My rat isn't ingestion. Any Help?
I have two rats, and they are in different cages. When I first tried to put them together they fought and my first rat, Olivia, get an abscess. Anyway, my second rat, Nala, is now not eating. I first have a bowl that sat on the ground, and she kept covering it, and tipping it over. I was concerned she wasnt' eating, so I bought a bowl that attaches to the side. And in a minute, I haven't seen her eat any of her food. I have also tried various different foods. She doesn't seem thin at all, but she also doesn't capture a lot of exercise.
definitely check her teeth for starters
consult a vet if she continues to not eat
Rats are natural scavengers. Try feed them fresh fruit/veggies (no tomatoes, onions, ice burg lettuce or grapes) Stick with carrots, apples and pitch-black greens. They can also have dog/cat foods as well as low sugar human cereal. Like I said, they are scavengers, the more diverse their diet, the better.
Her teeth may also own over grown and become uncomfortable for her to eat. Make sure that you enjoy pleanty of chew toys in her cage, wood is best, plastic breaks down too quickly and can hold schards in her mouth. If her teeth are too long for her to be able to chew on anything, take her to the vet to return with her teeth clipped.
You can try giving her a couple of lab blocks (or small amount of whatever food) simply to observe if she's touching them at all. Chances are she is ingestion, but you're not noticing a change.
She could have maloclusion: http://ratguide.com/health/digestive/mal...
If this is the defence, you may have to take her in for regular teeth trims from a vet. If you can, try to bring back pictures of her teeth by scruffing her, and gently pulling back her cheeks to expose her teeth (you may have to enjoy somebody hold her or take the picture while you hold her). You can post these photos on http://bruxnboggle.com/forum/ in the health paragraph, and the members there will be able to comfort you decide if there is anything wrong next to her teeth.
As for introducing the two girls, did you follow proper intro procedures? Just putting them in together (or even going too quickly) can make them fight. Read this over: http://www.bruxnboggle.com/forum/viewtop... Hopefully that will backing :) If you can manage to introduce them again, they'd probably be very happy to live together.
perhaps they're just not meant to be.
Answers: Rats normally cover their food to hide it.. Its a organic Instinct to do this.. Did you try some Yogurt Rat treats? Rats in the wild aren't very picky.. But when they come pets they get hold of a little finicky(like kids).LOL.
Ive had rats my whole life span.. They won't starve.. Unless they are having dental problems... Do you get them hard toys and firm chew toys to file their teeth? they need these to help them profile them down.
Rats also like different varieties in treats which are apposite for them.. So defiantly try some Yogurt treats to help them with vitamin's
hope this help a little..
