AboutSandra Todd Expertise 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 .
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.**
Experience
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!
Education/Credentials
Mentored by highly noted exotic specialists in my area. I am a member of the ASPCA.
Question Our little girl's foot is red and swollen. She is eating and her personality has not changed at all. She is not using her (right back) foot and it is a bit more swollen today than yesterday. The skin seems tight and it looks kinda fuzzy and warm. She does not really seem to be in pain, but it does not look good. What can I do to help this heal. Should we leave her with her litter mates. At this times we put her over in her own place. She is the oldest and the younger ones are looking for her. We did put neosporin cream on it. I just want her to be comfortable.
PLEASE HELP
Answer Please check out this photo below and let me know if this looks anything like what your seeing in your girl.
Few things first...keeping her alone and off the foot isnt a bad idea but also isolating can leave the lone rat a bit stressed and this can lower the immune system. If she has infection in that foot this may not be the best thing for her.
Is she a chubby rat? Do you know if she had a fall or twisted it at all? The warmth means inflammation of course....I would tell you to give her some childrens motrin for the swelling but I need a weight on her. Do you have epsom salts? As old fashioned as they are, they work miracles on swelling but you would have to keep her from licking the water.
Let me know about those few things, esp if she is on the chubby side.
If this is infection, she will need oral antibiotics right away so it doesnt spread up her leg and into her blood stream. That leads me down to the next question: do you have a vet that is a board certified exotic vet? If not I can help find one for you!
