Yes, nurse is aware of auto-surgery, although she doesn't exactly approve <g> -- Actually not that difficult because there are no nerves connected and the bad parts are obvious -- What was happening is that some of the bad stuf had stranded and the thin end was dangling in throat, giving me a constant choking feeling, which is not conducive to healing sleep -- I could suck it up into the suction wand and then grab it with one hand while I snipped it with the other -- There were still some large, tough chunks in there but is much better now.

This is NOT water pik stuf, but much larger stuf still firmly attached on one end -- The total area that went bad is about the size of a dead mouse.

Rinsing well with saline solution so as little pieces die and slough off, they will be rinsed away.

I have been using a sonic brush for some years now and the tooth-cleaning lady at dentist is quite pleased with results.

Christine, if you die, your cats won't eat you because the dogs will guard you (and not be tempted to eat you if the cats are stupid to hang around looking like dog treats!).

I keep forgetting to mention that the Rat Guys (aka the Quack Pack!) are also benefiting from the post-surgery care stuf -- The trach care kit comes with a partially absorbent pad that is intended to set up as a work space on a patient's bed -- Since I don't use the pad, I give it to the rats to put on their sleeping shelf and they really seem to like it, taking a lot of time adjusting it to fit the space, fluffing it up for warmth, etc. -- It gradually deteriorates, so it can go in with the rest of the stuf when I change the cage litter (I put it all in a large plastic bag and will take it to transfer station for deposit on composting pile -- They also have you put shredded paper in brown paper bag and put that on the compost heap).

BTW, major milestone today -- Each of the rats let me pick them up without fuss, carefully watching each other as I did it and then getting treats afterward.

Their personalities are coming out, with RatPhooey, the littlest, seeming to have the most attitude, RatHuey the medium size being a typical male (both are white with beige and dark brown hoods, smooth hair) and RatDewey, the largest, being very laid back and gentle (not a food-grabber like the first two), with a dark brown hood but some rex (curly) fur and whiskers.

RatDewey is definitely Lap Rat material, good for sitting on lap and petting while watching DVDs or whatever.

I have 7 cats and 1 dog. I'm in trouble.

You will be eaten!!!!!

So now I have this visual of the RatPhooey, the Lap Rat watching DVD's with you. At what age do their personalities start to come out or do they start to show more personality because you spend more time with them, handling them and such? What type of treats do rats eat anyway?? Please don't give them any Carnation VHC.

Glad that you sound like you are feeling better.

Patty

RatPhooey is maybe a bit too active to be a LapRat -- It may be a while before he settles down -- Always picking fights with RatHuey and the two of them bang around the bottom of the cage like you wouldn't believe in these very fast mock battles, kinda like an Oriental fight video where you can't see what's going on unless you film it and slow it down.

RatDewey is the Lap Rat -- I need to weigh these guys -- So far only RatHuey, at 10 oz.

The personalities are there from the start, but somewhat covered by the initial shyness -- I've had the best success when I was able to get them as just-weaned ratlets and can carry them around in shirt pocket for a day or two to let them get used to my scent, voice, etc.

Their normal food is some compressed chunks of special food developed for lab animals called Lab Block, so almost anything else is a treat (Lab block specially formulated for rats was available in Tampa, but here I can only find the kind made for all rodents, from ratz to rabbitz) -- Right now I have a lot of expired but not bad yet food in my fridge, so I am feeding them (and my balcony Crows) some of that -- They really like the Braunsweiger sausage -- Special treats are yogurt drops or yogurt-covered raisins.

I need one more small dosage cap (forgot to ask at pharmacy) so I can put some Greek yogurt (good for humans with peaches and honey on top) in a cap for each and not make a mess -- Amusing to watch them after something like that, cleaning off their whiskers and faces.

Pete,

If you want me to get some of the Lab Block stuff and mail it to you just let me know.

Thanks, David, but even the place in Tampa quit carrying the specialized block and started in with the generic stuf when I was last there in 2004 -- I don't know what the real research labs are doing to ensure that the lab animals get the right diet -- There's a surprising difference even between rats and mice, which I would think are virtually the same in that regard.

Not trying to keep them all on a controlled diet for research purposes, I figure I am giving them what they need with all the extra food.

Pete

Don't you think that you need to control their diet so that they don't become "fat rats"? Do you ever turn them loose in the house and if so, how do you gather them back up? You probably can't call them right? Or lure them with a treat? (you can tell I am a dog person here) What would happen if one hid somewhere in the house and you could not find him?

Glad that your suction machine is working well for you. I had one for the first surgery and it worked well for me. It was not such an asset for my poor sister who had to leave the room every time I used it bless her heart. The second surgery they would not let me use one because the feared damage to the flap.

Patty

The rats will eat too much if I let them, but the lab block is bland enuf that it is sort of self-controlling -- Plus they are still young and growing.

I don't let these guys run loose yet because there are still too many spots where they could get in and under things, to say nothing of chewing! It's amazing how many holes there are on the underside of things like kitchen/bathroom cabinets.

However, for caged rats, the cage IS home and eventually they will go back there (Unless they are hit by a Nap Attack and conk out under something), even just to pee. It was a lot easier when I lived in my little RV because it was easier to let them out and keep an eye on them, plus I would make a clicking noise with my tongue (Hmm, need a new plan here!) that was the "food noise" and was followed by a treat when the rat showed up. Just like small children, if the rats are quiet, they need to be investigated to see that they are not getting into trouble!

I do have to use care with the suction machine around the flap area, although that's not as important now with so much of it recently hacked away... Actually, it was even useful there to pick up the trailing pieces that I wanted to snip off.