NOTE:
Due to the Holidays,there may be a short delay in receiving answers as fast as I usually do.However,any emergency question should be addressed by writing EMERGENCY in the subject line.If I read it and see its not an emergency at all but just a way to get my attention first,I will reject your question and you will not get answered at all.Any life or death situation, of course,should be handled by a qualified Vet.To request a telephone consultation, please email sandyscrittercity@yahoo.com. in order to schedule a date and time that is feasible for both of us. There is no time limit on weekends or after 9 pm 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 Hi, I have my rat in a rabbit cage and think its just too boring because it has no levels yet it still has a lot of floor room. There is though a little house for him that he sometimes stands on so he probably would like more things to climb on. Do you have any suggestions of what I can add to the cage that he would enjoy and be able to climb on?
Answer You can buy big PVC pipes from the plumbing store and hang them (make sure they are big enough for the rat to turn around in)
Or using one of those thick mailing tubes cut in half and hang it up for the rat to climb in and stand on! Make sure the rat cant strangle on anything you use to hang stuff with. I use zip ties for much of my stuff.
Add boxes of different sizes to climb in and out of too. You can tape them together and make a castle out of them with doors and windows cut out. I have seen people take tree branches or buy branches used for bird cages and extend them accross the cage for the rat to climb on. They have awesome balance!
Have you thought about buying a hammock for him?
I have a better idea!!!! :)
since he sounds like he lives alone, the one thing that would perk up the cage and make him happiest, even more happy than having things to climb on, would be to have another rat of the same sex of of course) and they could climb all over each other, wrestle with each other and cuddle with each other!!!
Hope this helps!
Check out my website for more ideas for cages etc....
