Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / October 2005

I noticed a few days ago that Arwen was dropping her blueberry each night
when I give them. I thought it was from a combo of the cool room temp and
the fact that the berry is frozen, so her paws just got too cold. But then
last night when I took her out, she kept trying to bite everything she could
get close to. When I gave them some dry pasta in their dish, she grabbed it
and tried gnawing but couldn't seem to crack it, finally she gave up and
just sat holding it. Apparently something is wrong with her teeth. She ate
banana, bread, oatmeal (dry&wet), and yogurt just fine. So I put some of
their kibble in with water and hoped it would help. I'm afraid she has been
starving for days! I never noticed because I've studying so hard for all my
exams this week. I feel horrible, but I'm not sure what it is. Her bottom
teeth look orange and normal. Her upper teeth look white on the outside
edges and dark yellow toward the middle, but I can't tell if anything is
wrong with them. Her hair has looked puffy for a little while now, and I
also noticed last night that when she couldn't grasp her food she kept her
arms tight against her body and used erratic bobbing movements (almost
seizure-like) with her head to pick up the food. Walking she doesn't seem to
have a problem with balance, no head tilt; but she seems a little more
wobbly when on my arm/shoulder. Her sister Eowyn seems perfectly fine.

Any suggestions?

-Lauren
Arwen & Eowyn, Merry & Pippin
Rainbow Bridge: Samwise & Frodo
http://community.webshots.com/user/akashafive