[dkirschling]

I think Sprinkles is getting very elderly. She doesn't seem sick, but she seems to be slowing down and has lost some weight. She's still exploring and eating and active. What are the signs of old age?

 

[lilspaz68]

How old is sprinkles? Losing weight is part of the aging process and you can start to fight that with weight-gaining foods. Diets go out the window at this point.
They walk/move lower to the ground, don't have as much agility more, their coat is not as nice, some may not breathe as well, they sleep a lot more than they used to...even girls *gasp*

Some rats develop tumours or cataracts in their eyes. Some males develop spinal nerve degeneration and slowly their hind end becomes paralysed (I have a girl with this right now at 2 years of age). Its just a whole slowing down process. On average a rats immune system starts to weaken at 18 months of age and thats when the aging truly begins.

 

[dkirschling]

She is probably over two years, she came to me as an adult. I've been separating her during mealtimes (just started today) to make sure she's getting enough. Her cagemates are still more active than she is, and kinda run over her when eating. She loves avocado and I also got her Nutri-Cal. What other foods do you suggest? I can tell she's lost weight over the past few weeks, she feels much lighter.

She tips over a little bit sometimes, just her back legs. I get the impression that she is just not moving around so well anymore, but she still seems happy. Her eyes are still clear, thank goodness.

 

[Spider]

Check out this website, I've been using the stuff for about 3 weeks and it helped a weak, fragile Rat regain much strength.
Spider

WWW.SeaCureforpets.com/

 

[kerkam]

Avocado is good, also maybe some egg, cooked pasta, carbohydrate rich veg like corn and peas. Keep her greens up so she can get all the vits etc that she needs.

Also soya milk goes down well....

If you find she really gets to a point where shes weak or loosing too much weight. Complan mixed with soya milk or baby food works really well to build up some weight....

hope that helps

 

[dkirschling]

Sprinkles is not doing so good. I took her to the vet and she doesn't know what's wrong with her. She's not moving very much at all, mostly lays down. She's not paralyzed, she can move. She still tries cleaning herself, at least her face. She's lost a lot of weight in the past week. She eats very little, just a few licks of avocado off my finger. I can get her to take some baby formula or water from a syringe every few hours, but not enough. The vet said I could put her to sleep, but I chose not to just yet. I have her at home and I'm doing my best to comfort her. She's still bruxing for me, the little sweetie. I don't think she will be recovering. If she seems to be in distress I will take her back to the vet, but I'm hoping she will be able pass on quietly at home. I have never had a rat pass away from just pure old age. I'm strangely at peace.

 

[sonoma]

I’m so sorry to hear Sprinkles isn’t doing well. Wish I had some advice, but it sounds like you’re doing all you can for her.

 

[IceLore]

I'm sorry to hear your girl isn't doing that well. It is a peaceful feeling when they just fade, in no pain, from old age. I'm sure she knows you love her and are doing your best to look after her.

 

[dkirschling]

Thank you for your kind words. To my surprise, Sprinkles has perked up a bit. She was just doing a lot of laying around, so I was hand feeding her and giving her syringes of water and baby formula. It seems to have helped, she's up and moving around again. I even put her back in the main tank. She's obviously still showing her age, but she's not down yet!

 

[IceLore]

Congrats!