I adopted two rats from a pet store in April and they seemed relatively healthy. The white one, however, was sneezing and I suspected it had mycoplasma. On Thursday she seemed a bit lethargic but still active. When I checked on her on Saturday (I was out of town for one day) she was dead. The brown rat, still seemed somewhat active but depressed. She has also been sneezing. My question is, I know it's bad to introduce a new rat if the brown one also has mycoplasma but she seems so sad without her friend and it breaks my heart to see her like that. What should I do? Should I just spend more time with her? Thanks!
2007-08-06 03:32:04 · 5 answers · asked by erins_kotybear 4 in Pets ➔ Rodents
Virtually *all* domestic rats have the mycoplasma organism in their system, & our vet says it's relatively unusual for a pet rat *not* to have @ least one flare-up during his or her lifetime. The quarentine period is to make sure that your rats don't have other diseases that they could give each other.
You might want to bring your girl to the vet to make sure that there aren't any other health problems & possibly to start her on medication since her sneezing could indicate a flare-up.
Sorry for your loss. Your other girl most likely *is* depressed that her friend is gone (I've seen this in our own rats). It would help if you can give her extra attention & it would be wonderful if she could have a new rat friend, too. Just be sure to quarentine the new girl for a few weeks & introduce them carefully on neutral ground. Also, be patient-- it took our hairless about 2 weeks to accept our hooded girl, but now they're wonderful friends.
2007-08-06 10:03:53 · answer #1 · answered by Catkin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take your little brown friend to the vet and get her checked out. Rats make wonderful pets and companions. I had one that would come when i whistled. If she checks out fine at the vets, wait a couple weeks and get her a new friend. In the meantime you can have lots of fun with her teaching her new games on the coffee table. Roll the can is fun, and hide the peanut. Enjoy.
2007-08-06 12:06:33 · answer #2 · answered by Gary C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take her to the vet to see if she is having a myco flare up and then if not you can get her another cage mate. Quarentine for a month and then start intros very slowly in a neutral place. If all goes well they should be happily living together.
2007-08-06 13:22:42 · answer #3 · answered by MommyCaleb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she wasn't sick, I would definitely get another female friend for her, but, since she is sick, which she should be taken to the vet for, I'd just spend more time with her. Rats can do just fine with just a human companion. If you take her to the vet, get her fixed up, then you can get her a new friend. Just watch them closely and be sure they don't fight. Which is unusual for females. Good luck.
2007-08-06 11:10:16 · answer #4 · answered by Shiver_Bee 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
oh im sooo sorry about your other rat! If she was not sick another friend would be good idea but since she is its not a good idea. I would just spend oodles of time with her.
2007-08-06 11:18:05 · answer #5 · answered by K+J forever 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