Agressive rat with headtilt

[Vitania]

I've got a new rat with headtilt. He is really dominant and I've had a hard time with intros, so I've thinking about neutering him. But he had headtilt when I got him and the previous owner said that he has been treated for it, but I'm not so sure that he is well enough to be neutered yet. When he sense the other rats I have he starts growling, huffing and puffing, and shows alot of agression.
I am calling the vet tomorrow, 'cause I've got another agressive rat, but he is only agressive in the cage and with other rats, so he is getting neutered as soon as the vet will take him.
But the headtilt rat bit my boyfriend today, so hard and so deep I've never seen before and I am a bit lost at this point.
As said, I'll talk with the vet and have him checked to see if he's well enough to be neutered but I still want other peoples opinion on this. And if he's not well enough yet, what should I do then? I think it's getting worse when he is alone...

 

[jorats]

I would definitely have the head tilt boy neutered. He might just be tilty and not have anything wrong with him. My mom had a rat like that and I believe he was neutered while tilty as well.

 

[Vitania]

I know he had a middle ear infection (not sure thats whats it called on english) so I am sure he's head tilt is from that and not just a safe tilt.
Talked to the vet today, he said he did not want to neuter him before he had a check. So I will take him to the vet and then he'll check if he is ok.
But then again, if he's not ok he'll have to go on meds 3weeks befor his neuter so I want to know what I should do then? I really don't like having alone rats for such a long time.

 

[hopefloats]

Good job on trying to fix a troubled male, it is always a smile maker to see others who understand that the neuter can change him. Is it possible it is just a permanent head tilt? Our Cash has a tilt that wont go away. Is he new to you or have you had him?

 

[Vitania]

I am pretty sure it's head tilt 'cause of middle ear infection, and he was a bit sneezy de first days when I got him (but that could also be the new smells and all that stuff), but I've only had him for a bit over a week. I wanted him to settle a bit down before I tried intros. He drove 8-9 hours before he came here.

After neutering made my huffy puffy bity rat a snuggly-wuggly teddybear I'll always try that before saying he's a lost case (like most rat owners in Norway does) The only problem here is that it costs 200-500$ with a neuter and it's not many good rat vets here. anic: (If we had more good vets and cheaper neutering I would propobly neuter all my boys :giggle: )

 

[hopefloats]

I only neuter the bad boys, mostly because of cost although mine are cheaper I just dont want to put them all through it. You could smell in Cashes ear that he had an infection, but if he had the tilt for a while it could be left over.

Cash still has his, but my vet would neuter him if need be, but he hasnt needed it so far.

 

[Vitania]

Yeah, almost all my boys are candidates to neutering, but not as bad as these two tho. Just a bit overdominant in intros and stuff. And the surgery is one of the things that stops me but mostly the money.

I did not know you could smell it on his ear! I'll smell his ear later and check, and I know they can have the tilt after he's well but it was the sneezing and the liabiliy on the previous owner that makes me think he's not as well as I hope, but the vet will know.
Thanks for the help, tho!

 

[hopefloats]

Yeah really good ones you can smell before your nose hits his ear. Cash had a horrible smell to his and dopey always had outer ear infections you could hear it more than smell it. I would rub his ear and you could hear the liquid in there.

 

[Bundyrats]

I've just taken in a girl with head tilt. Apparently she was like that for about 3-4 months and so the damage was probably permanent but I put her on Baytril for three weeks anyway just to be sure. I'd like to think she has improved a little but honestly, I don't think she has, I think she's just more used to her environment now and so it looks like she knows where she's going but I had to give it a try and at least I would have removed any lingering infection that may have been there. Do you know how long your boy has been like this?

 

[Vitania]

I think he has been like this for five weeks or so. He's tilt is not so bad as I've seen others have, but it does make his balance pretty bad.
From what I've learned on the Norwegian forum the tilt does not always dissapear, so he might be as this for ever. I've also read that the most common and effective anitbiotics for this kind of infection is Vibranord. I have baytril, but I am a bit afraid to give it when I don't know if it will take the infection away. Did not smell anything in his ear tho...

 

[hopefloats]

I have used baytril on ear infections. Cash has his ear infection in march, the infection is gone but his head tilt is still there. After adjusting to how odd it is on him he takes the cutest pictures ever. Steroids are also good at reversing damage in an ear infection tilt.