Anything I should verbs almost my rat?
One of my female rats is about 1.5 years now. I own noticed that she has gained a bit of weight(she have always been on the slim side) and has decrease in activity. She is a siamese and I also noticed that around her anal nouns, she always is yellow and wetish with her own pee. Other after that she seems fine(I have been keeping an eye on her for the closing few weeks) . Are these signs of old age or is there something going on? One of my other females started gaining like mad of wieght at her age and then later developed a tumor. I am worried because she is most sensitive. Her sister is still very alive and is the same petiete size. Another rat they live with is a nearly 2 and he seems duplicate (he is fixed) as when we rescued him. Also, I have a supply of medicine from our vet for respritory illness that we not long got for another rat of the same size. She isn't showing signs of that but she acted similarly to this one day(only worse) and the next she have phenomia which she was treated for a while ago. Should we give her some as a precaution? Thank you for your help and please simply answer if you know what you are talking about.
Answers: Which meds do you hold and how old are they? I don't like giving meds that are over two months old, particularly if I'm not sure they'll last a full ten morning cycle. If you give antibiotics and stop after a few days you can end up with a super infection that could execute her. Make sure if you start meds, you can finish the whole course. The best antibiotic time frame (for Baytril/Doxycycline combo) is 30 days although most vet only prescribe 10. Do some research on this and you'll find 30 days should be the while course to prevent relapse. The weight gain could be from old age and her slowing down or from something else adjectives together. Has her personality changed at all? Do you feel any lumps when you pick her up to have a feeling? I keep a journal of weight and weigh my rats every week or two. If their freight increases or decreases by even a few ounces, I take them in to a vet. It's better to hold a vet see them when you first notice something is off than waiting for more symptoms as at that point it could be too late.
Congrats on your rescued rat. I do love to see when individuals wish to go this route over pet stores. I get my rescues from Huron Valley Rat Rescue which all come spayed or neuter which is amazing for their health.
Please email me with any other questions and I'd be lively to answer them.
~Yelliez
