Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / August 2004

Hi Meghan,

What a terrible start for poor Hailey.  I don't know about the chance of
rabies but there are a number of other things equally as nasty that she can
be carrying, but as she seems disinclined to bite you even after all her
troubles she must have a basically good nature.

I wouldn't bring her out of her cage unless absolutely necessary at the
moment - sit by with the door open, talk to her quietly, sit and read if you
like - anything to get her quietly used to your presence.  She may not be
used to treats at all so I'd put them in her food to see if she actually
likes them - give her a chance to find out how nice they are and which are
her favourites.  If she goes for them when you feed her you can then try and
feed them directly when she isn't so suspicious.  Head rubbing is good - it
means she tolerates you very well, considering her life so far.

I had a rat, Poppy, who was a rescue from my local vet.  She was perfectly
healthy, well fed and presumably had never been out of the small hamster
cage she came in.  I've had rats for many years and she resisted all my
attempts to socialise her - she couldn't even cope with the other adult
females.  I left her cage door open for 3 weeks - and she never came out
once, which I found unbelievable.  She was never aggressive and I judged her
age at 18 months plus so most of her life had obviously been a trial to her.
In the end I bought another little rat (Satine) who moved in with her - they
got on fine and Poppy lost that 'furrowed brow' look of anxiety and lived or
another 6 months of so as happy as her previous troubles would allow.  You
just never know their true backgrounds do you?

As to knowing her own name - none of mine do either!  When you've got a
small colony they all come running because they think there's food or play
on offer (which there usually is)!  The cat knows who he is though.

If she's having to go to the vet at the moment, then her stress levels will
be very high - once that's over and she can be quiet I think she'll probably
relax with you.  Stress can also exacerbate the lung problems - I know it
does mine.  If you have to give her antibiotics, my tip is to put some on a
small piece of biscuit and let it soak in before you give it to her - placed
on top of her food would be best if she won't take anything from your hand -
I've never known a rat pass up digestive biscuits!  Although I have known
them that wouldn't touch antibiotics in cordial or even chocolate syrup (I
know, I didn't believe it either).

Unfortunately changing her bedding and cage everyday will also be
stressful - they like to have their own scent about because they know where
they are - that will only change when she can go to more normal cage
changing.  Wherever she's being quarantined make sure there is a little bit
of noise or movement that she can get used to.  Keeping her in a very quiet
room will only make you turning up more stressful. Can she see/hear you
often?

As to her colouring - take no notice, I've had rats that could double in
horror films as the classic 'sewer rat' and they were perfectly sweet (and
often very smart for some reason).  So colouring means very little.

Anyway - good luck with the both of them and keep us posted.

Best Regards

Marian  <:3   )~~

My heart goes out to Hailey..:((  IF it was me?  I would pick that girl up
and put her down my baggy sweatshirt and let her get on with it... The
warmth and darkness will be nice for her.  Hang in there Meghan sometimes
these creatures come into our lives because we are the ones best capable to
love and care for them.  Sounds like you have a right wally of a Vet ! With
time and love Hailey will improve..:)  Good for you for taking her !!

Regards Kate

I'm so pleased that poor wee girl has been rescued by you.  I'm sure she
will settle down and become a contented wee rattie in a few weeks.  At the
moment everything is new and strange to her and to top it off she has lice
problems, so has to cope with everything that comes with that, including
having her cage cleaned constantly.  It's obvious from what you say that she
has a good nature, she just needs to settle in and learn to trust you.  With
a little patience and lots of love she will become a lovely pet rat, I'm
sure.

I know the stress you will be feeling, wondering what you have taken on.  I
rescued a year old male from a local animal shelter a few years ago who had
been mistreated and neglected badly.  I had many problems with him for a
couple of months and these problems were just about as bad as you can get  -
he was extremely aggressive and bit me so hard once I had to have stitches.
Basically he couldn't be handled as when he was he would bite really hard, I
was so worried about what to do and how best to handle things.  In the end I
opted to have him castrated (I had tried all the other things recommended
for treating biters, to no avail) and he was like a different rat
afterwards.  He was still nervous around people, but because he stopped
biting I was able to handle him a lot more and give him the love and
attention he needed.  It took a few more months but he came round and turned
into a cuddly lap rat!   The satisfaction and joy you feel when you look at
them and see them bruxing contently, having at last found happiness, is
unbelievable.  The way he would poddle over to me for a cuddle, used to melt
my heart.  Sorry for babbling on, but what I'm trying to say is this, the
initial stress and worry you feel at the beginning when there are problems,
is so outweighed by the feeling you get in the end, when it's obvious you
have turned a little creature's life around - rescuing can be hard work at
first, but it is also so rewarding.  So keep you chin up, Meghan, and be
assured all the hard work will be worth it in the end!

Tracey

I feel your frustration... but what you did for Hailey is incredible. You
saved her.
Lice are very easy to treat and ivermectin is a good choice.
If the wheezing continues, then ask for baytril for a good 3 week course.
As for socializing... in my personal experience I do exactly what Kate said:
grab her and stick her down your shirt for a good couple of hours. Get a
good book and just leave her do her thing in your shirt. (have two shirts
on) She will come to associate, dark comfy place with your smell and she
will learn that your smell is good and will want to be with you. I would do
this as often as I can.
I would keep in her quarantine until her sneezes/wheezes/squeaking has
stopped. You really don't want any other rat getting that.
As for rabies... I wouldn't worry too much. She was in a shelter right? I'm
sure she would have showed signs of rabies by now.
Half wild rats can become very tame and make great pets.
Grey is not the color of the wild rat. Agouti is. I think your vet needs to
brush up on his exotics.
Please know that what you did was a wonderful thing with Hailey... no matter
what her life is better now because of you.

Yeah I'm feeling so much better reading all of your replies.  I think the
sneezing might have been caused by the new bedding (carefresh) because I put
her in newspaper, since it's being changed every day anyway, and the
sneezing seems to have stopped - at least there is not porphyrin all over
the cage.  Plus she made a little nest last night for the first time.  I
will try the sweatshirt idea and remember to be patient.

Thank you everyone!!!
Meghan

A gray rat is by no means the "wildtype".  The wildtype is actually a brown
colour called agouti.  So your vet is wrong.

Even if it is a really far drive, I would seriously consider another vet.
This one sounds very inexperienced with rats, and I cannot believe she
actually said to watch for rabies.  That is absolutely ridiculous.

For her stress... go to your healthfood store and buy some "Rescue Remedy".
I have found that this really calmed Silver down when I first got her from
the breeder (it was the breeder that recommended to try it).

Other than that, all I can suggest is to start slow with Hailey just as you
did your first one.  It takes a lot of time for a scared rat to come around.

Kelly