Double Neuters Double Worry - Sudden Burst of Energy??

[hopefloats]

I never put stuff on my boys. Licking is one but it can cause bateria for form. You can keep their cage as clean as possible but they still poop and pee from that area and that sticking to an open wound will cause infections. Vets may not always remember that rats balls drag on the ground not the same as dogs or cats.

 

[EDK]

Well currently they are both sleeping, Nes more then Gyro which I'm a little worried about, but he's wide eyed when I address him, I'm just hoping he's getting enough to drink. I know he'll eat cause i gave him some treats to encourage him. Gyro is doing fairly well, just chilling, occassionally coming up to the cage in hopes i'll let him out to play lol. But i don't want to move them out until they are more active and more healed. I'm hoping by Friday they'll be a bit better even more

 

[hopefloats]

Are they still all apart?


It only took a few days for my boys to shun one and him to shun them. May want to give them a bit of out time together so they dont do that you wont want to have to redo intros. I only leave my rats out the first night. My other rats never mess with them and I put them back even if they have sore spots.

 

[EDK]

They are still apart because im not sure what Gizmo will do, he's never been aggressive but i'll see what i can do

Edit: Ok after giving Gizmo a quick re-intro on them, (no complications he was just interested in hoarding their food away and gentle grooming) I've them back into the main cage. Doing so resulted in Nes being more active, he's eating more and Gyro seems excited. I'm worried about them climbing a bit, but by climbing i mean climbing into their hammies. Otherwise they are all getting along, they just eating at this point and grooming each other. Gyro squeaks at Gizmo though when he gets too close to him. Nes ate a bit now and just went back to a hammock. He's been staying into those since we been home. I'm worried about that, I wounder if thats just his way of healing, staying away from the others.

 

[Joanne]

I'm glad that the boys are back together. They will be happier that way, and happy ratties heal faster. (BTW, I too agree you shouldn't use Vaseline...)

 

[SQ]

I'm glad that the boys are back together. They will be happier that way, and happy ratties heal faster. (BTW, I too agree you shouldn't use Vaseline...)

Me Too !
but pain meds and antibiotics are a good idea ...

 

[EDK]

Some good news today! Everyone got along good last night and slept well. When I got up to do cage cleaning, I woke up to three pairs of wide eyed faces, screaming "Let us out we want to play mommy!!!". I almost cried i was so relieved! I checked Gyro and Nes's wound areas, there seems to be less blood (done a good job cleaning themselves up) the holes are there still, but don't look as irritated anymore or inflammed like they were when they came home. They were really frisky, Nes and Gyro, wanting to get out and run, but they are obviously still very tender and so they were nervous when i picked them up for inspection. I've not let them out to play and instead are spoiling them with some sweet treats, but they don't seem interested, they just want out lol. They have real cabin fever, wanting to play, but this is day 2 of healing for them, they are obviously still tender, and their play area needs a good vaccuming, but even then i'm not comfortable letting them out ot play yet, what with if they climb too much or bounce or run and hurt themselves. When do ya'll think its a good time to let them out to play? I was aiming for a week of healing, like next Tuesday. What do ya'll think?

 

[lilspaz68]

Pain meds if they are uncomfortable, then let them out to play. Managing discomfort is your job, go out and buy some Ibu (good stuff to have on hand)

 

[hopefloats]

My girls got out time two days after their spays. You wait a week they will fight. They want out let them out. Most of my get out time a day or two after their surgeries.

 

[EDK]

Agreed, I let them out to play in a more neutral area where they wouldn't get tempted climbing off or bouncing as much, it was a large bed area where they can look outside a window and climb on pillows and their mommy if they wanted hehe! They enjoyed the out time, stretching their legs, licking my hands, checking out the window, and even each one of them enjoying scritches! I say everyone of them because I'm already noticing a change in their behavior. Nes who would usually shy away from my hand or attempted petting, and run off like a ball of energy, now comes up to me and enjoys the scritches, he doesn't bother tackling Gizmo or Gyro anymore, he's much more laid back and just likes lying with them in the hammies. Gyro is actually more energetic but in a relaxed way! He used to get real puffy during play time, even sometimes hissy, his ears would be back and he was cautious wherever he explored. Now he's more bold, throws caution to the wind and enjoys Gizmo and Nes's company as well as mine even more!!! (Note: Even though they played in an unknown location, they were never this relaxed in their own play area or a neutral zone, the fact they were relaxed in a nuetral zone just shows me how much they've changed) Gizmo is still Gizmo *giggles* he's not changed despite his 2 brothers may have, if all else he's more relaxed now that they are relaxed.

Guys...I think this is what I've been hoping for, after all this stress and fear, it looks like we're turning for the better, but I don't want to jinx it either, since it's only day 2. I hope this behavior will keep with them after all their healing is done, but so far I'm happy where things are going. I'll try to get pictures of them soon next time when I let them out for passive playing.

