she is eating well but she seems to be getting thinner just in front of her back legs. why is this happening and is there something i can do about it?
2007-01-08 08:47:43 · 2 answers · asked by lefeudeicarus 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Getting thin, as you have described it, is a symptom of many different illnesses in rats, such as kidney failure, liver failure, heart failure, cancer, Mycoplasmosis, arthritis, any pain, etc. You can only do something about it when a vet has made a proper diagnosis and has prescribed medication for her.
Rats are such stoic animals that she will continue "to act normal" for as long as possible so as not to show any vulnerability to a perceived predator. As her illness progresses it will be harder and harder for her to eat, and the foods that I list below will encourage her to want to eat.
If she is over 1.5 years of age she is an old rat. Just like some people get thin with age, so do rats. The average life span of a pet rat is 2 to 3 years.
Rats have very high metabolisms and she's burning calories like mad as she fights her disease. There's no way to stop the thinning, but you might be able to slow it down with high-calorie foods.
Food ideas:
Canned salmon, dark meat chicken, avocado, pasta, mayonaise, eggs, Boost, Chocolate (yes, chocolate is ok for rats http://spazrats.tripod.com/chocolate.html), baby food of all kinds, cookies, etc. Basically, at this point in her life you are spoiling her rotten with whatever she wants to eat.
Along with a good quality diet and high-calorie foods, you might just have her for a bit longer.
I would be happy to talk to you further, just sent me an e-mail. I could be of better help if I knew what was wrong with her?
Rat illnesses:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=rat+illnesses&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAstoI8maQeDPKAoiG9Y5uZUazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAkOcwcV3jr5vg7S1r_xySt4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=rat+illnesses
Rats who are kept inside, fed well, and kept clean, do not get worms.
spazrats
http://spazrats.tripod.com
Specializing in the health and care of pet rats since 1997.
2007-01-08 17:04:17 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's time for a vet visit. Weight loss in any small animal, like rats, is a huge concern. Prey animals hide signs of illness until they are very, very ill. The fact that she has lost weight indicates a serious problem that needs to be addressed by a vet. No one on here can tell you what is wrong with your rat. We are not vets :) Good luck at the vet.
2016-03-13 04:52:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
maybe it has parasites
RE:
My rat is losing weight but eating ok? why? -
she is eating well but she seems to be getting thinner just in front of her back legs. why is this happening and is there something i can do about it?
2015-01-09 04:30:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
getting thin, as you have described it, is a symptom of numerous different illnesses in rats, such as kidney failure, liver failure, heart failure, cancer, mycoplasmosis, arthritis, any pain, etc... you can only do something about it when a vet has made a proper diagnosis and has prescribed medication for her...
rats are such stoic animals that she shall continue "to act normal" for as long as possible so as not to show any vulnerability to a perceived predator... as her illness progresses it shall be harder and harder for her to eat, and the foods that i list below shall encourage her to want to eat...
if she is over 1...5 years of age she is an old rat... just like some people get thin with age, so do rats... the average life span of a pet rat is 2 to 3 years...
rats have very high metabolisms and she's burning calories like mad as she fights her disease... there's no way to stop the thinning, but you might be able to slow it down with high-calorie foods...
food ideas:
along with a good quality diet and high-calorie foods, you might just have her for a bit longer...
i would be happy to talk to you further, just sent me an e-mail... i could be of better help if i knew what was wrong with her?
rat illnesses:
rats who are kept inside, fed well, and kept clean, do not get worms...
spazrats
specializing in the health and care of pet rats since 1997...
2017-03-26 22:56:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a hamster that this happened to. She had a tumor and died shortly after beginning to lose weight...her mate did the same thing also. Another possibility could be some sort of internal or intestinal parasite or another intestinal disease.
2007-01-08 08:52:20 · answer #5 · answered by Jamie J 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Does your rattie have a wheel? If so, I would remove it for awhile and add more foods to her diet to raise her weight a little bit. I would also add liquid vitamins to her water source.
2007-01-08 08:52:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
she might be getting old, *cry* im sry but i love rats and im sry to tell you this it hurts my heart to imagine a beautiful rat in distress. *sniff* Try asking a vet, i know you probably dont have a vet for him/her but just ask for anyone and they might help you.
2007-01-08 08:58:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You might take it to the vet. It may have contracted some form of worm.
2007-01-08 08:53:43 · answer #8 · answered by Veneta T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be worms, could be bacterial infection, could be the rodent form of diabetes... Get your cat to a vet and take a sample of its poo with you to have it tested.
2007-01-08 08:52:47 · answer #9 · answered by Fetch 11 Humane Society 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
maybe its a tapeworm. Take her to the vet.
2007-01-08 08:48:39 · answer #10 · answered by Stephen R 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