Rainbow Bridge
2015
My ratties that are no longer with us. They may have passed from this world, but they are still in my heart.
The Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
 |
| BVR-MLWR Ghost Widow - 6/10/2014 - 12/22/2015 |
| Passed away at home. Had been losing some weight despite extra calories given. No obvious respiratory signs, but some abscessing in lungs on necropsy. Still was bright and active, using her wheel and climbing regularly when she passed. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR-DAZL Iron Man - 7/30/2013 - 11/10/2015 |
| Passed away at home. Showed signs of aging, weight loss, thinning fur, some mild respiratory sounds. Necropsy showed some lung abscessing, significant weight loss, typical signs of aging. All else looked normal. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR Spicebush Swallowtail - 5/4/2015 - 11/3/2015 |
| Found passed away in cage. Some lung abscesses seen. No other obvious problems and no symptoms of issues before then. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| BVR GLaDOS - 8/10/2014 - 10/23/2015 |
| Found dead when litter was due, some spotting seen. Necropsy showed 5 of the 8 babies normally formed, not too large to pass, 3 looked less formed and likely were being reabsorbed. No sign of necrosis. Some clots in uterine horns. Heart, lungs, and all else looked normal. Weight was good, no stuck babies. No clear cause of death. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| Litter of MLWR Rytlock Brimstone and BVR GLaDOS - 10/23/15 |
| This litter of 8 was lost along with their mother. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR Apollo - 6/06/2012 - 10/09/2015 |
| Listed here with his relatives by request of his adoptive family. Apollo injured his leg, and x-rays found it to be a pathological fracture with a suspected tumor growing in the bone and poor chance for recover, so he was euthanized to prevent further suffering. He was very much loved and is missed by them, and is being commemorated here by their request. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR Grretergrret - 3/2/2013 - 8/21/2015 |
| Euthanized due to emergence of Zymbal's Gland Tumor. Still active, thin due to age but reasonable weight, good overall condition. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR-DAZL Hulk - 7/30/2013 - 8/21/2015 |
| Euthanized due to respiratory failure. Significant weight loss, loss of mobility, respiratory distress. Life long respiratory problems. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR Logan Thackery - 10/23/2013 - 8/7/2015 |
| Euthanized due to very large, fast growing mammary tumor on chest/throat that had begun to interfere with quality of life, ability to eat, etc. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR God of Cake - 6/14/2013 - 8/7/2015 |
| Found dead in cage. Good weight, had been active and inquisitive until found. Necropsy revealed some abscesses in lungs, about 40% still functional, but likely related to death. Large cherry sized osteosarcoma found on left knee as well. All else was normal |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| BVR-MLWR Viridian - 6/10/2014 - 7/30/2015 |
| Euthanized to to sudden, extreme illness. Veterinary necropsy showed lung abscesses, only 10% functional tissue in right lung, entire left lung completely consolidated. Weight loss, loss of appetite supported by empty stomach and intestines. All else looked normal. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| Litter of MLWR Rytlock Brimstone and MLWR Margo - 7/13/2015 |
| Entire litter was stillborn. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR Ftokchak - 3/2/2013 - 6/26/2015 |
| Died at home - Found dead in cage, no obvious signs of problems before hand. Had slowed down with age, still eating well and alert. No necropsy possible. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR Yui - 6/5/2012 - 6/25/2015 |
| Died at home - Found in cage curled up as if sleeping with her cagemates all curled around her. So sleep like that it required moving the other rats to pull her out to confirm death. Large mammary tumor my rear right leg - not impeding movement as she was still even using the wheel the week before she passed. No other signs of problems, healthy weight, no porphyrin discharge, no wheezing or sneezing. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| TMCC Peaches - 3/23/2013 - 6/11/2015 |
| Euthanized - a facial abscess resembling a zymbals gland tumor had appeared but seemed to fade with treatment, however a similar abscess then surfaced on the other side of her face and resisted treatment, becoming necrotic. Euthanized for quality of life. Necropsy showed healthy lungs and heart, normal uterus. Hard, fibrous tumor in abdomen, about 1 inch diameter, not noted until necropsy. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
|
| Litter of MLWR Rytlock Brimstone and MLWR Margo - 6/7/2015 |
| Entire litter was stillborn. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR The Alot - 6/14/2013 - 5/25/2015 |
| Euthanized - Found suddenly cold, unable to move, mostly unresponsive. Euthanized. Gross necropsy showed healthy lungs and organs. Histopathology and necropsy were mostly undiagnostic. Microscopic signs of some mycoplasmic infection, but no obvious lung issues. Microscopic signs of stomach ulcers not visible on gross exam. Healthy weight, active, bright and playful until sudden onset. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR Tchkik - 3/2/2013 - 4/18/2015 |
| Euthanized - had been losing weight and coordination and showing signs of respiratory issues. Declined very rapidly and was losing control of bodily functions and ability to move voluntarily, and the decision was made to euthanize due to failing quality of life. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR Krakkilak - 3/2/2013 - 4/2/2015 |
| Found dead in cage in morning. Had shown some signs of respiratory issues, but nothing significant or abnormal from her usual ones. Maintained good coordination and activity level. Some minor weight loss. Necropsy unavailable due to cagemates. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| TMCC Buck - 3/23/2013 - 3/29/2015 |
| Died at home. Some hind end weakness noted and increasing difficulties with coordination. Maintained a good appetite and showed no reoccurance of the large abscess that was previously treated surgically. Some mild respiratory symptoms were noted. Lungs showed some respiratoy signs, no significant issues seen. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR Helper Dog - 6/14/2013 - 3/20/2015 |
| Found dead in cage. Good weight, no signs of problems. Gross necropsy showed large, single, fatty lesion on liver, and abnormal fatty masses/deposits along diaphram and into thoracic cavity. Lungs and heart appeared normal and healthy, no significant signs of respiratory or heart disease. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR Poseidon - 6/05/2012 - 3/19/2015 |
| Significant weight loss, hind end degeneration. Had a good appetite and activity level right up to the end, no significant signs of respiratory troubles. Signs of typical decline due to advanced age. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| TMCC Sid - 3/23/2013 - 3/09/2015 |
| Some weight loss in his last couple weeks and slight eye discharge, with few respiratory sounds noted and increasing levels of hind end weakness. Unresponsive to treatment for mild respiratory sounds and found passed in his cage overnight. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR Taiitsukun - 6/05/2012 - 2/11/2015 |
| Had been doing fairly well, but found laying in her cage with tremors in her back limbs and no attempt to move otherwise. No interest in food (though she boggled in response to being pet.) Euthanized to prevent suffering. Necropsy showed mild abscessing in the left lung, less than 25% of that lung, right lung looked good, heart looked normal. Suspected stroke given the sudden onset, age, and symptoms. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| MLWR Horohori, aka "Scout" - 6/05/2012 - 2/11/2015 |
| Listed here with his relatives by request of his adoptive family. Scout experienced a rapid onset of hind end degeneration, and despite x-rays and other efforts to locate a fixable problem, he was found by his vet to be unlikely to improve, and his family made the difficult decision to spare him suffering and put him down. He was very much loved and is missed by them, and is being commemorated here by their request. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
 |
| TMCC Ellie - 3/23/2013 - 1/20/2015 |
| Found dead in her cage. Had been slowing a bit but was otherwise in reasonably good shape. Basic necropsy showed some abscesses in lungs, indicating respiratory issues as the likely cause of death. |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
