The only health problems I've ever had with rats are tumors, however there IS an exception--one of my old female rats, Thor (RIP), got sick, went into a coma-like state and died. Her symptoms were lethargy and red discharge from the nose and eyes. We put her in quarentine, which meant a shallow bowl filled with rags--we knew she was going to pass on, but we wanted to make sure she was comfortable.
That's the only real health problem I've ever had with a rat till now.
Yuki is my older rat. I've had him for about a year, and I have NO CLUE how old he was when we got him. Right now he's not doing too hot though. He's been very lethargic over the past couple of days, he doesn't eat much anymore and he's gotten WAY thinner (this rattie is notorious for being rather large). I'm very worried about him. He sits in his favorite spot on the wires all the time, so I put a rag there so he wouldn't get TOO uncomfortable and moved the water bottle to that level. He sleeps all the time...he doesn't really move much. I reach in there to scratch him behind the ears and stroke his back, and he really enjoys that, but it breaks my heart because I can distinctly feel his bones. His breathing is very labored.
Choco, my other rat (whom is still just growing up) seems to be fine. He's a chipper little rat who thinks any finger that goes in the cage is his personal chew toy, and that Yuki is a jungle gym. He's really cute...
Anyway, Yuki's sick and I'm really worried about him. If things don't get better within the next couple of days I'll put him in quarentine, but other than that, I don't kow what to do except keep him comfortable. Any advice or suggestions or knowledge of what may be going on with him would be very much so appreciated.
Love,
Redd
That's the only real health problem I've ever had with a rat till now.
Yuki is my older rat. I've had him for about a year, and I have NO CLUE how old he was when we got him. Right now he's not doing too hot though. He's been very lethargic over the past couple of days, he doesn't eat much anymore and he's gotten WAY thinner (this rattie is notorious for being rather large). I'm very worried about him. He sits in his favorite spot on the wires all the time, so I put a rag there so he wouldn't get TOO uncomfortable and moved the water bottle to that level. He sleeps all the time...he doesn't really move much. I reach in there to scratch him behind the ears and stroke his back, and he really enjoys that, but it breaks my heart because I can distinctly feel his bones. His breathing is very labored.
Choco, my other rat (whom is still just growing up) seems to be fine. He's a chipper little rat who thinks any finger that goes in the cage is his personal chew toy, and that Yuki is a jungle gym. He's really cute...
Anyway, Yuki's sick and I'm really worried about him. If things don't get better within the next couple of days I'll put him in quarentine, but other than that, I don't kow what to do except keep him comfortable. Any advice or suggestions or knowledge of what may be going on with him would be very much so appreciated.
Love,
Redd