Problems

Most problems which occur with the keeping of rats or any other animals usually concern health or behaviour. There are some to which we have had to find our own solutions or work-arounds when recommendations from other sources have not been readily available.

Breathing Problems

Very many fancy rats suffer from respiratory problems which can range from "sniffles" to serious lung and bronchial tract problems which are very distressing and potentially fatal. Antibiotics such as Baytril or Amoxicillin can be effective in some cases but the real solution would be to eliminate the breeding of unhealthy animals. There are however a few simple precautions which we take to minimise symptoms. Dusty cage litter can cause irritation and we avoid using shavings and sawdust, cat litter which is made from paper is a good alternative material but our favourite material is hemp. Hay can be mouldy and carry mites so we prefer to use shredded paper. All bedding is kept dry as the ammonia in urine acts as an irritant, for this reason all bedding and litter are checked every day and changed if they are soiled. The area where the cages are situated is kept at a comfortable temperature with the humidity around 60% whenever possible. We use a de-humidifier at times, particularly in the winter when windows are closed and moisture is produced by cooking and washing. Inevitably as rats which are susceptible get older, some symptoms will show, possibly as noisy breathing or as severe as an asthma attack.

Tixilix chesty cough mixture which contains Guaifenesin can be very helpful, it can be sweetened and mixed with soft food. We also use a product called Bisolvon which is in powder form and can be easily given to the rat on a small piece of moist food such as melon, mixed with melted ice cream or whatever the individual rat likes the most. Bisolvon, (which is used for farm animals and dogs and cats), works by thinning the mucus which causes the congestion and while not being a cure it will dramatically reduce the symptoms in most cases. We have used this product on older rats and it has always improved their quality of life. Our vet provides us with 5g sachets which go a long way. Sometimes an older rat will become desperate to be let out of his or her cage and will chew the bars and become very distressed. The only cure that we have found for this is the obvious one. Sometimes a spell outside the cage will solve the problem for a while but it will probably recur. Using a large cardboard box without a top as a temporary home may be a solution, or a bigger cage or some other space which is safe but not too restricted. I have only known this problem to affect rats nearing the end of their lives so it hasn`t been too difficult to cope with.

Freddie was a very old rescue rat who was terrified of any closed space and lived quite happily on a shelf in the kitchen for several weeks, his cage was close by and he would visit it to eat and drink but never stayed there very long.

Mites

Rats can aquire parasites in the same way as any other animal, fleas can usually be detected quite easily and eliminated with proprietary products but mites are a little less obvious. Sometimes small scabs can be seen around the neck and shoulders which may be mistaken for "play bites" if the rat lives in a group, or simply put down to excessive scratching. The mites are not usually visible as they live in the hair follicles but we normally treat the affected rat with Ivermectin, which is applied sparingly behind the ears. Two applications, 7 days apart are usually sufficient. We have known instances where some rats in a group are affected and the others remain completely clear.

Teeth

Sometimes a rat`s front teeth can become displaced so that they can`t grind them down in the usual way. If a rat seems interested in food but doesn`t eat this is always worth a check as this can also be very painful, a vet can usually trim the teeth back quite easily.

Biting

The question which a visitor will always ask when they see our collection of rats is "Do they bite" and usually the answer is "no, provided that you follow the rules". If you poke your fingers into the cage they could be mistaken for food - If you startle a sleeping rat it may give a defensive nip - If you approach a female rat with a litter she may possibly ask you to leave in the same way.

Rats use their mouth to examine things in the same way that we use our hands and they will sometimes groom you with their teeth, this is a great compliment and should never be confused with an attempt to bite you. Some rats will never bite under any circumstances, others will give a little nip to warn you off and very occasionally you will find a rat which bites throughout it`s life, strangely enough I have found that the incurable biters have usually been females. We have several adult males at the moment and they all get their turn at being handled every day, but this means that they will mark their territory (which often happens to be me) in the same way as a dog or any other animal. If I handle a rat which picks up the scent of a male which he doesn`t like on my hands or clothing, he could bite me really hard even though we may normally be the best of friends. This is an instinctive action and can usually be avoided by the washing of hands between rats. If a rat which you are handling becomes excited and fluffs up his fur put him down A.S.A.P. We never blame the rat if he bites for this reason, we know he will be absolutely fine if we avoid the situation. Rats which have not been handled in the first few months of their lives will quite often be afraid of humans and will nip or bite if approached, I have found that letting them approach us in their own time and hand feeding them will eventually help to overcome their nervousness. They are very inquisitive creatures and their curiosity will usually get the better of them. We have had a lot of "rescues" and they have usually ended up as good pets. Occasionally we find a male who will continue to nip and who is very male-dominant, in this case one solution is to have him neutered. This will almost certainly remove any aggression and improve his quality of life a great deal and ours too! Unfortunately this option isn`t open for females and we just have handle them with a little extra care. Rat bites are very painful and will usually bleed quite a lot, they rarely become infected but we take the same precautions that we would with any other injury.