diarrhea in rat but eating and drinking fine?

[Animeratmomma]

Hello! My name is Amber and I recently rescued two new rats to add to my family of three. One of the babies I saved I adopted for free because he is sick. I suspected wet tail- however he is eating, drinking and exploring his new isolation tank fine. He lays down some like he doesn't feel well but all and all acts fine. Considering he was in a petstore with 15 other rats crawling all over him do you think it may be "Stress pooping" or is there a more serious issue going on? I currently have him on bland rat block and Benebac. The brother I also adopted seems fine, normal poop but is still being isolated as well and given benebac just in case. Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you

 

[Animeratmomma]

Him eating in isolation tank

 

[Kye]

What is their bedding..? Also is there any chance for you to get a cage ? Tanks can be very bad as the air flow is minimum.... Is he on medication that may cause it ? I'm no expert but I figured I'd ask

 

[SQ]

Hi Amber,
rats do not get wet tail - that is a very serious medical issue that hamsters can get
There are several reason why he could have diarrhea
including diet, parasites, medication
Is his stomach bloated?
If he isn't doing better soon, he will need to see a good vet with the knowledge and experience to treat rats

 

[Dena]

1: what bedding is he on?
2: even if he's in isolation, please put his brother with him. If he already has been in contact with him, then he's been exposed to whatever he has.
3: tanks are VERY BAD for their lungs, because of no circulation, as stated above.
4: the face he's making is a pain face. His tummy is probably hurting him.

Do you know his history? What he's been fed, if he's had vet care, and how he's been handled? If you could also take a pic of the poop, that will be helpful. But he really needs a buddy with him. And a place to hide in if he doesn't have one. Moving homes is stressful, and so is being taken away from all his familiar friends and family. Stress can kill. It can also make sicknesses worse. Keep us updated. I hope he feels better soon! I'd also make him a vet appointment asap with a rat savvy vet. In the meantime, look at www.ratguide.com for info on digestive problems and other health issues.

Edit: I just noticed that he is in a room with hair dye. PLEASE take him out of there when using the dye, and until the smell is COMPLETELY GONE. As a matter of fact, the bathroom is not a good idea at all unless he's just in there to play. The moist air from steam can drown him.

 

[SQ]

Are the 2 boys "isolated" together?
by isolated do you mean quarantined?

As others said, that tank is way too small, rats should not be kept in a tank, rats need places to hide, hammocks enrichment .… even when being quarantined
The bathroom is not a good place for a quarantine and it is useless any way since the new boys are in the same home, if they have anything airborn then everyone has been exposed since it is the same airspace.

Stress, temp. changes of more then 5 degrees within a 24 hr period, smells, chemicals in the air etc can cause illness or breathing issues

As others have mentioned hopefully the bedding is hardwood shavings and not dusty, because dusty shavings or softwood (like pine or cedar) will cause illness and destroy lungs

You did not mention how long the boy has been like this but since it sounds like you have had them for a bit, please make a vet appointment asap with a good vet who has the knowledge and experience to treat rats

here are signs of pain in rats : http://ratguide.com/health/basics/signs_of_pain_in_rats.php

So please:
get them to a good knowledgeable vet
get them out of the bathroom
get them into a suitable large cage together
make sure the bedding is ok and they have the things rats need

 

[Animeratmomma]

Hi Amber,
rats do not get wet tail - that is a very serious medical issue that hamsters can get
There are several reason why he could have diarrhea
including diet, parasites, medication
Is his stomach bloated?
If he isn't doing better soon, he will need to see a good vet with the knowledge and experience to treat rats

Thank you for the actual helpful advice. I just got him a few hours ago that's why he's in the tank I had for sick babies until I can get another quarantine cage. I saved him from the pet store where he was just going to pass because he was "Just food anyway" and so I saved him and his brother. No bloating, eating and drinking fine, acting fine. I have him on bland rat block and and giving him a supplement for stress induced diarrhea. I've worked with vets for a long time and have saved many an animal and I appreciate your kind advice! As soon as he is better he will be introduced to a group of three other brothers in a HUGE cage. I wish everyone on here was as nice as you about it.

