I have five rats total, 3 girls in one cage and 2 boys in the cage right next to them (space in between). My oldest rat, Molly, is the only one having this issue that I'm about to tell you about. I adopted her already grown, and the previous owner had her for about 1 1/2- 2 years, and she didn't say but I think she got her grown also. All the other rats are very young, under 6 months.
Molly is always very active, she hangs from the top of her cage and sits on my shoulder, she hates eating outside of her cage (she only wants to eat in the privacy of her igloo). Whenever I open the cage she'll come running, no matter which door I open, which there are three doors. I know she likes her food because she's been eating it for a while. She loves food, actually.
I give my rats food at night and in the morning, and it's night time right now. Now it's super late. And when I put the food in she didn't come running to the door, and I put in a new toy/hammock (it's a plastic basket that I can hang) and she still didn't come. When I lifted up her igloo she was just laying there. She eyes were open and she was breathing, she just wasn't moving. And when I lifted her up she was completely limp. She hates being picked up with one hand, which is what I did because of where she was, and she didn't fuss at all. She felt much skinnier than she felt to me yesterday, which I think is because of her being so lethargic (I've had dogs that were sick and they'd get the same way) because she was fine eight wise, she's a little chubby actually. She cuddled right into my chest instead of looking around and exploring. She wouldn't even sniff the food I offered her. She took the treats right away and ate about half of eat (two treats) and then she didn't even look at the treats. I put her back in the cage for a few minutes and got some veggies and cheerios and things I thought she'd like and would give her some energy. She drank some water and then went back to igloo and didn't eat again (though at first she did should a little interest) and so after a bit I picked her back up and cuddled with her for hours. She was inside my shirt and she didn't move hardly at all, every once and a while though she's explore for a minute but that was it. She didn't pee or poop, either, but she never does outside the cage. She's back in her cage for the moment cause I was starting to fall asleep and didn't wanna roll on her.
There were no abnormal breathing sounds or pattern (though she might be breathing fast, or I might be paranoid about it). She doesn't have wet tail or anything like that. She had red stuff around her nails, nose, and eyes which I believe to be that stuff they secrete when stressed because there were no wounds on her or the other rats, the red was all dry. Nothing seems wrong other than the obvious.
Could this just possibly be old age?
There's no vet that will take rats near by. I have no idea what to do. She cage mates are grooming her at the moment, they loves them so much and they love her. I'm terrified of loosing her. If it's old age there may not be much I can do, but I have to at least try. Anything would be a major help.
Molly is always very active, she hangs from the top of her cage and sits on my shoulder, she hates eating outside of her cage (she only wants to eat in the privacy of her igloo). Whenever I open the cage she'll come running, no matter which door I open, which there are three doors. I know she likes her food because she's been eating it for a while. She loves food, actually.
I give my rats food at night and in the morning, and it's night time right now. Now it's super late. And when I put the food in she didn't come running to the door, and I put in a new toy/hammock (it's a plastic basket that I can hang) and she still didn't come. When I lifted up her igloo she was just laying there. She eyes were open and she was breathing, she just wasn't moving. And when I lifted her up she was completely limp. She hates being picked up with one hand, which is what I did because of where she was, and she didn't fuss at all. She felt much skinnier than she felt to me yesterday, which I think is because of her being so lethargic (I've had dogs that were sick and they'd get the same way) because she was fine eight wise, she's a little chubby actually. She cuddled right into my chest instead of looking around and exploring. She wouldn't even sniff the food I offered her. She took the treats right away and ate about half of eat (two treats) and then she didn't even look at the treats. I put her back in the cage for a few minutes and got some veggies and cheerios and things I thought she'd like and would give her some energy. She drank some water and then went back to igloo and didn't eat again (though at first she did should a little interest) and so after a bit I picked her back up and cuddled with her for hours. She was inside my shirt and she didn't move hardly at all, every once and a while though she's explore for a minute but that was it. She didn't pee or poop, either, but she never does outside the cage. She's back in her cage for the moment cause I was starting to fall asleep and didn't wanna roll on her.
There were no abnormal breathing sounds or pattern (though she might be breathing fast, or I might be paranoid about it). She doesn't have wet tail or anything like that. She had red stuff around her nails, nose, and eyes which I believe to be that stuff they secrete when stressed because there were no wounds on her or the other rats, the red was all dry. Nothing seems wrong other than the obvious.
Could this just possibly be old age?
There's no vet that will take rats near by. I have no idea what to do. She cage mates are grooming her at the moment, they loves them so much and they love her. I'm terrified of loosing her. If it's old age there may not be much I can do, but I have to at least try. Anything would be a major help.
she was fine before I went to work...
