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Many people on this forum have pet store rats, and some are thinking about acquiring some, so I thought I'd post my thoughts on the matter.
Every pet owner ventures in to pet stores for some reason or another. Whether it's to buy bedding, food, treats, or toys, sometimes a trip is necessary. It's hard not to look at the adorable litters of babies or older rats that have been surrendered, and sometimes we even find ourselves thinking about bringing one (or a couple) home with us. Even the most well-intentioned rat owner who knows the woes of buying from pet stores see rats that will tug on their heart strings. Unfortunately, very few of us are immune to the onset of GGMR (gotta get more rats) and will impulsively buy a rat.
I have done this in the past. My first two rats, Ferret and Weezil, were from a local pet store a few blocks from my house. At the time, I knew very little about rats, and I don't even recall why I wanted rats in the first place. Although Ferret was a sweet boy, Weezil was always afraid of people, even with many attempts at forced socialization methods. Weezil was even known to be a bit nippy and would get aggressive at certain times. In his later years, I let him be and didn't handle him too much, since it stressed him. Ferret and Weezil had some upper respiratory issues over the years I had them, and also one incidence of mites, but for the most part, they were pretty healthy boys.
Although my first rats were from a pet store, I didn't beat myself up about it too much since, at the time, I didn't know about why buying from pet stores isn't recommended. My second pair of boys, Gabriel and Morgan, were from Petsmart. I fully admit that, although I knew about the plight of buying from pet stores, and what I was getting myself in to, I had a moment of stupidity and impulsiveness, and went ahead and bought them.
Both boys had horrible cases of mites, and Gabriel was very sick with an upper respiratory infection. After a few vet visits and weeks of treatment, they were both healthy. Although Gabriel was extremely friendly, Morgan was not. He was a rat's rat - preferring to be around rats more than his human friends.
Gabriel was extremely prone to myco flareups, and was always having to be put on antibiotics to clear them up. Some x-rays revealed that he had lung scarring, and Dr. Nugent offered that it was probably because of bad breeding and the conditions at the pet store. He was a very care-free and sweet boy, but he died very early (at about a year and a half). He declined extremely quickly, and since antibiotics and other medications did nothing to help him, I had him put to sleep.
Morgan lived until over two years old, but he developed a fast-growing, amazingly hard tumor on his shoulder. My vet didn't feel comfortable removing it, since it was, like I mentioned, hard as rock and also not movable at all. Over the course of a couple of weeks, the tumor grew very quickly and soon crept into his neck area, causing him to have labored breathing. I had him put to sleep once it was obvious that his distress was mounting, and he could barely breathe.
My four pet store rats meant a lot to me, and they also taught me a great deal. With their help, and the help of members of another rat forum, I learned very quickly about why buying from pet stores should never be recommended.
1.) Rats in pet stores are from subpar lines and genetics. What that means is, even if they appear healthy in the store and while they're young, later in life they will more than likely develop health problems, sometimes very serious ones that end up being fatal or decreasing their quality of life greatly. Pet store rats are not bred for quality, they're bred for quantity. No ethical or caring breeder would allow his or her rats to be sold in pet stores, ever. Pet store rats are often inbred and carry a great many genetic issues such as chronic myco flareups, scarred lungs, bumblefoot, tumors, ocular problems, hind leg paralysis, and much more. Unless you are completely willing to pay for many vet trips over the years, and possibly surgeries, don't even think about purchasing a pet store rat.
2.) Over-crowded conditions. Honestly, I have never seen pet store rats in a cage or tank adequately large enough. Many times I have encountered 10-20 gallon tanks with 5 or more rats in them, yet those size tanks either can't fit ANY rats, or should only house one (and temporarily, at that). These over-crowded living conditions can be more than just uncomfortable for the rats - it effects their overall health. Over-crowding often leads to myco flareups because of the amount of ammonia they're breathing in.
