I have a pet rat. He seems to love gnawing on things like rubber grips on sports equipment and electrical cables but wont touch the stuff like blocks of wood and dried pig hide I put in his cage for him to chew on. I have had a rat in the past and, through not chewing, his teeth grew too much and became problematic. How can I avoid this happening with my current pet?
2006-08-12 03:08:03 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Rub a food on it. Maybe his favorite
2006-08-12 03:09:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is misinformation that pet rats need to chew on things to keep their teeth at the proper length. Simply eating hard foods will keep their teeth at the proper length. Giving them the commercially made lab block for rodents is fine. If your previous rat had teeth problems, it wasn't because it didn't have the right things to chew on. It was either diet or misalligned teeth. Sadly, even some veterinarians do not even know enough about pet rats. It's just not a subject taught in vet school.
However, they DO love to gnaw so you can give them bird toys, card board boxes, chicken bones, dog biscuits (treats only)...etc. Dried pig hide is not something I would feed a rat.
go here for more information .
http://www.ratguide.com/
Zoo
http://www.thezootribe.com/
2006-08-15 03:38:48 · answer #2 · answered by Zoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My rats always gnawed on the cage bars and running wheel, as well as on hard plastic if available. There are lots of plastic rodent toys. I don't think rubbery items will wear down the teeth. How about a real bone? Actually, most rats will gnaw enough to keep their teeth healthy without any special treatment.
2006-08-12 06:07:35 · answer #3 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a pair of rats. I always buy the wooden parrot toys and hang them in the cage...I have one on each level but I have to change the toys often as rats get bored with their toys quickly. So every two weeks I take the toys out and put new ones in and rotate them. They like the parrot toys that have the flavored wood.
2006-08-12 08:25:19 · answer #4 · answered by Angie W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My rat Freda has a misaligned jaw, and she has to go to the vet every 2-3 weeks to get her teeth cut. Its not nice, I hate seening her squirm and squeal. Last time there, the vet suggested getting a cuttle bone like birds use for her to gnaw on, and that seems to have done the trick.
Although she will still need teeth cut, just not as often.
2006-08-12 03:21:53 · answer #5 · answered by Mas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As you know, it is instinct for rats to chew, you just need to be more creative in finding something that fulfills the proper requirements (that is, to be hard enough to keep his teeth in check, and that is not dangerous for him). Since he seems to favor rubber, you might try one of those "Nylabone" doggie bones that are meant to keep dogs occupied. I'm thinking that the faintly sweet smell of the rubber might be attracting him, and these things have that, and they would be safe for him, too. Available by mail order, online, (I got ours at Foster and Smith) or at any good pet store. It would be an easy thing to try.
Good luck, and give your rat a pat on the head for me.
2006-08-12 03:18:57 · answer #6 · answered by Cindi A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why dont you buy the rat a toy of some kind or feed it more harder to chew foods ie. nuts seeds dog buiscuits often help
2006-08-12 03:38:57 · answer #7 · answered by lukeboy7887 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
...and tabasco sauce over the things he's NOT to chew. But you have to keep the tabasco fresh
2006-08-12 03:11:31 · answer #8 · answered by wild_eep 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
will i tell you what id do with the rat, it involves an object and the noise snap.... have a fear of them, yucky yucky.
2006-08-12 03:14:49 · answer #9 · answered by josephine 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
buy a cat and put them together
2006-08-12 03:10:48 · answer #10 · answered by Splishy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