I've had my rat for about a year and hes a year and a half old. about a week ago he just quit using his back legs. I think that its just because he never does anything and he lost the strength in his muscles but im not sure. my m om thinks he was parallyzed but he never does anything to be parallyzed. Please if you have any idead on how to help or what could be wrong, tell me.
2007-06-01 09:10:56 · 10 answers · asked by Skitz 1 in Pets ➔ Rodents
Many rats begin to lose function in their hind legs as they get older. This may be due to trauma or degeneration of the spinal nerve. It is a gradual process and is more common in males.
The first thing to do is make sure your cage is only one level. Your rat can no longer fall safely but may still have the ability to move up and possibly hurt itself. You'll need to trim their back toenails once every week or two - be VERY careful and be sure not to cut into the quick (the opaque white tip inside the nail). Also, once a week, you should use a qtip to very gently clean the inside of its ears, because it can no longer clean its own ears with its back paws.
You might have to make changes in the cage as well -- water bottles may have to be lower and the bedding might need to be changed to something he/she won't have to 'swim' through, like VetBed bedding (get it at your pet store). It's really important to keep your rat clean - every day or so, use a warm wet washcloth to really gently cleanse their genital area and the bottom of their cage to loosen and remove any fecal matter or urine staining. You must also be changing the cage more often.
What can help? A diet lower in phosphates can help ease the paralysis (Oats, wholewheat, and bran are high in phosphates.) 50 micrograms of B12 per day could help, along with daily glucosamine and chondroiting supplementation (don't measure it yourself - ask a vet to do it). Also, a tiny bit of cod liver oil each week can help. And ask your vet about biotin supplementation - some studies show it can reverse paralysis in certain cases.
Don't worry, this isn't the end of your rat's life. Many rats live for over a year with hindleg degeneration, and can live happy, fulfilled lives with the help of their owner. Keep handling and giving love to your rat and be extra careful around their hindlegs to keep them comfortable. Good luck!
2007-06-01 11:27:16 · answer #1 · answered by esobel6 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's normal for older male rats. It's called spinal degeneration. I've had several and none seemed bothered by it. Just make sure that he can still reach his food and water, and it helps if you hold him upright sometimes if he has trouble sitting up to hold his food..when mine got older I started giving them plates of baby food, that they could just lick up, along with their normal food. You should wipe him down with a warm wet washcloth, and mine really loved being groomed with an old toothbrush too! If it gets worse you could also move him around a bit, to get exercise and make sure he doesn't sit in a dirty patch for too long. It's nothing life threatening though, as long as you make sure he doesn't have anything to fall off of or get caught in.
2007-06-02 13:51:12 · answer #2 · answered by *kizzz* 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like his lower back is broke. He ought to be at a vets workplace good now. a minimum of to be euthanized he's squeaking out of discomfort and he ought to be in excruciating discomfort to be vocal approximately it. Rats are prey animals and attempt to no longer enable all of us or something be attentive to while they are weakened and injured. i'd call this an emergency vet bypass to.
2016-11-03 08:26:03 · answer #3 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
does he have any function in his backside as far as bowel movements? Animals can actually paralyze themselves for many reasons one of which being the disks in his back might have slipped pinching the spinal cord and paralyzing the half below that. If so , don't worry, he can't feel and will be able to pull himself around( as pathetic as that sounds:P) But, you need to watch to see if he can urinate or pass bowel because if not then you might want to put him down. there's not much that can be done if that's the case and it's better to put him down before he has to suffer. Hopefully that is not the case!
2007-06-01 09:20:05 · answer #4 · answered by fender_04_08 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i had a rat that had that problem i spent alot of time ubing his back and legs gently and it helped him use his legs but it that dont work take and have it looked at it could also be sick and could die
rat lover and owner for years
2007-06-02 19:25:28 · answer #5 · answered by shylilly_665 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a feeling that your rat is about to die. Mine did the same thing. Hope he gets better.May the Lord bless him.
2007-06-02 03:45:10 · answer #6 · answered by Brookie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take him to the vets. A rat is not that lazy so there is something wrong. Tehy ae ussually active rodents.
2007-06-01 09:17:39 · answer #7 · answered by Kit_kat 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest getting your rat a larger cage, or perhaps a wheel or orb to roll around in. If his legs are just too weak to work, this should strengthen them.
2007-06-01 10:23:59 · answer #8 · answered by doodledarr 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You may want to take him to the vet. Rats are climbers, and he could have climbed his cage, fallen, and hurt his back.
2007-06-01 09:17:03 · answer #9 · answered by erinn83bis 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
if he's a year and a half he's an old man. it could be paralysis. it wouldn't take much for his spine to be injured.
2007-06-01 17:22:45 · answer #10 · answered by MommyCaleb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