 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / December 20033 1/2 yrold rat losing weight help
my girl is losing weight, she lives with two other rats they all seem fine, i have taken her to the vets twice as i can see and feel she is losing weight but the vet cannot find anything wrong with her, except the weight loss. Is this an age thing? i've had other rats that have lost weight but they have had myco which was the cause of weight loss, i cannot find anything as to why she is losing weight, she's eating drinking as active as always, i can't feel any lumps or bumps. the only thing that has changed is that we have moved house but that was 7 months ago, this has only been going on for 3. she does not seem stressed i'm stumped anybody have any ideas here as to what it is? thanks deb. > my girl is losing weight, she lives with two other rats they all seem fine, > i have taken her to the vets twice as i can see and feel she is losing [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > she does not seem stressed i'm stumped anybody have any ideas here as to > what it is? Three and a half! Crumbs that's old. Try giving her something like ferretvite or Nutrical (I think it's called that). They come in large toothpaste tube thingies and are designed to help sick animals put on weight and get lots of vitamins. You may need to squidge a bit onto your rats lips so she finds out how nice it tastes - I don't think it smells great, but the way my rat went for it once they've tasted they love it. >> my girl is losing weight, she lives with two other rats they all seem > fine, [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > smells great, but the way my rat went for it once they've tasted they > love it. Very old for a rat - you must be doing something right! Has the vet suggested a course of Baytril? Could be an infection somewhere that's putting your ratty off his/her food. Does he/she eat? If so, could be worms or something I guess (never heard of this occuring in rats, but then I'm no great expert). I would try hand feeding lots of treats - preferably with some healthy stuff in there (popping corn, banana and so on). Ours love fruit baby food. Good luck  SignatureRegards, Dave dave_ryman@hotmailNOSPAM.com http://welcome.to/daves.website http://travel.to/formula.one What a great age for your Rattie...:) I am ever hopeful my eldest wee man will make it to 3 in April. I have noticed over the past few weeks that he is slowing down, losing weight and not eating much. Apart from this he is a healthy old fella. I think this may just be a part of the aging process...:( Regards Kate > my girl is losing weight, she lives with two other rats they all seem fine, > i have taken her to the vets twice as i can see and feel she is losing [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > thanks deb. > my girl is losing weight, she lives with two other rats they all seem fine, > i have taken her to the vets twice as i can see and feel she is losing [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > thanks deb. Your girl is old indeed... lucky you to have them live this long...what is your secret? I think her losing weight is a normal process but I would still try to feed her extra. Try giving her baby food and warm oatmeal with bananas. My Benny who is only 2 years old had started losing weight and I put him on baby food, oatmeal, bananas... lots of soft stuff. It seems that he just gets tired of eating the harder stuff but really laps up the soft food. Give that a try and see... Benny has gained weight again, maybe it will help your girl too. Keep us posted please! SignatureJoanne Mom to 14 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca remove "no spam" I too think it's just the aging process. I noticed it in my girls in their little hips. I fed mine baby food custard or the oatmeal. The baby food oatmeal powdered is less expensive than the jars if it's something you continue to do. I also had to give Baytril for so long that I found mixing Boost or one of the other drinks for weight gain was something they liked. Just not too much every day (messes w/their tummies). I even tried a small blob of vanilla ice-cream (makes me gain weight). Good luck and keep us posted. Janine > > my girl is losing weight, she lives with two other rats they all seem > fine, [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > will help your girl too. > Keep us posted please! thanks for all your advice. my rat did go on a course of baytril just in case but no there was no improvement in her weight. i have tried giving treats, but i have to be careful as i already have an overweight rat and she is in the same cage as the rat losing weight and as you know you cannot give one with out the other even though it is half of it! maybe i should try more softer foods, but trying to feed 7 of them won't be easy but i am sure it will be worth it. I'm a little fearful that giving something new may upset her tummy, i certainly don't won't her to lose more weight, a little at a time should be alright shouldn't it? Deb. > I too think it's just the aging process. I noticed it in my girls in their > little hips. I fed mine baby food custard or the oatmeal. The baby food [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > > j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca > > remove "no spam" will she take food outside of the cage? or maybe you could put the rest of the rats out and give her special food while she's in there alone, and then take it out when she's finished eating? i've also used soy baby formula for old rats losing weight. they seem to love it. very high in fat though so you don't want your already overweight ratty getting it! strawberry ensure was another big hit. unless you go really overboard, i don't think she'll have a problem with an upset tummy. 