im faced with a conundrum that we all do end up having to face,

I need help figuring out if this is a rat or mouse and if it's a wild rat / mouse or someone's pet.

He is mostly white with just a smidgen of brown on his nose.

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Hey guys, so you lot who follow me may know that I had 2 pet rats, Goku and Vegeta, and that I loved them dearly and that they were like children to me

Yesterday as I was getting ready for work I noticed that Vegeta was totally limp, but still breathing. Immediately I knew something was very wrong because he's usually so energetic, and he seemed totally fine the night before when I went to sleep. Long story short, he was diagnosed with pneumonia, and so really the only option was to have the vets keep him comfy on a heat pad whilst they put him down. I'm absolutely devastated, him and Goku are the first rats I've ever owned, and although I knew they have a short lifespan and are prone to respiratory illnesses, I thought I had more time with him because they're both only a year and a half, and had never shown any signs of illness beforehand.

This means that Goku is now alone in the cage, and having grown up with Vegeta and how sociable rats are, I know that it's important to get him some friends ASAP. Unfortunately due to the circumstances I'm in, plus I reckon Goku would not accept new young rats into his home, I'm thinking I'm going to have to rehome him, either to a person or organisation who are experienced in caring for rats in this situation. I'm not at all experienced in it, and I don't want to risk the safety of new rats by unknowingly doing it wrong.

It's going to be a painful goodbye because I love those boys with all my heart, but I want to make sure that Goku can live out the rest of his life as happily as possible.

Please could I get some advice on this? I'd greatly appreciate it because honestly atm I'm so devastated and lost I can't think of what I can do

Doxycycline has a high LD50. You're WAY more likely to underdose your rat than over dose your rat.

And because finding a vet that will even see small animals AND knows what to prescribe, in the correct amounts, and for the correct duration AND is up to date on rat care AND is within driving distance AND is affordable is extremely hard and luck based.

Do you know how often in rat groups I see...

* Vets saying a rat that clearly has a URI is fine?

* Vets giving improper antibiotics?

* Vets giving the incorrect dosage?

* Vets not open on weekends and won't take emergencies?

* Vets that won't budge when given scientific evidence that they're not treating the animal properly?

* Someone who literally does not have a vet who will see a rat within 2 or more hours of them?

* Someone who cannot afford $200+ just to get some antibiotics?

So then what? Their rat dies? Like, dying is safer!? You're so against self medication that you'll let someone's rat suffocate to death over the course of weeks because you think guided self medication is worse? Because livestock owners can apparently understand how to dose antibiotics for common conditions, but rat owners and breeders are incompetent and incapable of following directions?

Nope. Of course the vet should be your first option, but barring that? I am 100% cool with self medding respiratory infections with Doxycycline.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what’s wrong with his hand? He won’t walk on it or uncurl his fingers but when I touched it and stretched his hand a bit he didn’t show any signs of discomfort or pain.

I’m gonna keep an eye on him but I’ve had so many pets need vet visits I don’t wanna take him if I don’t need to. Do I need to bring him? Or will this heal on its own?