Miss Jane, originally known as Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy, came to me via a very nice friend to rats, Tammy Currey. Tammy has several adopted recycled rats from me and others in the Northwest who help with rehomes and, along with her boyfriend Eric, is a big booster for "gently used" rats. I could not say no to taking in Miss Jane and her daughter, Big Sister, when I heard their tale of woe. An older woman brought them in to the charity where Tammy's mother works, along with Jane's very ill mate, Mr. Wiggily, because her son had moved out and she was not able to keep up with their care. In addition to the two adults, there was a young baby with sealed eyes and only a light coat of fur. When asked why only one baby, the woman responded that the mother could escape from the cage easily and had hidden the babies somewhere in the house. Big Sis was the only one she could find when she went to round them up to bring them to the charity. The adults appear to have been handled and well fed, though they were on cedar and poor Jane has had at least 3 litters before this as she was housed with the male her entire life. Jane also had a rapidly growing mammary tumor under her armpit that was the size of 3/4ths of a ping pong ball by the time we got it removed. Unfortunately, Mr. Wiggily had to be euthanized due to massive, advanced pneumonia. Big Sis was about 10 days old when the rat family arrived and we had to wait about 10 more days until she was weaned to get Jane's tumor removed. Tammy and Eric generously helped with the cost of the vet visit and surgery and Dr. Deeb of Allpet Veterinary Hospital worked her surgical magic yet again. There was, however, yet another wrinkle to this tale - Jane was very pregnant. Dr. Deeb was not certain exactly how the surgery and anasthesia could affect the developing pups, but we decided to take the risk anyway due to the rapid growth of the tumor in just the 10 days she was here. It turns out the gamble was a smart one and Jane gave birth to a litter of what looks to be 7 babies on February 2. I have dubbed them "The Groundhogs" in honor of their birth on Groundhog Day and will name them for towns in Pennsylvania around the Punxsutawney area where the famous groundhog, Punxy Phil resides. I will have a better idea of exactly how many squeakers are in there over the next couple of days as Jane is more comfortable leaving the nest. She's been through an awful lot in the last week and I'm giving her all the space she needs. I also had Dr. Deeb draw blood for an ELISA test panel to check for common rat viruses when Jane went in for her surgery and I should have those results shortly. Jane and Big Sis and the squeakers all look very healthy as far as I can see and the tests will tell me for sure. Jane is healing up nicely post surgery, despite having to have the area drained as blood had collected inside the incsion area a few hours after surgery. There have been no further complications and Jane is leaving the incision alone to heal. Once the latest litter is old enough, I will adopt them out to pet homes only - these rats are not suitable for breeding due to Jane's early mammary tumor. I fear it could be hereditary and would recommend that females from this litter be spayed if possible when they are of the appropriate age to prevent mammary tumors in future. Jane and Big Sis are also looking for a good home that will take responsibility for any future tumor removals that Jane might need. Jane is docile and friendly, if a little reserved, and has the biggest, saddest eyes this side of a Bassett Hound. Big Sis is a real firecracker of a girl! She loves to run around and bounce off the walls - very playful and cute and sure to be a wonderful fun pet. I would like to place her with her mother Jane, if possible. Jane is a fawn hooded and Big Sis is a fawn berkshire, both with standard ears and fur. Mr. Wiggily was a black berkshire, standard in ears and fur as well. We should have fawns and agoutis, with a good chance of blacks and beige as well, all in standard ears and fur. Markings should be berkshire and low white, with hooded a possibility too. All will be handled and socialized and should make lovely pets.
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Jane peeks out at me post surgery |
Big
Sis says Hi! |
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Look, I'm a Monkey! |
And
a Gargoyle! |
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Jane
cleans one of the newborns |
Our
first Groundhog baby pictures! |
I'm cute!!!! Take me home!!!!!