 

[Animeratmomma]

What is their bedding..? Also is there any chance for you to get a cage ? Tanks can be very bad as the air flow is minimum.... Is he on medication that may cause it ? I'm no expert but I figured I'd ask

It was just a last second thing the tank I had for sick babies I take in. I got him late at night so nowhere was open hardly. It was at the end of my shift. I groom dogs for said petstore and keep a close eye on the health of the "feeder" rats since no one cares about them. I try to encourage people to adopt them over hamsters etc and treat them as needed for things. This guy was just too sick and was being left with the healthy ones exposing them as well. The bedding is a natural hemp bedding, No dust nothing artificial just the hemp stems and such. They love it! They never eat it and can dig and burrow but no mites or sneezing since it has no dust. Thank you for the helpful advice!

 

[SQ]

Thank you for the actual helpful advice. I just got him a few hours ago that's why he's in the tank I had for sick babies until I can get another quarantine cage. I saved him from the pet store where he was just going to pass because he was "Just food anyway" and so I saved him and his brother. No bloating, eating and drinking fine, acting fine. I have him on bland rat block and and giving him a supplement for stress induced diarrhea. I've worked with vets for a long time and have saved many an animal and I appreciate your kind advice! As soon as he is better he will be introduced to a group of three other brothers in a HUGE cage. I wish everyone on here was as nice as you about it.

Thank you for saving this boy and his brother
So glad that you are knowledgeable, many people are not so when trying to help people make assumptions.
Glad there is no bloating !

Hopefully Lilspaz68 will respond as she is extremely experienced re rats and medical issues they may have, and can give much better info.

Btw, that bedding sounds interesting. I have never seen it around here but will keep an eye out for it.

In case you are unaware, another place to ask for medical advice is the facebook group Real Rat Lovers Want To Know and ratguide.com is a vet approved medical site for rat owners

I hope the sweet boy will soon be feeling better with the change in diet and time to adjust to being safe
but since there could be several causes, and it sounds like he has been ill for awhile (in the pert store) while his brother is ok, a vet appointment asap would be what I would do.​

 

[ViciousCurse]

I think it's stress poop for now as well. My babies and rescued adults always have stinky and smelly poops the first couple of days they're home. Usually at that point, I leave them alone and let them adjust so they aren't stress pooping. Unfortunately, you can't do that if he's sick.
Hopefully it was nothing contagious, having a whole group of sick rats is not fun!
Definitely keep an eye on it!

 

[Animeratmomma]

Update! Been moved to a much larger holding cage as he is moving around more today. Still poop stuck to his bum but no explosive diarrhea today at all. Much happier than he was at the petstore and seems content with his new hammock. His brother is fine with no runny poop at all, no sneezing, no eye discharge and is looking to be a completely healthy little boy! Only thing is he is suffering from some malnutrition because he is very obviously 6-7 weeks old from his errr- backside but is the size of a three or four week old rat. He is eating great playing great and exploring as well. Will keep everyone updated and post pictures!

 

[Kye]

Update! Been moved to a much larger holding cage as he is moving around more today. Still poop stuck to his bum but no explosive diarrhea today at all. Much happier than he was at the petstore and seems content with his new hammock. His brother is fine with no runny poop at all, no sneezing, no eye discharge and is looking to be a completely healthy little boy! Only thing is he is suffering from some malnutrition because he is very obviously 6-7 weeks old from his errr- backside but is the size of a three or four week old rat. He is eating great playing great and exploring as well. Will keep everyone updated and post pictures!

I'm glad he seems happier.! And I bet they are loving the temporary cage much more than the tank. Not to mention being able to cuddle.! (I've found my rats even if they are in a weird fued they still cuddle)

 

[Dena]

I'm sorry if I come off as rude. Was numbering them, so the info was easier to read, not because I'm bossy and rude, I promise. And it may have just been a quick pic you took before you moved his cage, but I wanted you to know (most people don't know a whole lot about rats, even if they've had some a while) so you could move him. Also, was stating he needs his buddy so he's not stressed, causing more loose poop. Glad he's feeling better. He didn't look like he was feeling so good in that pic.

