re. poorly rattie

[Deleted]

My beloved pet rats (aged 26 months) are sick. the smaller one more so than the bigger one (milo)...

Was off food for a few days but thought that was just like the egg in the foo yung they got on thursday.

Now an inspection proves Bob at least has a bad infection and like Milo might have mites...

Milo woolfed down the 2 teaspoons of porridge I gave them this am (not much but didn't want to overdo it with the porridge and the ratties) and like looked interested in the carrot. Have put a tiny amount of vit c in their water to see if that helps...

It'll be vets if they don't improve by Tuesday (can't go tomorrow as am up the hospital)....

Any ideas...or is it just vets? Milo has some tumours on his face but they don't bother him that much. They've been off the pellets for months cos they just can't eat them anymore so have put them on the muesli. Should I maybe soak the muesli in warm water with a little sugar or honey before I give it to them and give it to them soft and wet? Any ideas....just want them to eat and drink again

Jane

[Queenie Bee]

Can't help but really hope your ratties get better soon xxxx

[Chrissie]

I never owned a rat, so I can't help either Jane. If they have been off their food for a few days & one has a bad infection, then I do think they need a visit to the vets as soon as possible.

[beeratz]

Apr 15, 2012 13:01:45 GMT @johanino said:

My beloved pet rats (aged 26 months) are sick. the smaller one more so than the bigger one (milo)...

Was off food for a few days but thought that was just like the egg in the foo yung they got on thursday.

Now an inspection proves Bob at least has a bad infection and like Milo might have mites...

Milo woolfed down the 2 teaspoons of porridge I gave them this am (not much but didn't want to overdo it with the porridge and the ratties) and like looked interested in the carrot. Have put a tiny amount of vit c in their water to see if that helps...

It'll be vets if they don't improve by Tuesday (can't go tomorrow as am up the hospital)....

Any ideas...or is it just vets? Milo has some tumours on his face but they don't bother him that much. They've been off the pellets for months cos they just can't eat them anymore so have put them on the muesli. Should I maybe soak the muesli in warm water with a little sugar or honey before I give it to them and give it to them soft and wet? Any ideas....just want them to eat and drink again

Jane

Hi Jane, I've got ratties too! 5 boys- aged 23 months. Sorry to hear your fur babies are poorly!
Are their eyes and ears nice and clear and free of porphyrin? Also how do their chests sound? If they are reluctant to eat then baby food usually works a treat and a bit of honey mixed in water is brilliant for keeping energy levels up.
Personally, unless they really go downhill tonight or tomorrow then I would just keep a very close eye on them and make sure they are eating well, drinking well, going to the toilet etc. and if they havent improved by Tuesday then pop them to the vet for a check up.
If you think they might have mites then I would treat them for it anyway, as even if they don't an ivermectin treatment won't do them any harm
Hope they get better, I hate it when my boys get poorly so I know how you feel

[Sandra (aka Chillax)]

Aww poor rats, hope they get better soon xx

[Deleted]

Bigger (seems more well) rattie - Milo has a scratch by his eye - otherwise fine

Smaller (sicker) rattie - Bob has a really sore nose. Going out asap for baby food.....

Thanks Beeratz

Jane

[beeratz]

Are either of them sneezy or are their chests sounding hooty or crackly? Just wondered if maybe they have a respiratory infection. Do you have any Baytril around that you could start them on until you can get them into the vets?
Have you been on the site rat rations.com at all? They do a brilliant range of foods and supplements and treats etc I get all my rattie things from there. My boys are fed on rat rations number 8 complete- elderly kidney friendly. The only thing with this diet is that they have to be supplemented with extra vitamins and minerals as its a straights based mix so I use dr squiggles daily essentials 1 and calcivet which goes in their drinking water
Hope all that helps
Really hope they start to improve soon!

[hissie]

When my gerbils were poorly I used to buy baby food, but you have to becareful. Certain ingredients are poisionous to small animals.

I used to buy the organic jars of baby food, mainly the fruity or breakfast ones.

A very very small amount of honey in a syringe of cooled boiled water is good, especially if they have been off the food. Manuka honey is the best but expensive.

Also if giving baytril, I used to mix it with really diluted ribena, as it tastes so horrid & bitter.