3.) No, or very little, health care. Many large-chain pet stores will advertise their animals as being vet-checked and approved for purchase, even if that's not true. The vets that come in to check over the animals are usually there only once a week - sometimes even less than that. A sick small animal needs constant care and observation because they go down hill VERY quickly. Most pet store veterinarians rarely give the animals more than a passing glance before approving them for purchase. Don't underestimate the fact that you WILL be lied to about an animal's health. Pet stores are just that - stores. Their main goal is to make a sale, even if that means lying or stretching the truth. Upper respiratory infections, mite infestations, SDA, and Sendai are the most common things that pet store rats are hit with - all of which are transferable to other rats/rodents, and some are fatal and VERY expensive to properly treat.
4.) Unsocialized animals. Pet stores are usually very busy places, especially large chains. I've spoken to numerous pet store employees about their care of the animals in the store, and they've admitted to me that they rarely handle the animals beyond moving them out/back in for cleaning purposes. Many, many people have socialization or trust issues with their pet stores rats, and some of those rats don't overcome them. A rat's personality is influenced by two things - their genetics/lines, and the amount of handling they've had, especially while they were young. Like I mentioned previously, pet store rats are badly bred, so when you couple that with the fact that they're rarely, if ever, handled, you more than likely will have an extremely wary, anxious, and even aggressive rat to deal with.
5.) Purchasing a rat from a pet store is NOT saving them or rescuing! Sometimes people will try to convince themselves that purchasing a rat from a pet store is a good thing - that it's helping the rat. When really, all you're doing is aiding the store's business, paying the breeder, and opening a spot (or two) for new rats to come in and take the place of the rats you just purchased. Instead of helping the situation, it's worsened. A favorite quote or phrase of mine is, "Don't breed or buy while shelter animals die." There are thousands and thousands of homeless rats that are euthanized daily because no one wants to adopt them. There are rescues that are just bursting at the seams with rats that need homes! When you adopt a rat, you're helping the rescue or shelter financially, and you're making a spot available for another homeless animal to find their forever home. Before even thinking about purchasing from a pet store, try finding a rescue or shelter in your area that has adoptable rats. Many are young, healthy, and extremely friendly.
There are many more issues than those five, but I find that those are the most prominent.
Pet store employees are most of the time greatly misinformed about animals, and will often suggest or recommend things that they shouldn't. They'll point you to pine bedding, or to those food "mixes" for rats that contain a lot of indigestible or harmful ingredients; they'll point out extremely small cages and say they're a good home for your new rat(s). Although more educated rat owners know what they're suggesting is incorrect, to a newbie this will lead them in all the wrong directions. Pet store employees are rarely, if ever, correct. They are trained to cajole you into purchasing products that are offered by their store, even if those products are either unnecessary, or bad for the animal.
Some people try to fall back on the fact that large chain pet stores offer a return policy where you can either return the rat(s) you purchased for new ones, or have the pet store's vet treat them. When you purchase an animal, you make a silent vow to always take care of them no matter what. Animals, even smaller ones, are not lesser beings, and should never be seen as disposable. When you purchased the animal(s), you assumed all responsibility for their behavioral and medical issues. Returning an animal should never be considered, in my mind. Although it may seem blunt and harsh, you got yourself into the situation, and you need to take responsibility for it. If there are some issues with your new rat, treat them and care for them. Don't take them back to the store like some sort of faulty appliance.
As far as bringing the rat(s) back for vet treatment, like I mentioned before, pet store vets rarely really care about the animals that they see and will most likely prescribe the wrong course of action for whatever health problems are popping up. If the rat(s) you just purchased are sick, they need to be seen by an accredited exotics specialist (just any dog or cat vet won't do!). Although this will mean spending money, sometimes a fair amount, those rats are depending on you for care and should never receive anything less than the best. If you purchase a rat (or two, or three...) from a pet store, be completely willing to spend a large amount of money on vet care. Do NOT think that your rat(s) will be an exception and won't be sick or become sick - always be prepared for the worst.
In conclusion, please consider all of what I've said before you purchase a rat, and research as much as you possibly can. Save a life and rescue a rat! Or, find a good breeder in your area with pedigreed rats. Both are much, MUCH better options than purchasing from a pet store!
