Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / February 2008

Around the fall of last year, I lost one of my first two rats (Munch)
after his health deteriorated. He went from having bumble foot to
limping to hind leg paralysis to not eating or drinking. The only
thing that he would drink is water coming from a needle syringe.
Munch, normally, would eat anything that was edible. During the last
days he wouldn't even take a second glance at a fruit loop or a yogurt
treat. He ate applesauce for a day, but stopped. One month he was
healthy (despite being a bit plump) and the next he's dying. Sort of
like he gave up.

Four weeks ago I noticed that Fin was starting to drag one of legs
every so often. Then he stopped using that leg, and the same happen to
his other. Unlike Munch, he still eats, drinks, plays, and runs. He
still climbs up the ladders, and still find a way to cause trouble.
But I'm still worried. Fin is over two years old---he's a senior
citizen.

You can feel his spine. But I see him eat. He's the first one at the
food bowl. He's the one running up whenever I fill up the water bowl
and/or the water bottle. He has no problem eating. Munch had the same
spine thing--but he was struggling to eat and drink.

I still don't know what caused Munch's hind leg paralysis, and what
caused his health to deteriorate so quickly. Fin seemed to have the
paralysis, but he's still active.

I'd hate to move him into a one-level cage. He's gotten attached to my
two new rats (Ninja and Lighting). Should I do this, despite the fact
he has no problem going up the ladders? Any personal experiences would
be helpful.