[HPFGU-OTChatter] Questions for other rat owners

[the.gremlin at verizon.net]

The Goldfeesh wrote:
"I have a pair of female rats both over a year old.  I just 
discovered last night that one, Tessa, the older of the two, was dragging her back hind leg.  I've noticed over the last few weeks or so that she (normally a very active rat- always scurrying around, climbing, etc) has slowed down a bit and even seemed a bit clumsy.  I've done some research on the web and discovered that paralysis isn't uncommon in older rats.  

I was wondering if anyone else on this list has had this happen to their rats?" 

I have owned a total of 3 rats (and can't own anymore because of the campus pet policy, I'm stuck with a fish, affectionately named "He-Who-Has-No-Name"). My first, who we found was actually boy *after* he died, died of either heat stroke or old age (3 years old), or even both. My sister than got a blue female rat, and she had been the runt of the litter, always very small. My own, second rat, a little older, was much bigger. They were very good friends, though. Anyway, my rat (a bareback rat) started getting this lump on her side. We were afraid it was a tumor, so we took her to the vet. It was a fat cyst. They could operate, but not only was it expensive, my mother found it ridiculous. So we let her be. 

I don't recall any leg-dragging, though I did feel feel the lump under her skin when it first started. My sister's rat, the runt, we believe she developed cancer. She got skinnier and skinnier, and right before she died, we discovered a lump on her chin. She wasn't even 2 years old when she died. The bareback died a few weeks later, most likely from heartbreak (no more friend) or her cyst. She was a little over 2 years old. 

I don't know about hind-leg dragging, but, seeing as how I read my 2 rat books religiously every day (practically), I don't recall anything about paralysis. What about a broken leg? Ooh, wait, an ear infection. I'm sorry, this probably sounds scary. I recall something about going in circles and being clumsy having to do with an ear infection.

The bareback started limping, but that was after she had a tennis ball in her side. Is your rat a runt? Runts have lots of problems, from experience. And a year old isn't old for a rat. That's about mid-life right there. Especially if other people's rats lived till 5 years old...wow.

Good luck with your rats! They are a vastly misunderstood species. Like snakes. Or dragons. :D

-Acire, who wants a rat again. And a cat. Oh, wait, have one of those.





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