Alrighty then.
I'm doing research in my area before I get rats, calling around to see what vets in my area will treat rats so I can be prepared... I just got off the phone with a Dr McNeil in my area. He will treat pet rats (cool), but he seems to be VERY wrong about rats as pets... at least, as far as what I've been researching goes.
Some of the things he said that I'm really confused about:
Female rats are much friendlier and cuddlier.
Male rats are aggressive and much more likely to bite you.
There is no reason to spay a rat to reduce the risk of tumors.
Rats are very healthy and hardly ever get sick. (myco?)
I thought female rats were the more playful of the two, but cuddlier? And I've heard limited cases of males being aggressive, but as a rule I thought they were cuddly squish lap rats! And not spaying to reduce tumors??? He actually said that he doesn't know of any vets that would recommend spaying to reduce tumors. Also said that since rats' lives are so short, once they get mammary tumors they might as well be put down. :evil:
I knew it would be hard in my area to find a decent vet because rats aren't popular pets in Oklahoma, but it upsets me all the same.
I'm doing research in my area before I get rats, calling around to see what vets in my area will treat rats so I can be prepared... I just got off the phone with a Dr McNeil in my area. He will treat pet rats (cool), but he seems to be VERY wrong about rats as pets... at least, as far as what I've been researching goes.
Some of the things he said that I'm really confused about:
Female rats are much friendlier and cuddlier.
Male rats are aggressive and much more likely to bite you.
There is no reason to spay a rat to reduce the risk of tumors.
Rats are very healthy and hardly ever get sick. (myco?)
I thought female rats were the more playful of the two, but cuddlier? And I've heard limited cases of males being aggressive, but as a rule I thought they were cuddly squish lap rats! And not spaying to reduce tumors??? He actually said that he doesn't know of any vets that would recommend spaying to reduce tumors. Also said that since rats' lives are so short, once they get mammary tumors they might as well be put down. :evil:
I knew it would be hard in my area to find a decent vet because rats aren't popular pets in Oklahoma, but it upsets me all the same.