3 and a half is really impressive. good on you :) >thanks for all your advice. >my rat did go on a course of baytril just in case but no there was no [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >Deb. -- god is an american (bowie) http://shattering.org x-no-archive: yes in the headers > thanks for all your advice. > my rat did go on a course of baytril just in case but no there was no [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Deb. Take the old girl out when feeding time and try and feed her separately. Offer the old girl her regular food at the same time of softer foods. That way, she can still have the regular food if she so chooses. Can you keep the old girl in a separate care, or separate part of the cage with a buddy just so she can gain weight? Your old girl will never have the soft food if you are going to feed it to the whole gang, she'll be too slow to get to it and it will be all gone. Also, I've noticed when they are old, they will eat, go for a nap come back and eat again. By the way, what's her name? SignatureJoanne Mom to 14 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca remove "no spam" this dear girl is called "squeaky", she was a rescue from a child who kept her, apparently she used to bite not surprised with what was going on there, unfortunately I have rescued 4 of her rats and now thank god she is not allowed any more, the rescue rats are so special as they all are but you notice the difference I want to give as much as I can for her. she is very close to her cage mates it's out of the question to be separated that would cause too much stress, she gets her food god forbid anything getting in her way so she couldn't get it. she's keen on yoghurt is that good for building up? ~Deb > > thanks for all your advice. > > my rat did go on a course of baytril just in case but no there was no [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca > remove "no spam" > this dear girl is called "squeaky", she was a rescue from a child who kept > her, apparently she used to bite not surprised with what was going on there, [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > ~Deb Yogurt is good, but I would still add baby food and oatmeal... they'll go nuts. :) You can give all kinds...even pablum. If she's really underweight, you could buy some nutrical and put some on a cracker for her. Nutrical is for sickly cats or dogs so it contains a lot of nutrients and protein to help with weight gain. Good luck for Squeaky, and bless your heart for rescuing these ladies! SignatureJoanne Mom to 14 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca remove "no spam" ok I managed to get some 'ferretvite' after trying 4 different pet shops! how much do you give, on the tube it says 1teaspoon per pound, she is no where near that and at a guess she prob' weighs about a dessert spoon, she has lost about half her weight if not more. I gave her some I think she would of had the whole tube! gave about a quarter of a teaspoon, is it ok to give indefinitely or not is that amount about right or would you give more. ~Deb > > this dear girl is called "squeaky", she was a rescue from a child who kept > > her, apparently she used to bite not surprised with what was going on [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca > remove "no spam" > ok I managed to get some 'ferretvite' after trying 4 different pet shops! > how much do you give, on the tube it says 1teaspoon per pound, she is no [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > ~Deb I would give only a small amount each day. I'm not too sure if too much is bad. When my rats lost weight, I gave some 3 times a week, along with eggs, tuna, chicken, yogurt, baby food, oatmeal... SignatureJoanne Mom to 14 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca remove "no spam" well sueaky is doing ok but i have not notice any weight gain plus she did have a slight ipset tummy when i gave her the ferretvite, have cut down on the amount and how often i give her i hope this will be better for her. its sad for me to say i just think that now she is a downward slope fingers crossed she's here for a while yet. deb. > ok I managed to get some 'ferretvite' after trying 4 different pet shops! > how much do you give, on the tube it says 1teaspoon per pound, she is no [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca > > remove "no spam" > well sueaky is doing ok but i have not notice any weight gain plus she did > have a slight ipset tummy when i gave her the ferretvite, have cut down on [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > deb. Crosses fingers and all tails here too... just love her and cuddle her and know that she had a wonderful life with you. SignatureJoanne Mom to 14 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca remove "no spam" I give all my boys, Gizmo included.. A Babies first cereal called "Farex" the young guys get a large bowl full a day and Giz has his own saucer full... It seems he eats more of that now than his grains... and I too have noticed how he will eat and sleep alternately through the day..:) Bless his furry britches.. Squeaky sounds so much like Giz..:) Regards Kate. > this dear girl is called "squeaky", she was a rescue from a child who kept > her, apparently she used to bite not surprised with what was going on there, [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > > j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca > > remove "no spam" > my girl is losing weight, she lives with two other rats they all seem fine, > i have taken her to the vets twice as i can see and feel she is losing [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > thanks deb. Not been on-line for a few days (had my modem cable bitten through by one of my boys!) so I'm a bit late here. The others have made excellent suggestions already. I agree with the weight loss being an age thing. Good on you for rescuing the ratties, by the way. When one of my boys needed to put on weight I found he loved mashed potato with a little marg and milk, baby foods and a bit of chocolate milkshake now and again. I would take him out of his cage and sit him on the chair with me whilst he ate his bowl of high calorie food whilst another bowl containing low-calorie food was put in the cage for my other 'chubby' boy - this way they both got their individual requirements without feeling left out! Hope Squeeky manages to gain a little weight, I'm sure with everybody's suggestions she will. Let us know how she gets on. Tracey |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2009 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.