The Rat Room

Rats are small animals but that doesn’t mean they don’t require proper vet care. If you only have a small number of rats, I highly recommend bringing them for a full vet check up every 6 months.
When your rat starts making noise, it’s time to see a vet. 99.9% of all rats have mycoplasma in their lungs and this can cause respiratory infections. When a rat makes grunting, chirping, wheezing, coughing noises, it needs to be addresses asap. If you wait too long, it can become pneumonia and lead to death.
There are other symptoms that require a vet visit: lethargy, labored breathing, breaks in limbs, severe bleeding, bloating, change in bowel movements and in urination.
With proper health care as well as vet care, your rats can live a good long life. 2 to 3 years is the rat’s average lifespan.
All animals deserve medical treatment when needed.

Normally rats adapt pretty well in varying degrees of temperatures, but there are some things we can do to help them cope better.
Fluctuating temperatures is hard on a rat. Unlike dogs, rats don’t pant but they do use their tails to help regulate body temperatures.
One thing to keep in mind, if you are uncomfortable in the current climate of your home, chances are so are your rats. When you see your rats spread out flat as a pancake and listless, this is a good indication that they are too hot. There are a few things you can do to help alleviate their discomfort. You can do like me and add central air or an air conditioning unit to your home but that’s not very economical.
You can move the cage to a darker part of the home, or even in the basement. You can have a fan nearby but not directly on the cage, drafts should always be avoided. You can freeze a bottle of water and then place it in the cage. You can also buy slate tiles and freeze them and place them in the cage. Have lots of water available to the rats. A bowl with ice so the rats can take a dip. Also giving your rats frozen peas and grapes would help as well.
Remember… if your too hot, so are the furry little guys.

There are several types of rat blocks, some better then others.
Rat blocks are formulated with all the nutrients for the pet rat it also prevents the rat from picking out certain foods they prefer which could cause for a very lacking diet.

I highly recommend the Harlan Teklad 2014 and Oxbow Regal Rat.

Harlan Teklad 2014 (can be ordered online in the US, harder to find in Canada. Can be found at U of Guelph)

Product Description
2014 Teklad Global 14% Protein Rodent Maintenance Diet is designed and manufactured with high quality ingredients. 2014 is a fixed formula, nutritionally balanced, non-autoclavable diet containing a minimum of 14% protein and 3.5% fat. Scientific publications report that low fat, low protein diets promote longevity and normal body weight in rodents. 2014 does not contain alfalfa or soybean meal, thus minimizing the occurrence of natural phytoestrogens. Absence of animal protein and fish meal eliminates the presence of nitrosamines.

Ingredients—Wheat middlings, ground wheat, ground corn, corn gluten meal,
calcium carbonate, soybean oil, dicalcium phosphate, iodized salt, L-lysine, DLmethionine,
choline chloride, niacin, vitamin A acetate, biotin, pyridoxine
hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid,
menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), vitamin E
supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, calcium pantothenate, ferrous
sulfate, magnesium oxide, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, calcium
iodate, cobalt carbonate, chromium potassium sulfate.
Standard Product
Crude Protein 14.5%
Crude Oil (Fat) 4.0%
Crude Fiber 4.5%

Harlan Teklad 2018

Ingredients—Ground wheat, ground corn, wheat middlings, dehulled soybean
meal, corn gluten meal, soybean oil, calcium carbonate, brewers dried yeast,
dicalcium phosphate, iodized salt, L-lysine, DL-methionine, choline chloride,
niacin, vitamin A acetate, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine
mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite
complex (source of vitamin K activity), vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12
supplement, riboflavin, calcium pantothenate, ferrous sulfate, magnesium oxide,
manganous oxide, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate,
chromium potassium sulfate, kaolin.
Standard Product

Crude Protein 18.8%
Crude Oil (Fat) 6.0%
Crude Fiber 3.8%

Oxbow Regal Rat (Can be bought at vet clinics and online, some stores are starting to carry them)

Oxbow Regal Rat is a low-fat, nutritionally-balanced food that improves the quality of life for adult pet rats without causing life-threatening obesity. The complete, stabilized kibble contains 100% of a rat’s daily essential nutrients and prevents selective feeding, common with seed and fruit-based diets. Regal Rat was formulated by a team of professionals in the laboratory animal science, zoo nutrition and wildlife nutrition fields.

