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Pet Rats/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| pecking order? | 2/6/2012 | Irene Murphy |
| Q: Ironically they are from the same "litter" and came from the same place. Well now they have been ... A: First congratulations on your decision to add to your rattie family! It seems like just when you ... | ||
| rat skin problem | 2/6/2012 | Irene Murphy |
| Q: I rescued 2 baby rats about 3 weeks ago from a stable yard where I do horse riding. About 3 days ... A: First off, I want to commend you for taking it upon yourself to save these little babies who would ... | ||
| Dumbo rat. Not sure if I should take him in or keep doing what I have been doin the last day | 2/3/2012 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I have a dumbo rat. He is a very big and I think lightly over weight which I will be getting a ball ... A: First of all, forget buying that ball. Save your money. Rats should NEVER EVER be in a ball for ... | ||
| update should we buy another rat? | 1/30/2012 | Irene Murphy |
| Q: Yesterday 1/26/12 at 4:30 p.m. she looked like she was having contractions and she kept falling ... A: I am SO very sorry to hear she died and so suddenly too. It is difficult to say what she died from ... | ||
| help!!! | 1/29/2012 | Irene Murphy |
| Q: i have a pet mouse and he has had a heat stroke and was totally unresponsive. he is doing a little ... A: I am sorry I wasn't able to read your question sooner...I hope everything turned out ok for your ... | ||
| rat problem!!! | 1/28/2012 | Irene Murphy |
| Q: i wonder if you can help me. I got two male baby rats six weeks ago at nine weeks old. It has been ... A: First off, I'd like to apologize for my long delay in responding to you as I had some personal ... | ||
| skinny rats | 1/28/2012 | Irene Murphy |
| Q: hi i have one hairless rat and one hairy both girls nearly 2 years old they are eating fine but are ... A: First I want to apologize for the long delay in my response to you, I had some personal issues I ... | ||
| My Rats are getting fat! | 1/27/2012 | Irene Murphy |
| Q: I bought my rats from the store about 4 months ago or less (seems like less!)One of my rats is ... A: Unfortunately, most store-bought rat mixes, including Fiesta, is a terrible staple diet for rats. ... | ||
| rat birthing problem? | 1/27/2012 | Irene Murphy |
| Q: Yesterday 1/26/12 at 4:30 p.m. she looked like she was having contractions and she kept falling ... A: I'm sorry I didn't see your question until today so at this point you may have an update on the ... | ||
| Pine ledges | 1/26/2012 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I was just wondering if ledges made of pine in a rats cage would be an issue. As I have read that ... A: Sorry for the delay. You can reach me at sandyscrittercity@ yahoo.com for a faster answer in the ... | ||
| pet rat | 1/25/2012 | Irene Murphy |
| Q: One of my female rat has a swollen gland around one of her nips and there feel like a small lump. ... A: You didn't mention the age of your rat. What makes you think it is a swollen gland? If your rat is ... | ||
| Persuading my aunt and uncle | 1/25/2012 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: They are against me getting a second rat for Delilah to have company. These are they're concerns. ... A: Get two boys or two girls never of course oppostie sexes. That will help stop babies for sure!! As ... | ||
| Pine ledges | 1/23/2012 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I was just wondering if ledges made of pine in a rats cage would be an issue. As I have read that ... A: Not only does pine cause issues with respiratory tract but can also cause liver and kidney problems ... | ||
| Rat has salaiva drooping through its mouth | 1/22/2012 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: Today I noticed that my pat had water (saliva) coming from her mouth. She was acting weak. It newer ... A: It could be choking. Please avoid nuts or soft gooey foods like bread. Try baby foods or soft ... | ||
| Rat with a cold | 1/20/2012 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I have two rats at about a year old and one of them, Tyrion, has recently had a cold- sneezed and ... A: Rats do not catch colds. THey are immune to the 200 plus viruses that cause the common cold. ... | ||
| Problem with 8 month old female fancy rat | 1/19/2012 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: For almost a week now my daughter's rat has shown signs of having a humped back. She is still ... A: A rat sometimes assumes this position when having pain. I would get eher to the vet right away. As ... | ||
| My Rat (s) | 1/17/2012 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: ..I'm a rat owner of 8 rats..So my question is.. All my rats are skinny.Their eating really ... A: Cody, can you tell me exactly what they eat? Do you buy your food at pet stores, are they seed ... | ||
