beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 16, 2012 18:46:43 GMT
Oh yes Cheerios are a big favourite of my rats too lol and mini weetabix, they're perfectly rat sized!  |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 16, 2012 18:37:22 GMT
I haven't tried them with organic baby rice cakes before but they've had snack a jacks before when I've had a pack and they seemed to enjoy them lol I'll have to get them some of the baby ones  Where did you get them from? So happy to hear that they're eating now and are on the mend do you have any photos of them? |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 16, 2012 12:14:16 GMT
My holly has mental issues too, but it's not due to inbreeding. We got her from the dogs home as a pup with her sister and the staff there didn't realise she was seriously ill, she had canine distemper. She was at the vets for a week over all having treatment and during that time her temperature was so high that she got brain damage  so now she's a little bit odd. She doesn't like things that stand up- she has to go and knock them over, she compulsive licks herself and she's terrified of bizarre things like her sister coughing (maybe she remembers them both being ill as pups?). Other than that she's a lovely dog, she has no aggression issues or anything she's just 'quirky' lol we still love her |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 16, 2012 10:57:25 GMT
Glad to hear they are feeling better Hope they enjoy their RR food when it arrives!! |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 15, 2012 20:59:33 GMT
Generally rats live to around 2/2.5 years old but some live to be older. Jane if you pull up the skin on their neck, is it going straight back to normal or staying up? That will give you an idea of how dehydrated they are. If they have had some wet food at least they have got some fluid into them but if necessary you might need to syringe some water or tasty juice into their mouths, just do it slowly so as not to choke them. Some cucumber would be good too as its got a high water content When you pull up the skin on the back of their necks, if its staying up (tented) then you might need to think about getting them to a vet as they may need some subcutaneous fluids if they are getting too dehydrated. Really hope they start to improve ETA: I wouldnt put much faith in the lady you got them off saying they're on their way to the rainbow bridge! You know your rats much better than her as they've lived with you, and it could well just be a minor illness which may be easily treatable |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 15, 2012 19:54:10 GMT
Lol Bee!  yep!! I'm already obsessed with the blackcurrant and chocolate with added hazelnut lol so I think I'll be trying apple, butterscotch, pineapple and plain cookie lol |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 15, 2012 19:00:16 GMT
Aww the gerbils are adorable Hissie, so sorry you lost them in such a horrible way I honestly felt like it was the beginning of the end when I had Chaos put to sleep in February and I thought the others would follow one by one but so far they are healthy. Typhon has a head tilt from a past ear infection but it doesn't bother him, he does look funny though The cats are beautiful too! I would love a Maine coon but with 2 dogs and 5 rats I think we have enough on our plate for now lol |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 15, 2012 18:17:20 GMT
Rat warehouse have some lovely things don't they I make all my own pouches and hammocks for my boys. I use polar fleece so no claws get stuck and attach to the cage with shoelaces from the pound shop that way they can destroy as many of them as they want and it only costs me pennies to make another lol I call mine 'my boys' too and they truly mean the world to me I would do absolutely anything for them. A few months before Chaos was put to sleep he had a tumour removed from his side and it cost me £150 and I had people telling me are you daft it's 'just a rat' but they really don't understand, to them it may be 'just a rat' but to me they are just as important as members of my family. I bought the scuttling gourmet book from amazon, not sure if a library would have a copy. If you have joined the fancy rats forum you could put a wanted ad in the marketplace to see if anyone has a copy they no longer want/need That's a good idea with feeding, I generally give them just enough to last them 20 hours and I scatter it throughout their cardboard bedding so they have to look for it (keeps them occupied and stops them getting overweight) Glad I could be of some help |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 15, 2012 17:47:24 GMT
She's lovely Bee Staffies get such a bad name but with the right owner they have great tempraments I agree, I think the same of any breed that gets a bad rep. I know a few rotties, german shepards, staffys etc and all of them have beautiful temperaments. Not a bad bone in their bodies |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 15, 2012 17:40:57 GMT
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 |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 15, 2012 17:33:26 GMT
My dad has got a new puppy!! She's a staffy and called Bella. She is about 19 weeks old and my dad has taken her in as her previous owner no longer wanted her > as they got her, then their baby was born and apparently she was keeping the baby awake!!!! > > Anyway here's a couple of pics   She looks adorable, I've not been to see her yet but hopefully I'll pop round during the week to meet her |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 15, 2012 17:18:31 GMT
Oooooo new flavours!! I feel a shopping spree coming on Tuesday!! |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 15, 2012 17:01:24 GMT
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 |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 15, 2012 16:46:02 GMT
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. |
|
beeratz
Super Member
Joined:March 2012
Posts: 637
Location:
Recent Posts
Last Online Sept 16, 2012 21:30:26 GMT
|
Post by beeratz on Apr 15, 2012 14:32:59 GMT
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! |
|
Where did you get them from? 
so now she's a little bit odd. She doesn't like things that stand up- she has to go and knock them over, she compulsive licks herself and she's terrified of bizarre things like her sister coughing (maybe she remembers them both being ill as pups?). Other than that she's a lovely dog, she has no aggression issues or anything she's just 'quirky' lol we still love her 
