About Robin Bartlett Expertise I can answer any rat-related questions including feeding, housing, breeding, showing, genetics, health, and behaviour. I am a veterinary assistant and though I cannot answer in-depth health questions I am familiar with the most common ailments and treatments for rats. I have owned rats for 10 years and have been breeding them for 5 and have studied everything about them that I can get my hands on. I currently run my own rat care website at http://careguide.evergreenrattery.com and have been answering rat and other rodent questions via email and IM for several years now.
Experience I am a veterinary assistant who has owned rats for 10 years and bred them for 5. In this time I have learned nearly everything there is to know about rats and continue to study more about them every day. I have been answering rat questions via IM and email for several years now and I am currently ranked #3 on Yahoo! Answers for the best answers in the rodents category.
Organizations RatsPacNW, RMFE
Education/Credentials Though I am a veterinary assistant, I have not gone to college for it. My parents are both vets, and I have grown up with our family business and have learned what I needed to know on the job.
Question I have two rats, unfortunately I've had to remove them from their adjacent cages due to biting each others fingers through the wire. My hairless rat now has a swollen finger. What do you recommend I do to treat the injury ?
Thank you,
SB
Answer For swelling you can give your rat Ibuprofen in the form of Children's Motrin (or similar product) at a dose of 0.03mg of medication per gram of the rat's weight. Look for a product intended for babies, as that will have the highest concentration of active ingredient so you won't have to give the rat a lot of medication (I use Equate Infant's Ibuprofen, from Wal-Mart, I just bought some for my rat who lost a toe). You can give this every 4 hours until the swelling comes down, but if the swelling doesn't reduce within 48 hours I would take him to the vet. I would also continue to keep the rats separated at least a few inches so they don't hurt each other again.
