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.
My oldest rat, Yoshi, is squinting her left eye. She's pretty up there in age (approaching 4). When awake, she's active. She still eats well when hungry, but is much more picky what she eats. She'll eat a little bit of something, then want something else. She sleeps a lot (I'm figuring that's from old age) and has been breathing quite heavily for about 4+ months, since Bob (another rat) died. Her balance is a bit off when climbing, but not so much that she can't go up and down her ramp & climb the cage. She seems to be losing her ability to grip a bit.
I'm guessing her weakness (she gets along fine, but slower than she used to) and other symptoms are from old age. Some days are better than others. She can appear to be on death's door in the morning as of late, then be very active during play time at night. Her life is probably winding down. However, the eye squinting is new from the past 2-3 days. If there is something I can do to make her more comfortable, regarding the eye, I'd like to know.
I've tried to give as much info as I could.
Thank you.
Answer Yoshi is a grand senior rat, thats for sure, and some of the things you describe do point to old age. However, the rapid breathing may be due to heart disease which of course could also be a part of old age too, but just to let you know that it can be treated with medications. You can read more about that here:
Now for your original question (I tend to babble in different directions! LOL!!) , the eye squinting can be seen in rats that have eye irritation,perhaps a scratch on the cornea. What type of litter do you use? Sometimes even litter such as aspen can get in the rats eye and scratch the lense a tiny bit which causes some pain and burning, thus in turn the rat squints. Is her eye running? Is she rubbing it at all?
You can bathe it with a warm damp cloth to help but do check for swelling. If you have saline solution you can even put a drop of that in her eye. Contact solution with no preservatives is fine to use in this case since it is sterile as well.