Whole Brown Rice, Oat Groats, Wheat Bran, Wheat, Soybean Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Soybean Hulls, Monocalcium Phosphate, Flax Seed Meal, (Linseed), Brewers Yeast, Calcium Carbonate, Wheat Germ Meal, Methionine DL, Salt, Yeast Culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement (tocopherol), Vitamin C Supplement (Ascorbic Acid), Colloidal Silica, Riboflavin, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, Thiamine, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Pyrodoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Magnesium Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Cobalt Carbonate, Manganese Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Mineral Oil, Calcium Iodate, Potassium Chloride, Natural Flavorings
Guaranteed Analysis

* Crude Protein min 14.00%
* Crude Fat min 4.00%
* Crude Fiber max 10.00%

Mazuri Rodent Breeder 6F (sold at Ren’s in Ontario)

A diet designed for feeding rats and mice which are maintained in breeding colonies and intended for use as food for other species such as reptiles.

Ingredients: ground corn, dehulled soybean meal, ground oats, porcine animal fat preserved with BHA, cane molasses, wheat midlings, dehydrated alfalfa meal, ground wheat, ground soybean hulls, calcium carbonate, fish meal, salt, brewers dried yeast, dicalcium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, dried beet pulp, wheat germ, corn gluten meal, soybean oil, menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite (vitamin K) pyridoxine hydrochloride, DL-methionine, choline chloride, dried yucca schidigera extract, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) thiamin mononitrate, folic acid, biotin, dl-alpha tocophyrel acetate, (vitamin E) calcium pantothenate, vitamin b12 supplement, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, vitamin A acetate, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, ferrous carbonate, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate.

protein 16%
fat 6%
fiber 6%

Living World Extrusion (Can be found at Pet Valu and Petsmart in Ontario, some Zellers and some Walmarts)

Ingredients: ground corn, ground wheat, soybean meal, wheat middlings, yeast culture, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dried beet pulp, lecithin, dried corn fermentation, soluble product, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, salt, clcium propionate (preservative) DL-methionine, choline chloride, dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation extract, rosemary extract, L-lysine, yucca schidigera extract, cobalt sulfate, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide sodium selenite, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, folic acid, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin Z supplement, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K) calcium iodate, vitamin D3 supplement.

protein: 16%
Fat: 4%
Fiber: 4.5%

I found another rat food… not sure yet how I like it. I’m trying it out on my young boys as it is a little higher in protein.

Rodent Diet by Cuisine (Can be found at Pet Valu in Ontario)

Ingredients: Ground corn, wheat middlings, dehulled soybean meal, fish meal, soybean oil, calcium carbonate, cane molasses, dehydrated alfalfa meal, salt, DLmethionine, L-lysine, menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite, vitamin A acetate, cholecalciferol, pyridoxine hydrochloride, magnesium oxide, biotin, dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, riboflavin, vitamin B-12 supplement, folic acid, nicotinic acid, thiamin mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, ferrous carbonate, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate, sodium selenite.

Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 18.0%, Crude Fat 5.0%, Crude Fibre 5.0%

Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Mouse and Rat ( I believe this one is not so bad except for the high protein but if you don’t have anything else in your area, I’d stick with this one.)

KAYTEE® Forti-Diet® Pro Health™ is a Nutritionally Enhanced Daily Diet that provides the essential nutrients your pet needs for a long, healthy life.

