fat rat - I'm at my wits end

[temblabamomo]

I've asked before for advice regarding Obie and his weight. I don't understand it. He eats healthy, is active and gets good exercise. During out time I always spend some time having him chase the feather toy around, but he loses interest pretty quickly (even though I let him catch it often enough to keep him from getting discouraged.) I have tried repeatedly to have him use a wheel, but you know how it is when a rat dislikes his wheel. Disdain. But his playtime is about 2 or more hours a day and he stays fairly active during most of it.

I realize my big boy is getting old (he's roughly 2 years now, give or take a month or so.) He's less active and sleeps more, but he's still full of spunk and adventure. Last weigh in he was somewhere between 600 and 700 grams It seems the harder I try to have him lose weight, the faster he puts it on.

My other boys have maintained a very healthy weight on HT 2014, and chubby Max finally lost a few extra grams on that food. They recently switched to the new Oxbow (love it!), and they all seem about the same. Obie doesn't seem any less active than the other boys - in fact, he's actually more on the go than slim little Maz and lazy Max. Those bubs stay fit with no effort at all. Obie remains a blonde blob. Maybe it's genetic?

Before Obie came to me, he was on a high protein seed mix, and was fed a lot of junk food like cookies, popcorn, etc. But he was so fit back then. Comes to live with me and eat all my healthfood and suddenly he's a chunky monkey. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm so worried about him developing a heart problem. Obie is my silly little heartrat, and I feel terrible that he's gotten this way. :sad3:

 

[jorats]

At his age, I don't think I would be overly concerned with him losing weight. This is usually the time that you want them to maintain not lose.
If he seems ok in every other way, then I'd leave him be, continue the play and the fun and the healthy foods. Some rats are just fatsos. I had two like that. All my rats were slim except for two fat boys who were more than 600 grams. I talked to my vet about it and she told me that in a colony setting, you can't make them lose weight, not when you have normal weight ones as well in the group.

 

[temblabamomo]

At his age, I don't think I would be overly concerned with him losing weight. This is usually the time that you want them to maintain not lose.
If he seems ok in every other way, then I'd leave him be, continue the play and the fun and the healthy foods. Some rats are just fatsos. I had two like that. All my rats were slim except for two fat boys who were more than 600 grams. I talked to my vet about it and she told me that in a colony setting, you can't make them lose weight, not when you have normal weight ones as well in the group.

True. His only health problem right now is a constant bumble on one foot. We've been keeping it at bay for months now, and as long as his area is kept very clean and he doesn't get any fatter, I'm not too concerned about it. Taking them off of fleece and using regular bedding again has helped, on the fleece he was constantly getting poops stuck to the back foot, which probably isn't too great for bumbles.

I'm also concerned about his grooming, at times reaching all parts of his body is a stretch for him, but so far he's managing. Guess I'll keep an eye on that for him.

You are right, at his age I am glad he's not wasting away from illness or just plain old age.