I know this was a long read, but I hope you enjoyed it and learned something
Every pet owner ventures in to pet stores for some reason or another. Whether it's to buy bedding, food, treats, or toys, sometimes a trip is necessary. It's hard not to look at the adorable litters of babies or older rats that have been surrendered, and sometimes we even find ourselves thinking about bringing one (or a couple) home with us. Even the most well-intentioned rat owner who knows the woes of buying from pet stores see rats that will tug on their heart strings. Unfortunately, very few of us are immune to the onset of GGMR (gotta get more rats) and will impulsively buy a rat.
I have done this in the past. My first two rats, Ferret and Weezil, were from a local pet store a few blocks from my house. At the time, I knew very little about rats, and I don't even recall why I wanted rats in the first place. Although Ferret was a sweet boy, Weezil was always afraid of people, even with many attempts at forced socialization methods. Weezil was even known to be a bit nippy and would get aggressive at certain times. In his later years, I let him be and didn't handle him too much, since it stressed him. Ferret and Weezil had some upper respiratory issues over the years I had them, and also one incidence of mites, but for the most part, they were pretty healthy boys.
Although my first rats were from a pet store, I didn't beat myself up about it too much since, at the time, I didn't know about why buying from pet stores isn't recommended. My second pair of boys, Gabriel and Morgan, were from Petsmart. I fully admit that, although I knew about the plight of buying from pet stores, and what I was getting myself in to, I had a moment of stupidity and impulsiveness, and went ahead and bought them.
Both boys had horrible cases of mites, and Gabriel was very sick with an upper respiratory infection. After a few vet visits and weeks of treatment, they were both healthy. Although Gabriel was extremely friendly, Morgan was not. He was a rat's rat - preferring to be around rats more than his human friends.
Gabriel was extremely prone to myco flareups, and was always having to be put on antibiotics to clear them up. Some x-rays revealed that he had lung scarring, and Dr. Nugent offered that it was probably because of bad breeding and the conditions at the pet store. He was a very care-free and sweet boy, but he died very early (at about a year and a half). He declined extremely quickly, and since antibiotics and other medications did nothing to help him, I had him put to sleep.
Morgan lived until over two years old, but he developed a fast-growing, amazingly hard tumor on his shoulder. My vet didn't feel comfortable removing it, since it was, like I mentioned, hard as rock and also not movable at all. Over the course of a couple of weeks, the tumor grew very quickly and soon crept into his neck area, causing him to have labored breathing. I had him put to sleep once it was obvious that his distress was mounting, and he could barely breathe.
My four pet store rats meant a lot to me, and they also taught me a great deal. With their help, and the help of members of another rat forum, I learned very quickly about why buying from pet stores should never be recommended.
1.) Rats in pet stores are from subpar lines and genetics. What that means is, even if they appear healthy in the store and while they're young, later in life they will more than likely develop health problems, sometimes very serious ones that end up being fatal or decreasing their quality of life greatly. Pet store rats are not bred for quality, they're bred for quantity. No ethical or caring breeder would allow his or her rats to be sold in pet stores, ever. Pet store rats are often inbred and carry a great many genetic issues such as chronic myco flareups, scarred lungs, bumblefoot, tumors, ocular problems, hind leg paralysis, and much more. Unless you are completely willing to pay for many vet trips over the years, and possibly surgeries, don't even think about purchasing a pet store rat.
2.) Over-crowded conditions. Honestly, I have never seen pet store rats in a cage or tank adequately large enough. Many times I have encountered 10-20 gallon tanks with 5 or more rats in them, yet those size tanks either can't fit ANY rats, or should only house one (and temporarily, at that). These over-crowded living conditions can be more than just uncomfortable for the rats - it effects their overall health. Over-crowding often leads to myco flareups because of the amount of ammonia they're breathing in.
