AboutSandra Conti-Todd Expertise NOTE:
I am sorry for any long delays in responses. I have been going through some personal issues with my life but things are looking up for me and I am getting my life back on track again and will promise to be here for all rat lovers to help guide you on proper care. Love to all of you!
To request a telephone consultation, please email sandyscrittercity@yahoo.com. in order to schedule a date and time that is feasible for both you and I. There is no time limit on weekends or after 99pm M-F or if your cell phone carrier is Verizon Wireless. There is no charge for a telephone consultation. I offer my advice free of charge since my goal is to simply keep your rats happy and healthy for as long as possible. My reward is knowing that people learning as much as they can on rat care in order to provide the best care possible. Thats all I need to know. You cant put a price tag on love:)
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 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.
Education/Credentials
Mentored by highly noted exotic specialists in my area. 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.
Question My daughter's rat just overcame a infestation (mites? whatever).
The vet gave her medication to apply & she cleaned the cage three times over
several weeks. The rat always looked perfectly fine throughout, but scratched
itself less & less. Anyways, that is recent history.
NOW, the rat is doing something new. It appears to be heavy breathing
through the mouth that involves it's whole body. It is not violent, but controlled. The rate seems unaffected by this need. It could also be
described as it trying to vomit.
Any ideas?
It lasted for about 15 min. Clyde seems fine now btw.
Answer
Hi Annie
So, Clyde is OK now and he is not displaying those symptoms any more?
If that is the case, there is a high chance he possibly had something stuck in his throat. Since rats cant vomit, they were lucky that mother nature provided them with small flaps of tissue inside their cheeks. These flaps of tissue fill in the gaps between the incisors and the molars and form a special "net" to catch unwanted particles in their mouth. Often food can get trapped in these flaps and can make the rat feel as if they are choking. After a while they work the object out of the cheek flaps and finish chewing it etc...and all is well. Before they do this though, often the rat owner sees them acting as if they are not able to breathe properly and sometimes they may even produce excessive saliva and drool a bit, which REALLY scares us into thinking they cant breathe!
This possibly could be what was going on with Clyde, although I cant be 100% positive without a hands on exam.
