MoonfallTheFox wrote:There is one on my shoulder as well.
The first thing that you just said that made me think that was that you've BRED them. Did you know the extended pegidree of both parents? Did you have homes lined up before even conceiving the litter? Did you think about all those unwanted rat babies who are mutts with no pedigree and bad health issues because of it?
I doubt you did.
Watching isn't enough. Do you know how to lance an abscess? Can you diagnose a resperatory infection? Can you tell me what antibiotics are used most often for URIs and which is stronger of those two? Can you inform me of what should be done in the case of a degloved tail? Can you tell me how to rehydrate a rat? Can you tell me how to help a skinny one gain weight? What should a mother rat be fed while she's pregnant?
Until you can answer all of those and more about rats without help, you don't know rats. I can answer those, every one of them.
well sorry i'm not a rodent vetenarian i just enjoy collecting and petting rats. You don't have to know the pedigree and blah blah blah to enjoy rats. I wish to dicuss this matter no further whether you think i know about rats or not. Just for your infomation I can answer all of those questions. To lance an abscess sterilize the head of a pin or needle with achohol or flame, poke a hole in the head of the abscess and allow the pus to drain. Apply antibiotis and a bandage. Diagnose respratory infection?If your rat is sneezing more than usual, listen closely to his breathing. If the nasal passages and chest sound clear, keep a very close watch on him, but it shouldn't be necessary to start treatment unless he starts acting more tired than usual, or stops eating or drinking. Allergies and dust are also possible causes of sneezing.
If there is a clicking sound from the sinuses, he is congested. This could progress further, so treatment would be a good precaution at this point.
If there is a gurgling, congested sound from the chest, you have a sick rat. Get him to a vet immediately! Rats succumb to these infections with amazing swiftness. A rat with no symptoms one day can have full blown pneumonia the next. This is partially because of their high metabolic rate, and because there is often a secondary infection caused by a different bacteria or virus.
your third question didn't make sence to me
A degloved tail is when the skin and flesh of the tail fall off, the rat bleeds, scratches its wound. You can't really deal with this at home so the best advice is to take it to a vet.
To rehydrate a rat, by syringe feed the rat with warm soy milk or Lactol or warm water with a little sugar and salt in. Products like Polyaid make excellent liquid for assisting in rehydration and giving the rat the nutrition they need while they are not eating properly. Rats with respiratory problems can get dehydrated, so it is important to get the rat to a vet as soon as possible
Dog food and peanut butter every second day will help to fatten a rat.
A pregnant mother rat should be fed a highly nutritional diet not in meals, but in free feed.
Yes I did actually have homes lined up for the babies and know the pedigree of both parents and all the babies were sold and none of them had diseases ect
So there you go. Quite the expert, aren't I? You aren't the only rat genius in the world. Good rat keepers should know the basic diseases and treatments, be devoted and most importantly LOVE their little ratty.