| Spasms? | 1/16/2012 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I sent you a message about my rat lucky a few months ago fearing he had bumble foot but it had ... A: Sounds like a seizure. I would take him to the vet for a good check up. I would suggest the vet ... | ||
| rat bites yesterday, dead today | 1/15/2012 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: yesterday my daughter was bit by her pet rat. today the rat is dead! do i get my daughter to a ... A: No, you have no need to worry about your daughter catching anything from the rat and if rabies is in ... | ||
| Pet Rat Stressed? | 1/3/2012 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I recently got 2 pet rats and one of them seems to be very stressed, her hair has started to messy ... A: ! The rats will come around, I promise. It just takes time. Remember, rats have every reason in ... | ||
| Jacob | 12/30/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I am in desperate need of reassurance, I owned three rats, Jacob, George and William. All three rats ... A: Since you had George neutered, he should intro ok with the new rat, as long as the new rat is young ... | ||
| Jacob | 12/29/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I am in desperate need of reassurance, I owned three rats, Jacob, George and William. All three rats ... A: How tragic! I am so sorry for your loss and for going through what you have by seeing another rat ... | ||
| Onset of a few problems, notably Firm bulging stomach and diarrhoea | 12/28/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: much as the subject say's, one of our ratties is currently ill. She's 2 years old, and has had a ... A: It could be a number of things, even kidney problems. Many rats do end up with kidney disease as ... | ||
| rolling rat | 12/12/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I adopted a rat who was going to be euthanized for a head tilt and walking in circles. This ... A: Give him longer....it takes a long time for it to get better if its from inner ear. If its from a ... | ||
| Zoey fighting with new young female | 12/11/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: Okay, so you know my story intimately by now. It has been over 2 weeks since Ziggy passed away. ... A: I wont scold you for not doing a quarantine.....you obviously know that it is recommended and since ... | ||
| cages and accessories | 12/10/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: but if you have been busy it's fine i just get a little impatient sometimes when it comes to my ... A: I dont think I have gotten any emails from you. I recommend a critter nation. You can buy the first ... | ||
| Labored breathing | 12/9/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: Hey - I really hope you can help. I have two rats, Rooney and Bean. Rooney has always gotten over ... A: The reason he is like this is lack of proper treatment when he had active infection and now he ... | ||
| Labored breathing | 12/7/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: Hey - I really hope you can help. I have two rats, Rooney and Bean. Rooney has always gotten over ... A: You dont need to have fluid in your lungs when you have pneumonia...I am hoping the vet knows this. ... | ||
| Ziggy's cause of death? | 11/29/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I posted a question last week and informed you that Ziggy had died. She was 2 months short of her ... A: Again, I am very very sorry you lost your precious Ziggy. I wish I could tell you what caused her ... | ||
| Lice on BABY rats | 11/26/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I recently was given a young female rat from a co-worker who had a litter of rats. She is a ... A: hmm.....this is unfortunate that the babies have lice. I hate that! Pesticides and baby rats dont ... | ||
| rat had babies, is pregnant again | 11/23/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: Got my rats from a pets store, thinking they were both girls. nope. well my rat had 11 babies and i ... A: The best bet is to contact a pet store to see if they have a lactating rat or rat that is very near ... | ||
| Ziggy | 11/22/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I wonder if you remember Ziggy? You helped us through her tumor removal surgery and then the ... A: I am so so sorry for your loss. Yes I absolute do remember Ziggy!!! I found her photos not long ago ... | ||
| Rats | 11/15/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I've read all the posts and see similar incidents, but not quite the same as ours. My son had 5 ... A: Where did you get these rats from? If they are aggressive from poor breeding this can happen ... | ||