 

[Dena]

Also, the bedding?!? What's the name, and where do you get it?? Does it absorb odor? How about wetness? I'd like to look at it. I have 3 VERY stinky boys!

 

[SQ]

Update! Been moved to a much larger holding cage as he is moving around more today. Still poop stuck to his bum but no explosive diarrhea today at all. Much happier than he was at the petstore and seems content with his new hammock. His brother is fine with no runny poop at all, no sneezing, no eye discharge and is looking to be a completely healthy little boy! Only thing is he is suffering from some malnutrition because he is very obviously 6-7 weeks old from his errr- backside but is the size of a three or four week old rat. He is eating great playing great and exploring as well. Will keep everyone updated and post pictures!

Glad he is feeling better.
He should start growing normally with a healthy diet (please see the info in the Reference Thread as some may be different then what you have heard)
but if you are concerned, organic soy infant formula thickened with a bit of baby cereal would be a good supplement - it is one of the formulas recommended for orphaned rats and would be safe for hos brother to have as well

 

[Animeratmomma]

Update! His brother is at the vet for a foot infection he got at the pervious petstore and is being treated. I think it was bumblefoot or some other infection of the toe from the sanitary conditions. original sick boy however is growing, hydrated, his fur is so much healthier and he is doing great! Still not 100 percent but we are getting there! Here he is checking out momma's bed. He wouldn't be still for the picture lol!

 

[SQ]

Awwwww such a cute little guy
Glad he is feeling better
I hope his brother is soon feeling much better too

 

[lilspaz68]

Bumblefoot is a lump/sore on the heel of the hind foot. Infected toes are from a bite or wound that got infected. Very easy to cure, some antibiotics and he should be fine.

 

[Animeratmomma]

Sad news everyone and I am livid. The petstore I worked at when I saved Albie and Gizmo the sick boy and his brother transfered me to a different store in the area because of a shortage. I told them about the sore on gizmo's foot and they told me to bring him in, sign him over since I had bought him there and they would take him to the vet and treat it with the antibiotics and give him back to me. Now these were people I trusted- we celebrated when rats went home as pets, mourned when they didn't, These people seemed like I could trust them and I wanted Gizmo to see the vet as soon as possible so the in house vet would be perfect right? I loved Gizmo. I took him to work with me the next day introduced everyone to him and checked on him every day at the store. Well my days off came up and I was gone two days. He's still on antibiotics I'm being told so I let them keep him a few more days. I regret not taking him then. Monday roles around and I ask- "Where is my rat? He should be here? Is he still at the vet?" No one would answer me. Panic insued as I tried to find him, looking everywhere they keep sick or recovering animals. An hour or two passes and I'm pale, upset, about to cry when a manager comes in- tells me "Your rat died. Next time don't buy a feeder rat as a pet they don't take good care of those" and they walked out. That was it. I cried, I clocked out and i left. I hate quitting a job like that but I trusted them and they basically told me it cost too much to treat him. I can't believe his life was worth so little to them. I can't believe that he died on his own from the sore he had on his foot it wasn't even life threatening. I blame myself... I feel like a horrible person. I promised Gizmo a few days ago when I was still holding him in my arms that it was okay, that he was just going to come to work with Mommy and we would come back to the house after he felt better. I promised his brother it would only be a day or two- and now I can't even bury him. I feel so guilty even though I was only trying to get him into the vet asap. I'll keep giving updates on his brother and I'll be introducing Albie to the rest of my boys soon.

 

[ViciousCurse]

I'm so sorry for the way things turned out. That was awfully rude of them to hide the truth from you and then be so rude about it. Your Gizmo was well loved and you did your best for him. Don't beat yourself up over it.