3.) No, or very little, health care. Many large-chain pet stores will advertise their animals as being vet-checked and approved for purchase, even if that's not true. The vets that come in to check over the animals are usually there only once a week - sometimes even less than that. A sick small animal needs constant care and observation because they go down hill VERY quickly. Most pet store veterinarians rarely give the animals more than a passing glance before approving them for purchase. Don't underestimate the fact that you WILL be lied to about an animal's health. Pet stores are just that - stores. Their main goal is to make a sale, even if that means lying or stretching the truth. Upper respiratory infections, mite infestations, SDA, and Sendai are the most common things that pet store rats are hit with - all of which are transferable to other rats/rodents, and some are fatal and VERY expensive to properly treat.
4.) Unsocialized animals. Pet stores are usually very busy places, especially large chains. I've spoken to numerous pet store employees about their care of the animals in the store, and they've admitted to me that they rarely handle the animals beyond moving them out/back in for cleaning purposes. Many, many people have socialization or trust issues with their pet stores rats, and some of those rats don't overcome them. A rat's personality is influenced by two things - their genetics/lines, and the amount of handling they've had, especially while they were young. Like I mentioned previously, pet store rats are badly bred, so when you couple that with the fact that they're rarely, if ever, handled, you more than likely will have an extremely wary, anxious, and even aggressive rat to deal with.
5.) Purchasing a rat from a pet store is NOT saving them or rescuing! Sometimes people will try to convince themselves that purchasing a rat from a pet store is a good thing - that it's helping the rat. When really, all you're doing is aiding the store's business, paying the breeder, and opening a spot (or two) for new rats to come in and take the place of the rats you just purchased. Instead of helping the situation, it's worsened. A favorite quote or phrase of mine is, "Don't breed or buy while shelter animals die." There are thousands and thousands of homeless rats that are euthanized daily because no one wants to adopt them. There are rescues that are just bursting at the seams with rats that need homes! When you adopt a rat, you're helping the rescue or shelter financially, and you're making a spot available for another homeless animal to find their forever home. Before even thinking about purchasing from a pet store, try finding a rescue or shelter in your area that has adoptable rats. Many are young, healthy, and extremely friendly.
There are many more issues than those five, but I find that those are the most prominent.
Pet store employees are most of the time greatly misinformed about animals, and will often suggest or recommend things that they shouldn't. They'll point you to pine bedding, or to those food "mixes" for rats that contain a lot of indigestible or harmful ingredients; they'll point out extremely small cages and say they're a good home for your new rat(s). Although more educated rat owners know what they're suggesting is incorrect, to a newbie this will lead them in all the wrong directions. Pet store employees are rarely, if ever, correct. They are trained to cajole you into purchasing products that are offered by their store, even if those products are either unnecessary, or bad for the animal.
Some people try to fall back on the fact that large chain pet stores offer a return policy where you can either return the rat(s) you purchased for new ones, or have the pet store's vet treat them. When you purchase an animal, you make a silent vow to always take care of them no matter what. Animals, even smaller ones, are not lesser beings, and should never be seen as disposable. When you purchased the animal(s), you assumed all responsibility for their behavioral and medical issues. Returning an animal should never be considered, in my mind. Although it may seem blunt and harsh, you got yourself into the situation, and you need to take responsibility for it. If there are some issues with your new rat, treat them and care for them. Don't take them back to the store like some sort of faulty appliance.
As far as bringing the rat(s) back for vet treatment, like I mentioned before, pet store vets rarely really care about the animals that they see and will most likely prescribe the wrong course of action for whatever health problems are popping up. If the rat(s) you just purchased are sick, they need to be seen by an accredited exotics specialist (just any dog or cat vet won't do!). Although this will mean spending money, sometimes a fair amount, those rats are depending on you for care and should never receive anything less than the best. If you purchase a rat (or two, or three...) from a pet store, be completely willing to spend a large amount of money on vet care. Do NOT think that your rat(s) will be an exception and won't be sick or become sick - always be prepared for the worst.
In conclusion, please consider all of what I've said before you purchase a rat, and research as much as you possibly can. Save a life and rescue a rat! Or, find a good breeder in your area with pedigreed rats. Both are much, MUCH better options than purchasing from a pet store!
I know this was a long read, but I hope you enjoyed it and learned something
