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 QUESTION: we rescued a baby rat a week ago...figuring it to be about 2-3 days old. we have been feeding it evaporated / soy milk mixed. It has been lively and feeding well until yesterday when it appeared to not want it's milk..still lively.
This morning it didnt want to move much...wasnt interested in milk...and within minutes of holding it to feed it it raised it's head and started opening and closing it's mouth
then it's head just dropped and it was dead. Any ideas what happened???
ANSWER: It is super hard to save a baby rat that young.
For starters, the baby should have been given soy human infant formula. Also, they need to be kept warm constantly and how did you get it to go to the bathroom? Let me know how you did that and I can maybe shed more light on the situation. How often were you feeding him?
Just dont be too hard on yourself. It was more than awesome that you even tried to save the little one in the first place when many people leave rodents to die. I love all animals, so I know how you feel about wanting to try to save it, but again, its next to impossible even for the most experienced rat owner to keep a baby rat under 2 weeks old alive. There is just so much you need to do to keep it going and its not the same as if you were a rat mom. If the rats eyes were open and it had fur on it etc.....it would be a bit easier to keep him alive but as young as the one you had....well, as you found, its super hard.
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QUESTION: we kept it in a box lined with paper towel and placed a soft cloth and cut up paper strips to simulate a nest.
also we placed some 1" furry mice toys for cats in there to keep it company.
we feed it every 2-3hours and late at night but not in the middle of the night. stimulated it by placing finger in warm water and gently rubbing it's privates. it never had a problem doing it's little business and would do it by itself also.
was heart breaking ...but we would like to try again.
the little thing grew on us so quickly and it to us as we found that it would squeek and sniff it's way to our hands where it was happy.
Answer Hi again
Another thing that was needed was heat. Usually heat is used by way of heating pad or heat lamp. Feeding needed done even in the middle of the night. Its just super hard to hand raise a ratlet that age. Your heart was in the right place.
If you want to get rats as pets, try looking first at your local shelter and next, try GOOGLE for a rat breeder in your area. If that fails, a pet store is the only choice although I dont like to get them from there esp if they sell feeder rats. I suggest a pair of males for first time rat owners. Females are prone to mammary tumors unless spayed at a young age and its heartbraeking to see them get these tumors. Yes they can be removed but usually they end up with more than one popping up every few months.
Check out my link to read up on rat care, from proper feeding to cages etc.... and let me know if you decide to adopt or buy a pair of rats. I think you would make AWESOME rat parents!!!!! Remember, it has to be a pair since rats LOVE to be with each other, but must be opposite sex since they can reproduce as young as 5 weeks old and have up to 20 pups. YIKES!
