healthcare

The first thing I should make clear on this page is that I am not a qualified vet, nor have I had extensive experience in treating sick rats. The following content is not intended to replace veterinary advice. At all times, if you are concerned about your rat, SEE A VET. They will not be annoyed if you bring a perfectly healthy rat to see them - good vets understand an owner would rather be safe than sorry!

GET TO KNOW YOUR RAT
Make sure that you observe your rat closely. Listen to their chest to see what their breathing sounds like. Look at their eyes and noses. Feel their bodies. Inspect their urine and droppings. Study their behaviour. By knowing what each of these things is like when they are healthy, it will be easy to pick up any changes.

GET TO KNOW YOUR VET
Make sure that you have a good vet lined up BEFORE you need one. I learned the hard way that not all vets know which medicines are suitable for rats, or what dosages are best. Go into your local vet and ask questions.
Have they treated many rats?
Do they perform surgery on rats?
How high is their fatality rate?
What would they use to treat a respiratory infection?
(the answer should be doxycycline and/or baytril, for
approx 3 weeks).
Ask other rat owners about their experiences. A list of
vets recommended by members of the NZ Rats mailing list is here.

GET SOME RAT LITERATURE
Some rat books are better than others. The best of all rat books is Debbie Ducommun (the rat lady)'s "Rat Health Care" book. No rat owner should be without it! To enquire about purchasing, contact the New Zealand Rat Club.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
There are several things you can do to assist your rat in maintaining good health.
Diet: Feed a varied, low-protien diet with a mixture of fresh and dry food.
Hygeine: Keep your rat's cage, food dishes and water bottles clean.
Environment: Keep your rat at an even temperature, with good ventilation, few draughts, away from fumes and sprays, and things that might stress him/her.
Bedding: Never use cedar or pine bedding.
Supervision: Whenever your rat is out and about, supervise carefully. House plants can be poisonous. Rats can get stuck behind things, fall off high shelves, get squashed under falling objects or feet, or eat something disagreeable.

SIGNS YOUR RAT IS SICK
I believe any sudden change in behaviour is a warning sign, and should be investigated. Your rat may not be sick, but if you cannot find a good reason for the change, seek expert advice. Watch out for any of the following:
Sneezing: Rats do not normally sneeze. One or two isolated sneezes a week is nothing to worry about. Several in an hour should be investigated.
Wheezing, clicking, rattling, or laboured breathing: Possible respiratory disease. See a vet!
Runny eyes/nose - reddish brown staining: This occurs when a rat is under stress. They may not be ill, but it could be a sign of a respiratory infection.
Excessive scratching: Could be due to mites/lice. A protien-rich diet can cause scabs on the skin which will cause itching.
Lumps: Rats are susceptible to tumours. Females are especially prone to mamary tumours. These are usually benign and can be easily removed by an experienced vet. A lump could also be an abscess, caused by an infected scratch. Get any lump checked out straight away.
Blood in urine: Possible causes include bladder/urinary tract infections, bladder crystals, ulcerated bladder. Sometimes the mycoplasma virus (usually responsible for respiratory infections) causes bleeding in the genital area.
Changes in droppings: Could be caused by a sudden change in diet (too many leafy greens). If it does not come right within 24 hours or is accompanied by other symptoms, see a vet.
Hunched posture, puffed up fur, lethargy, loss of appetite: All signs that your rat is feeling unwell. See your vet.
Most of the above symptoms can be sorted out with a course of antibiotics and some TLC. The key is acting quickly.

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
There are some homeopathic or herbal remedies that can assist in helping rats recover or fight off illness.
Echinacea: Can assist the immune system. Continuous use may decrease it's effictiveness. Use for no more than one month at a time. One-two drops for females, two-three drops for males, once a day. I use Echimax from Good Health (product ECN50) as it is non-alcohol based.
Bach Flower Remedies: I have not used these myself but know of people who have, with good results.
Acidophillus: Can assist in the treatment of diarrhea. Break open a capsule and sprinkle a little onto something tasty, like jam.
Click here for a comprehensive guide to using homeopathy on rats.

For help with general rat problems, e-mail ratinfo@egroups.com. For medical or other urgent queries, e-mail rathelp@egroups.com. BEFORE YOU DO THIS, check the FAQ pages at the RMCA website, to see if the answer to your question has already been covered.

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