 

[Kate476]

Yay for a (hopefully will stay that way) easy recovery!

 

[EDK]

Well he's an update on my boys, they are doing well :thumbup:

[BBvideo 450,375:3e8t39mb]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejlWsjRnhxo&list=PL492C8A35C8F8CBF4&index=31&feature=plpp_video[/BBvideo:3e8t39mb]

However for safety I plan on going up to that vet on Monday to pick up some antibiotic ointment to encourage healing a bit more and to ward off any infections. Other then that, the behavior in this vid is very different if ya'll watch my other vids.

 

[victoria]

However for safety I plan on going up to that vet on Monday to pick up some antibiotic ointment to encourage healing a bit more and to ward off any infections. Other then that, the behavior in this vid is very different if ya'll watch my other vids.

Antibiotic ointments make it more likely an abscess will develop, they should very rarely be used on rats. Wounds and incisions need to heal from the inside out, not the other way around. Keeping them clean should be enough. If an infection develops they will need oral antibiotics, not topical.

 

[Godmother]

So glad that things are going better now.

 

[EDK]

Well this morning Nes wasn't feel well today, I checked his incision area and it looked like he messed with it again, from what i can tell he chewed off a scab area and it bled a little last night, but this morning he looked uncomfortable and not up for playing. I've givin him some metacam and washed his problem area a bit, and he took a treat willingly, ate and drank, and is now resting. The scab area is clean looking, just dried blood around it, and one of his holes actually looks like its closing nicely, so that's a relief, think he just hurt himselt trying to remove some unwanted tissue. But if he's not perked up by Sunday then I'll take him back to the vet to make sure alls ok.

Gyro on the other hand is doing very well, his wounds are healing nicely and he's all hyper and playing with Gizmo like normal if not TWICE as energetic as usual lol. But I'm keeping an eye on him to make sure he doesn't get too crazy.

 

[hopefloats]

He probably has a hematoma forming along with his abscess. When the get the lumps they can take a while to go down and to heal. My rats only bleed with the hematomas. They look ugly but after a week or so it should start improving. Another week not one i mean LOL

 

[EDK]

lol ok, well this morning he was all perked up and wanting to play, so I guess whatever it was making him uncomfortable has passed.

Uncontrollable energy these two are having. Is this normal of a neuter? Ok i'll explain:

Nes and Gyro are now more bouncy then ever before, they are darting all over my bedroom as I speak, popping up like popcorn. My own concern is, is that they are still tackling each other down, no puffiness far as I can tell, but alot of squeaking and just tackle tackle tackle, either Nes does it, Gyro is doing it, or Gizmo. Gyro has more energy then I have ever seen him have, he's as bouncy and althetic as Gizmo! Even Nes is showing the same aspects, they are just all hyper like a bunch of kids after eating a tone of sweet ice cream! What's going on here? Is it because of their previous cabin fever of being cooped up in the cage those two days? Is it a sudden change in their hormones? How long does it take for them to fully settle down? I mean wow, don't get me wrong, I love that they appear to be having TONS of fun, all bouncy bouncy and running and play fighting with each other, but seriously lol, this is odd for them.

Play Tackling?

 

[mamarat]

I've had some boys become very happy almost right away, they can start playing like babies again, not a care in the world. It's very fun to watch the change.

 

[hopefloats]

The testosterone makes some boys miserable. My videos of john showed the difference very well I think they are on amandas thread about intros.

Once you remove the testicles, they become happy which is why we urge it happen with bad boys. It can be just about instant as mamarat said. You will love your neutered boys. They will have fun now and you will be able to bond with them once they simmer down with their energy level.

 

[EDK]

Well that's awsome then, I was just...so shocked at the sudden change in behavior, Gyro has never been this...this happy! Nor Nes really, Gizmo was always happy but when he tried to play with the other two it always ended with tentsion, sometimes fighting too. Now everyone is playing together, squeaking in joy mostly, tackling and bouncying about, everyone just having a blast! Now they all sleeping together! It's just...wow, I'm amazed at the sudden change in personality, they are even addressing me in a different way, with open arms and kisses!

I want to buy them something to celebrate the event, a new treehouse sort of toy. However so far there is nothing very suitable for rats to play on in regards of height and saftey. I do own a 3 layer tower they play in, but its simple in comparison to what cats play with! And they love the height, but i want them to be safe too. So i've done research on cat play houses with high levels. I figured if I got one I could customize it with some addons, such as ladders and ramps, but I'm hoping someone here might give me tips or alternatives other then spending my money on a toy meant for cats, not rats lol! For instace I found this one on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Neptune-48-H-Wh ... 4600a9bb24

I figured I could customize it with ramps and ladders and hammering/sewing them in so they can access the levels easier, but if there are better alternatives could ya'll let me know? Thanks so much!