Dr. F just called me with the results of Jim's necropsy. I hope I get this right, since I didn't take notes (if anyone ever finds this post because you're doing research on a rat with a medical problem, e-mail me and I'll put you in touch with our vets). I'm putting this in the extended entry, because I'm having to sort of detatch and be clinical, and it might be disturbing to some.
Jim didn't seem to have a tumor, what he had were plaques that had grown in the digestive tract, specifically the area where the small and large intestines come together. It sounds like his GI tract was pretty much blocked, which explains the weight loss. I'm wondering how long it was like that, though...he was eating solid food up until Saturday, and his stools were still solid (though small) on Saturday morning. The only food in his stomach at the time of death was liquid, which makes sense, because all he really ate Sunday was yogurt and baby food. His bowels were empty.
On Sunday he basically couldn't breathe. Dr. F saw some of the same plaques on his lungs, but not built up the way they were in his intestines.
As to what the plaques are...that we don't know. They could be cancer, or a bacterial growth of some kind.
I guess this really doesn't answer many of the questions. In a way, I was probably just looking to validate the decision to put Jim to sleep. I can imagine that he must have been horribly uncomfortable with his GI tract blocked, and I can only hope now that the poor guy wasn't in agony for a long time.
Posted by Abita at March 6, 2006 07:25 PM