| Head tilt | 11/8/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I know for a fact that my rat has head tilt, and that she was unfortunately treated to late for it ... A: How long was she treated for? Is she still on the medication now? Can you tell me what her doses ... | ||
| Help!! | 10/27/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I have been reading your answers to other rat owners about bumble foot. I have found that is acute ... A: I really wish there were something over the counter to use, but unfortunately there is nothing that ... | ||
| Sudden death of pet rats | 10/26/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: My son had two female rats that were approximately six months old. We got them at the same time from ... A: Oh that is really unfortunate to read...losing both rats at the same time. I wish I could pinpoint ... | ||
| Head tilt | 10/25/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I know for a fact that my rat has head tilt, and that she was unfortunately treated to late for it ... A: What is causing the head tilt? Ear infection or a tumor on the pituitary gland? Have you tried ... | ||
| Hairless Rat Neuter/ Abscess | 10/24/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: My hairless male rate, Liguardio, who is roughly 6 months old went in for a routine neuter and he ... A: Well the first mistake is the vet did not give your rat antibiotics to take after a scrotal neuter. ... | ||
| Rat fall from shoulders | 10/24/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: My rat slid down my back and landed on the lino floor on her feet. She won't put weight on one of ... A: You should get her to the vet. They can actually cast a rat but they may chew it off. A vet that is ... | ||
| Rat Blind In One Eye? | 10/23/2011 | Sandra Todd |
| Q: I believe that one of my rats is blind in one eye. It happened quite suddenly, but I have one full ... A: Hmmm....I am thinking there is something much more to this than him being blind. I have had blind ... | ||
Pet Rats
Answers by Expert:
Sandra Todd
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Please refer to my website, Sandys Critter city. Click the link below. Should it fail to take you to my website, please just go to sandyscrittercity.com. There may be alot of information for you that may help with your problems so please refer to my site as well as asking me whatever it is you are interested in knowing. I am here to assist you the best that I can in most areas concerning your rats! Critter City As one of the top experts here at allexperts for 2008, I am happy to be able to help advise others on the proper care of pet rats. I am a rat care specialist/advisor for area vets (I am NOT a Veterinarian nor do I imply that I am in any way) and have 20 plus years experience working with rodents. I can advise you on the most current treatments available to your rat for common and also complicated ailments that seem to affect domestic rats during their life time. I do telephone consults and have even had some wonderful Vets call me to compare notes/stories. I also have training in animal behavior with the main focus being the study of rodent behavior. I also have experience with wild rats, raising one myself.
Experience
My expertise
Includes the following:
1. Education on prevention of tumors, lung and heart disease and disease of the kidneys too.
2. Up to date treatments for tumors in rats,both benign or malignant tumors.
3. The most current treatments used successfully to treat lung and heart disease
4. Prevention and treatment of the mycoplasma organism that our rats are plagued with since the day they are born, among other common ailments that attack our rats, just to name a few.
My job as a rodent consultant is to educate the owner on proper care of the animal but in no way does my advice take the place of seeking professional treatment by a qualified Veterinarian.
However, I will contribute to this site by answering your questions about raising pet rats and any problems that may arise regarding their health, diet, husbandry and over all well being of the rat to **the best of my ability.**
Organizations
I maintain my website, Critter City and update it often to keep up with current treatments concerning pet rat health care. Please click the link above to take you there!
Publications
My own website of course, and also I have brochures on rat care that are found in various animal clinics in my area. I have also written an article for a rat and mouse magazine focusing on surgery on rats. The magazine is a UK based magazine.
Education/Credentials
I am a member of the ASPCA.
Awards and Honors
Was honored by being chosen to be one of the top 50 experts of 2008
Past/Present Clients
My past clients have been through various animal clinics and I also am mentor to new rat owners that reach me through here and my website too.
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