With DHA OMEGA-3 – Supports Heart, Brain & Visual Functions

Rich in Natural Antioxidants – For general health and immune support

Probiotics & Prebiotics -Natural ingredients that aid in digestive health

Naturally Preserved – For ideal freshness

Rich in fiber – Essential for proper function of the gastrointestinal tract

Yucca – For odor control

Promotes a soft, healthy coat
Ingredients:
Ground Yellow Corn, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Ground Wheat, Ground Oats, Ground Peanuts, Sun-cured Alfalfa Meal, Ground Flax Seed, Dried Cane Molasses, Lignin Sulfonate, Corn Sugar, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Ground Rice, Salt, Soy Oil, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Beet Pulp, Whole Cell Algae Meal (source of Omega-3 DHA), Fructooligosaccharide, DL-Methionine, Yeast Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, L-Lysine, Vitamin A Supplement, Choline Chloride, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative), Ferrous Sulfate, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of vitamin K activity), Copper Sulfate, L-Carnitine, Rosemary Extract, Citric Acid, Cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Cobalt Carbonate, Sodium Selenite, Natural Flavoring. Allergen information: Contains peanuts and/or other tree nuts.
Guaranteed Analysis:

Crude Protein (min.)………..21.0%
Crude Fat (min.)………………4.5%
Crude Fiber (max.)……………7.0%

There’s also Mazuri Rodent diet with 23% protein and 6.5% fat. (Can be found at Petsmart)
LabDiet/Purina rat chow/PMI Nutrition International with 22% protein and 4% fat. (Can be found at several feed stores)
similar ingredients to all the others above.

Your rat may develop a head tilt for a number of reasons but most common is an inner ear infection or a pituitary tumor. It is best to treat the rat immediately when you first notice the head tilt. A course of antibiotics like Enroflaxocin is recommended for an inner ear infection. Your vet might also want to add a steroid which could help especially with it’s anti-inflammatory properties.
But don’t worry if your rat doesn’t recover from his head tilt. Many rats go on to live full and healthy lives with a head tilt.
Remember to treat first… if it’s an inner infection, your rat could become worse and/or be in extreme pain.

House with a head tilt

I adopted Mister from a young boy who was breeding him with two females. He was supplying our local independent pet stores with feeder rats. Mister lived his whole life alone except when meeting up with the two girls. I also took in those two girls. The boy was giving them away because they were no longer producing litters therefore no longer making him money.
Mister was a sweet old man. I didn’t want him to be alone for the remainder of his days with me. But I had to be careful, intros usually take time with males. As it turns out, my Bijou was getting old and needed some time away from the rambunctious young rats in her colony. I decided to give Mister his Bijou. Bijou was the most easy going rat. She took to changes like a fish takes to water. When she met Mister, she didn’t have much of a care but Mister on the other hand became so excited with Bijou, the old boy started to hop around his cage. He would run and come back to Bijou, he would smell her and when he realized she was his to keep, he became full of energy and spirit. Mister and Bijou grew old together. Mister passed at the age of 39 months and his Bijou soon followed at 41 months. I have no doubt the two are still together at the rainbow bridge.

Bijou and Mister

Bumblefoot is a condition characterized by the inflammation of the dermal tissue on the underside of the foot.
It can become quite severe in dirty conditions.
Causes? There can be several factors contributing to bumblefoot such as obesity, small habitat which doesn’t allow for enough movement, solid hard floors in habitat. It starts as a small bubble, looks similar to a corn or blister. It can crack and bleed and can lead to more serious infections like staphylococcus, which is why it’s important to keep a very clean cage.
This condition is treatable but it usually takes a long time and in some, it never completely goes away.
We had success with padding the cage down as well as having a vet prescribe Novotrimel.
Wire floors do not cause bumblefoot. But it can aggravate it.
Don’t panic if you see the bumble crack and bleed an awful lot, apply pressure to the sore. Some people have success using blu-kote on the bumbles as well.