When do you know if its time to put an animal to sleep? Ive had my rat 3 years, I got him when he was a pinky and hand raised him on kitten milk. Hes always been really healthy until recently when his back legs stopped working. Come to find out this is really common in male feeder rats due to being inbred. He doesnt feel pain in his legs and he has a ton of energy and a huge apetite. Tonight he got his little leg stuck in his cage, he was just hanging there from the ramp he didnt even notice he was stuck. Now Im here bawling my eyes out trying to figure out if I should change cages and continue to give him the best of his days or if that isnt fair and I should put him to sleep.
If anyone has dealt with this any insight would be appreciated

My personal opinion is when there is no more quality of life. :/

That is where I'm torn. He has a huge appetite, he's energetic , bright eyes , his fur is kind of oily though but he is 3 years old. He's not feeling pain in his hind legs but it's just so sad to see him drag his legs and as of tonight get stuck. It's such a hard decision I wonder if I'm selfish keeping him alive but he still has a quality of life.

Death is a ridiculous but inevitable topic to deal with. As his legs atrophy, I would expect he doesnt have much time left. Not sure what to tell you. I've taken two beloved dogs to be put down and I'm still not sure how I did it.

It all comes down to the time that you know when. And you will probably know when. I knew when the dogs needed to move on.

As a pet owner, this is your ultimate and final responsibility. You arent alone there.

I have to agree with Terry 100%. I went through it last year with my beloved dog and I just one day looked into his eyes and saw they seemed to be pleading to let go. Quality and not quantity. They aren't supposed to live more than a couple of years that I know of. Like Terry said, if his legs have atrophied, yeah, it probably is about time. Do it for him before it comes natural which may be painful. It hurts me to say this because I don't want anyone else going through the pain I went through but you are.

Well considering rats have the life span of about 3-4 years (give or take), he has lived a full and happy life. I dont know if that makes you feel any better, but even if you didnt put him down he probably only has maybe a year left if hes lucky. But in his current condition it would probably be much less than a year :(

I recently had to put down my Cab even though he was happy (notice I didn't say healthy). It is still a hard subject to talk about but let's just say he had a parasite that we couldn't get rid of and it wouldn't have given him a good quality of life: He wouldn't have been able to have friends (quarantine for the rest of his life), medicine for the rest of his life, and very bad side effects from the medicine. To myself, my vet, and my husband, it wasn't right for Cab to have to live like that.

There's been times when we have had to put down a cow, a horse, a goat, a bird, a dog, a cat-it's always because the animal wasn't healthy and the animal just let us know it was time. It was a hard decision every time, but also what was best for the animal.

Good luck with your decision.

I have to agree. Each time, I've known the time was coming, and I've asked the animal to let me know when it was time. Each time they have.

I've had to put to sleep a very stoic, beautiful dog. He would NEVER EVER complain about his pain. Or anything, for that matter! But, even he told me when it was time.

Trust yourself, and trust your animal.

If he is still bright eyed, my guess - not knowing your specific animal - is that he is still enjoying his life.

Last year I had to do this with a cat I had for almost 19 years, needless to say I had to have my dad take her, she had cancer it was two weeks before my 21st birthday and I had grown up with her since I had been two.

I really appreciate everyones input, this site has really helped me and everyone here is so kind.

I think it is going to be time very soon, Im going to call the vet on monday and get a quote for the cost. I think he still has some life in him but I dont want him to suffer