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 I have a female albino rat that I've had for 7 months now and just today I got a younger rat that is the same sex but is not albino. I played with them together on my bed and they were fine, but when I put them in the cage Pinky(the older one) was nibbling on the other one.
What should I do?
I made shure that there was enough food.
Answer Hi Melissa
First of all, they should be introduced very slowly and not be put in the same cage for at least 3 weeks because the new rat should have gone through quarantine. This should be done in case the new rat is harboring any viruses that they are prone to carry from rat to rat, esp if it was a pet store rat. The new rat should have been in a different room and nowhere near Pinky.
Since its too late to quarantine and they were already together, lets see where they are now as far as getting along.
Normally proper introductions are after quarantine, you put the new rat in her cage next to the cage of the existing rat, which is Miss Pinky.
They will become aware of each other through the cage bars but cannot touch each other. The next day or later on the same day, you would take Pinky out and take the new rat out and put them in each others cages letting them sniff around, but again not letting them meet each other.
I suggest not letting them come face to face for a few days so they can learn through scent about each other first.
On the third or fourth day, this is when you would take them both out, holding one rat while the other rat is free, and let them see each other that way. Eventually you can put her down and they will sniff like crazy, tumble and wrestle and maybe even squeak or nibble on each other a bit. NEVER should they stand up on their hind legs and circle each other, shove each other while standing, showing their teeth, hiss spit or growl because this means they are about to break out into a nasty fight that you want to avoid.