However, you can't beat taking them for a check up at the vets. Which would be my main recommedation.

[Karma]

Aldi sell Manuka hone for £3.99

[beeratz]

Apr 15, 2012 16:31:54 GMT hissie said:

When my gerbils were poorly I used to buy baby food, but you have to becareful. Certain ingredients are poisionous to small animals.

I used to buy the organic jars of baby food, mainly the fruity or breakfast ones.

A very very small amount of honey in a syringe of cooled boiled water is good, especially if they have been off the food. Manuka honey is the best but expensive.

Also if giving baytril, I used to mix it with really diluted ribena, as it tastes so horrid & bitter.

However, you can't beat taking them for a check up at the vets. Which would be my main recommedation.

Completely agree with everything you've said Hissie
I usually get my boys the organic banana flavoured baby food they love it lol and yes Baytril tastes awful and I often give it with ribena but they're growing wise to it now so I have to change tactics every now and again they're too intelligent for their own good sometimes!
I always make sure I have a stash of rattie antibiotics, pain killers etc in but of course it is absolutely no substitute for vet treatment.
I've never had gerbils but it sounds like they're very similar to rats in terms of health needs etc.

[hissie]

Yes the banana baby food I used to buy too. However, I think there is a porridge one aswell.

My gerbils used to love oats aswell.

I rekon all small mammals will need the same care & attention bee. Obviously there will be slight differences.

It's just quite dangerous if they don't at least drink because they can go down very fast.

I got a lot of info from scouring the internet. There are plenty of gerbil, rat forums too which have good sources of info.

[beeratz]

Yeah they can go downhill so quickly, my Helios nearly died from a respiratory infection (he was also refusing to eat/drink)when he was a baby and I had to rush him to the emergency vet and luckily he survived and is still with me today but it does show they can go so quickly.
I am a member of fancyratsforum.co.uk it's a fab place and full of information, I've learnt so much from there

[Deleted]

Thanks guys...

They are improving...even Bob's (the smaller one) nose doesn't look so bad....they have been eating carrot and baby broccoli (organix) and loving it. Not least the baby rice cakes (just flavoured with apple juice)....new treat for ratties....baby rice cakes

Sleeping a lot too....stilll not good on the water front but i think I have the right dose of vit c in there (would rather them have vit c than antibiotics but we'll see)....

Bit worried about the lack of protein in baby food. So got them some baby stew. Just for the meat. tomorrow I will make up my own and puree it (have some parsnip soup in the freezer. I can add mince to that) and they can have that...

Will check out the forum Beeratz - thanks

jane

[beeratz]

At that age, they don't actually need a huge amount of protein, too much protein can cause protein scabs and skin irritation but if they are not eating their regular mix then a little extra won't be a huge problem.
It might be worth getting some nutrical in, it's a calorific paste that is excellent for elderly/poorly rats it's full of vitamins and it also stimulates appetite. Plus rats love it! Mine go mad as soon as they see the tube (they don't get it very often)
Glad they're looking better though

[Deleted]

Thanks so much for that rat forum Beeratz.....I am not going to buy off there today as it's Sabbath but I have my wee little list for rat rations tomorrow........och so many lovely things on Rat Warehouse too ....(love the pouches....alas one of mine wouldn't last two secs in there...for the next lot. )

I never thought I'd last 6 months with these boys. I actually adopted them but today has shown me how much they mean to me. They are 'my boys'.... I'd had pets before but I'd been very unwell at the time and like I just couldn't look after them in the end (cavies)...the boys are so easy when I'm unwell....and always up for a cuddle ......

Yeah I moved off pellets (well did a variety) when they got bored of them...do you know if I can get the gourmet book off the library? Hope so . Getting them off pellets was not rocket science. I also give them loads of bedding to hide and play in. I just get them a box of cheap tissues. They love it!!!! and they have this lovely snuggly hammock as well..... I got that whenI first got them and they just chill in there....

So thanks so much for everyone's help with ratties. Wouldn't have posted but after SamV wanting Kitteh advice I thought it was worth a short

I'm going to try and get them more regular feeding patterns now established again (i like to feed them twice a day 12 hours apart. If I feed them once a day Milo just rushes his food and chokes poor boy )

Thanks

Jane