What are the signs your pet rat about to die?

[hotcoco]

I have 4 rats. My first one I had for almost 3 years, and they say rats only live up to 2-3 years. So what are the signs? I just want to be ready.
Are you kidding me? My second rat doesn't have a tumor, but she does all the other stuff!!
^ i meant she is just starting to do all those stuff.
Wow jimmyz, you are so helpful!

[melissa w]

Here is a site that has a lot to say about old age rats. Also it's rare but rats can live past 3 years of age... I had one make it to nearly 4 years. He went completely bald and I called him old man rat. But he was my bestest buddy to the end. If your rat isn't showing any particular sign of issues then I wouldn't be worried right now. Just keep on loving them. :)

http://www.80stoysale.com/ratsickness.html#age

[Shi]

they're pretty much like humans, no one knows exactly what they're going to do. Some common behavior is

1.) More/less activity
2.) Getting ill more
3.) Becoming needy (wanting more attention) or becoming a recluse
4.) Hair loss
5.) Exploding (only happened once)

[Jennifer]

Usually they stop being as active as they usually are.
That's really the only sign i noticed.
Towards the end, my rat just sat in her igloo all day and didn't play like she used to

[felicitator]

1. they get a massive tumor
2. they go nuts and run around until their hearts beat too fast
3. maybe this is just hamsters but sometimes their eyes will bug out and they'll freeze in place and breathe heavily

[Jimmyz0]

1. You hear little voices screaming.
2. The rat doesn't move.
3. His eyes are closed.
4. He smells like crap.

[Clover]

Here are some signs:
-stop being as active
-noticeable amount of weight gain/loss
-trouble breathing**
-hair loss
-have trouble moving around
-can't hold their head up**
-eyes become dull**
-nose and paws become milky white in color or they just loose their color**

Usually you can tell right away if you're rat it about to pass away. It's just an instinct. And sometimes you don't see any signs, because the rat could pass away in it's sleep because it's heart just gives out.

** are the biggest signs that the rats about to die

[njss]

Even if you are ready it is still a sad time possibly a learning experience.......as they get old the fur seems to get ratty ---sparse if not bold. They lose their appetite so need to be encouraged to eat special treats are good---love porridge. The body weight will alert you if this is occurring. They need to be kept at a good temperature not too hot and not too cold as the older body does not adjust to temperature change that easily. Death usually happens when you are away so you could possibly prepare a burial place in the garden-----a peaceful place perhaps amongst the roses or under a shady tree. Unfortunately one does cry but that is just part of the goodbye process. Good luck you still have a bit more good time left with your pets...........so do your best in caring for them and keeping the cages clean and providing amusements to keep them busy-------newspaper good and bones good----love their chicken.

[masticina]

Mentally they will go on unto the end. I had a rat that had lost 50% weight due to internal cancer..still wanting to fight on.

Well you have to look at how their fur looks, if they can take care of themself. If their poo is still in order if they eat well.

An outside cancer is an easy thing to spot but hardly is always a killer. I mean really it is easily treatable within limits. But if the poo turns yellow oh you got a problem, if a three year old rat becomes fertile again oh yes you got a problem. If they they begin to shake their head weird and lose control of their body oh yes you know there have a problem.

Point taken you only see that something is seriously wrong quite late.