I have a 2 year old female pet rat. For the last week she's been lethargic, "ruffled fur", and I just noticed tonight that she fell over backwards when grooming herself.....as if she was dizzy and lost balance. She isn't sneezing or wheezing...no head tilt either. Anyone know what this is?
2007-01-08 17:18:32 · 6 answers · asked by Justlookin 5 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
You do have a sick rat on your hands. Lethargic, ruffled fur, and falling over backwards (because she is getting weak) are symptoms of every illness that rats can get.
At the age of 2 years old, your rat is about the same age as a 60 year old woman.
http://www.ratbehavior.org/RatYears.htm
Two illness immediately come to mind, Mycoplasmosis,
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Mycoplasmosis+in+rats&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=Mycoplasmosis+in+rats
and Pituitary Tumor
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Pituitary+tumor+in+rats&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=Pituitary+tumor+in+rats
The only way to find out what's wrong with her is a vet check and medications to help her. I/we could help you further if you knew her illness..
Most rats display the symptoms of sneezing, wheezing, or head-tilt that indicate Myco, yet others hide their symptoms so well that by the time they show them, it's too late.
Caring for old rats
http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm#old
spazrats
http://spazrats.tripod.com
Specializing in the health and care of pet rats since 1997
2007-01-08 18:05:40 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, for one thing, rats age about 1 year every ten days. So, what you've got on your hands is an elderly rat. The average lifespan of a pet rat is 2 and a half to 5 years of age... and 5 is really pushing it. I have had 3 pet rats in the past. They are wonderful pets, but they do not live long.
Usually, the thing that kills them is cancer. I would take her to the vet (one that understands ratties) for a check-up, though, to see if the problem is fixable.
When my rats began to show signs of slowing down, I put their food more within reach, so they wouldn't have to climb for it.
2007-01-08 17:29:12 · answer #2 · answered by scruffycat 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the rat is worth hundreds of dollars take it to a vet immediately because it will be gone pretty quick. If not, make it comfortable or consider euthanasia.
2007-01-08 17:29:52 · answer #3 · answered by Steve in NC 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
did you give her anything besides her normal food to eat? I also think that she could be going through old age problems but i have a 2 year old rat right now and she is in perfect condition.
2007-01-09 03:56:09 · answer #4 · answered by nicole 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no one and I mean NO ONE (not even a VET) can tell you what it is.
What I CAN tell you is this, when the rat actually starts SHOWING signs of being sick, that means it is way past home meds and in need of going to a vet ASAP.....
take her to a good small pets vet, or you will no longer have a sick rat on your hands ,but a dead one with her death on your head.
2007-01-08 17:23:49 · answer #5 · answered by Sapphire 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Call your vet.
2007-01-09 04:07:20 · answer #6 · answered by Veneta T 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