My rat Ginger has a mammary toumor she just turned 3 years on Sunday. She has been acting very strange not moving much and breathing deep, she is also very, very skinney. Ginger has a bunch of red like bleeding from her nose and eyes, and her back foot is strange it won't really walk with her. I do know she is sick ad may be close to dying, but how can I tell when she may, or how to make her feel better? Should I feed her myself??
Please answer...
Tabby&Ginger
2007-01-23 10:24:54 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Sadly, Ginger is coming to the end of her tolerance for life. The tumor is taking her strength and It's a good bet that she now has Mycoplasmosis.
Tumors in rats:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Tumors+in+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAnYM54NvMNPtXBeKUqFf2zcazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAs6qPmKbEGuHV570VYkOMTkazKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Tumors+in+rats
Mycoplasmosis in rats:
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%3DAnYM54NvMNPtXBeKUqFf2zcazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAs6qPmKbEGuHV570VYkOMTkazKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Mycoplasmosis+in+rats
It's nothing that you did, or didn't do. It's just a fact that Ginger is a very old girl. You should be commended for your rat-keeping skills for her to reach this ripe old age.
The red around her eyes and nose is not blood but porphyrin, and it's a sign of stress and illness.
http://www.ratbehavior.org/porphyrin.htm
Her back foot strangeness is a sign of weakness from spinal cord degeneration due to old age, or a general weakness due to her illness.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=hind+end+weakness+in+old+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAnYM54NvMNPtXBeKUqFf2zcazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAs6qPmKbEGuHV570VYkOMTkazKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=hind+end+weakness+in+old+rats
I have had many old rats die peacefully at home, without intervention. Bach's rescue remedy, from a health food store can keep her relaxed.
http://www.bachflower.com/rescue_remedy.htm
And you will definitely need to intervene with hand-feeding her and giving water by hand. If she is dying she will readily drink water, but will refuse food.
Nursing sick rats:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Nursing+sick+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAnYM54NvMNPtXBeKUqFf2zcazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAs6qPmKbEGuHV570VYkOMTkazKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Nursing+sick+rats
Ratty Hugs and Whisker Kisses
I cried buckets writing this for you :*( I've lost count of how many times I've been through this very same thing over the years.
spazrats
http://spazrats.tripod.com
Rat Slave at 38
Specializing in the the care of rats for the last 10 years
2007-01-23 11:31:53 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, she probablly wont live much longer if she has a toumor and bunch of other weird thigns wrong with it. Try going to a vet or something to have it checked out. Maybe it could get medication or sugery, if that's even possible for a rat!! Yes, you should feed her and keep her shedule regular. Try talking to her, it might sound weird, but it probablly soothing. Good luck and I hope Ginger feels better soon!
2007-01-23 18:34:48 · answer #2 · answered by Danielle ™ 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes,provide Hospice care. I hand water them and feed.Or soft foods.Keep them warm and bathe their behinds and they will poop and pee on themselves. I keep a gang of Rats. my Ben died 3 weeks ago, and I'm a grow man and I cried at work,while working. You get attached.When I bury my Rats I buy a small metal box at the dollar stores to bury them in. My only comfort is seeing their children and grandchildren live on.
2007-01-23 18:35:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Be a good and responsible owner and take her to a vet, they'll either be able to help her or be able to stop her suffering.
2007-01-23 19:21:29 · answer #4 · answered by gitana_diosa 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well i can tell you won't last much longer, one of my friends used to have rats and wonce they get a tumor, they don't last long at all, if she survivies another night i would be very surprised, but give her some of her favorite things, and try to just keep her comfortable
2007-01-23 18:29:48 · answer #5 · answered by Olivia W 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
their called vets...deedadee!!!
2007-01-23 18:29:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