted sudden and severe upper respiratory infection the day after Louie died. She was of old age as well.

[bigFATmommaRAT]

I am truly sorry for all of your losses. Too bad we can't genetically engineer a rat to live 20 years!

[Yavannasgrandmom]

I'm probably being an idiot. But doesn't this thread have a bar graph to go with it? I swear I saw a bar graph along with this thread-- but where it is I don't know. Can't find it tonight.

Is my senility acting up?

[Ray]

Bucket 2.5 years - died peacefully, although he'd been wasting away for the last 5 months.

Bucky 3.6 years - died about 3 months after successful tumor removal of sudden, FAST respiratory distress

Fuzzy Ball and Bucky 2 - Petco rats, showed signs of myco 2 days after getting them, treated right away, but lived life of on-again off-again sickness for 1.2 years and 1.8 years respectively

Bullet - Petsmart rat, lived only 2 months - same as above, tried treating them ASAP after sneezing noticed, but he just wasted away right before our very eyes, each day getting worse, the vet trying all the big gun antibiotics, to no avail.  A sweetheart to the end, though, and he helped us learn about breeders that raise "healthier" rats.
 

[Caitlin]

Unfortunately I have one to add....

Sarah-- age unknown, female, rescue (bred for feeder rats before I got her as part of the HSSV rescue, died of Myco, with suspected underlying problems due to her background.

[kmw]

I'm probably being an idiot. But doesn't this thread have a bar graph to go with it? I swear I saw a bar graph along with this thread-- but where it is I don't know. Can't find it tonight.

Is my senility acting up?

I had a bar graph posted on my website in the original thread.  I updated the graph in September, but my scanner putzed out.  Now, I have a new scanner, but have been working 10-12 hour days, 6 days a week.  I have no idea when I can update again.  But, keep the information coming.  

[HSH Rattery]

Haven't posted mine yet...

Ratberry - 2 years, 8 months, female, from breeder. Developed several tumors and suspected to have passed from secondary problems (when we had sendai here, she was very old, so her immune system was already pretty weak)

Phoebe - 2 years, 1 month, female, from breeder. Developed tumor that became infected, and I made the decision to have her euthanized.

Bluejay - 1 year, 4 months, male, from breeder. Of sencondary infection (passed when we had sendai)

Dennis - 2 years, male, from breeder. Suddenly, unsure why.

Maybie - 3 months, blazed male, from breeder. Late onset megacolon.

Moonstone - 1 year 2 months, female, from breeder. Of myco (as secondary infection, also lost when we had sendai)

[sugarfoxx]

Furman: rescued when he was about 33 months. Died just over three years old from cancer. He was a pet store rat that had free roam of the pet store. Was bald and had skin disease that did not respond to medical treatment. Got better when he came to live with me. Vet not sure how he got better but I say it was from getting alot of love. I say his problem was from stress.
Died July 2003

Patterson- Furmans brother. When rescued he was already paralyzed in back legs. Could not walk at all. Would drag himself around. This was from an injury he sustained when he fell about 4 feet off of a bird table at the pet store! They were often ignored for days upon days and sometimes when I went in to the store the owner had said she "had not seen them for days!" When the store went out of business she was going to have them destroyed at the vets saying nobody would want them in their "poor condition"  Instead of slapping her silly I offered to adopt them!!!!!!!

After about 2 weeks of love and affection he started to "propel" around on his belly. Was very brave and strong and thrived well and learned how to get around. LOVED to be held. Was a champion bruxer!!!  He died in my arms at the age of 3 years and 1 month from complications due to old age. Stroke and seizures.  He was a wonderful brave little rat full of personality. No other rat like him other than my Louie who is 24 months. Patterson LOVED PEOPLE! He went everywhere I went if I had to go out of town. Was a great hotel rat! LOVED to run around the hotel room!! LOL  Left raisins for housekeeping but we left nice tip for her troubles! LOL
I miss him so much!
Died one month after his brother Furman- August 2003

[flannel]

I know it's not practical, but it would be great to see along with all the ages and origins, what they were fed, bedded on etc.  Maybe that would give us some clues as to how to keep our little ratters healthier.  I am currently involved in discussions about long-lived animals on pine and wondering why that is if it is so bad for them.  Just want to look at all the angles....you know?

[Yavannasgrandmom]

Well, here's another one, sadly.

Mornea (Mor-nee-ay), approx 20 months,  likely  heart (possible respiratory).

edit- Flannel princess, I just read your note. Please see my thread titled "if your rat lived three years" which discusses this (unless you are already posting on it- I'm forgetting the names).

Mornea, like our others, was bedded on Aspen, Carefresh, and sometimes newspaper (when we were out of the others). Cages changed several times a week. Fed harlan-teklad lab blocks, some rodent mix, and "human food" such as cereal (total, and raisin bran), spaghetti, rice, veggies (esp frozen veggies in the summertime when it was hot).

She had two cage mates, and received a lot of attention and had a lot of "out of the cage" time... sometimes free ranging for a few days at a time.

-edit-

Last night we lost yet another one, Nienna, age 28 months, respiratory illness (pneumonia- did not respond to two course of antibiotics).

She was fed and kept in the same manner Mornea was.

[Ree]

Hmm...lucky me gets to post in this thread for the first time...  

Albert, male, 23 months old, died suddenly overnight.  He was a pet store rat, who I got when he was dumped back at the pet store at 9 months of age.  Bedded on towels which are washed in nappy-wash.  The staple diet of the rat cage is Suebee's diet.

[Yavannasgrandmom]

My neighbor's rat:

Cutthroat- 2.5, unknown causes.
Found dead in his cage one evening.

He'd been fine, no signs of illness, but his cage mate died about a month or two ago and he was alone.

Bedded on Aspen, lots of attention, fed lab blocks and kaytee rat food, plus Vitakraft sticks as treats.

[Kathleen]

Hava -- 12 months. Cause of death unknown.