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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / July 20053-legged rat question
Some of you may remember that Jacques, my 10-month old boy, lost his right hind leg due to a tumor last Christmas. Since then his body has made amazing modifications, including becoming EXTREMELY muscular and large in the center, and his tail now permanently crooks over to the right. The strange thing is, whenever he comes out for outside time (which for now is on my king-size bed with lots of towels, hiding spots, treats and tubes) he becomes obsessed with "scratching" with his leg that's not there. He gets around fine, esp. in the cage, but whenever he's out, he becomes increasingly obssessed with it, until after 20 minutes or so I just can't stand how frustrating it looks for him, and I get him back home. I've tried scratching for him, and he does like it (he will lick and nibble at my hand while I'm doing it) but the minute I stop, he's at it again, contorting his body and "shaking" where his leg used to be, to the point where he doesn't even enjoy anything about being out. I'm just wondering if anyone knows why this only seems to happen when he's out? Does he miss the leg more then? Why would being out make him more itchy? Joanne, I think you've had some experience with Sven... did he ever do this? Thanks, Meghan > Some of you may remember that Jacques, my 10-month old boy, lost his right > hind leg due to a tumor last Christmas. Since then his body has made [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > Thanks, > Meghan Hi Meghan, Is Jacques the alpha? Male rats will do the scratching the side thing, something about scent glands being on the side and they spread their scent with their back paws. Same as when they rub their sides on everything they can get their paws on. They will do this mostly during out time because the area is clean of rattie smell and he needs to focus on getting his scent out there to let the other guys that the even on the king size bed, he's still the boss. It really is hard seeing them do that phantom scratching and imagining their frustration but it's really just second nature to them. Joanne Mom to 19 rats. > Hi Meghan, > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Joanne > Mom to 19 rats. AH, Joanne, it's all starting to make sense now, thank you! Yes, most assuredly Jacques is the alpha male. From day 1 he was the explorer, the leaper, the brave one and Pierre was shy and timid. When Jacques had his surgery and had to be separate for a week, there were quite some squabbles when he and Pierre got back together. It also makes sense because I had just washed the flannel sheet I lay over the bed when they're on it - that night his "phantom scratching" was the worst. I noticed that if the scratching gets really bad and he gets too frustrated, he starts beating up on Pierre and chasing after Maggie. Oh those rattie instincts! Meghan |
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