HELP, rat sick with diarrea.

[Teaka]

My oldest rat Teaka is showing signs of diarrea over the past month maybe. It is not constant, it seems to come and go. I know it is teaka as i have actualy seen her poo this soft, greenish, moucusy poo i have been finding in their cage the past few days now. i am a bit worried as i have just read all the threads on her and some on google about rats having soft or odd poo and nothing sounds good. Some information you may need to know is that she has had roundworms in september, and she was treated (not sure of the name of the medication). Also she and all of the other rats she is curently living with have been treated twice with revolution. All other rats have "normal" poo shape and consistancy. Teaka is acting very active and normal...the only odd thing is her poo.

What they normaly eat:
lettus
Canned peas
blueberrys (1-2 a day)
cherios
small amounts of cheese (not every day)
i have just started feeding them yogurt with live cultures (read on here that may help)...hasnt helped yet
lab blocks: extrusion hampster blocks and "mouse and rat ration" by martin

What do you think this could be? Should i call my vet tmro? What treatment may the vet give/price of meds?!

 

[Joanne]

I would take her to the vet - she may need antibiotics. (My kitty went through that...)
It's important she stays hydrated if she's got diarrhea. And make sure you clean it up constantly - if it is a bacterial infection, then it could be transferred to one of the other rats eventually.

 

[Teaka]

Lol, ive been cleaning right away....constantly. I will be calling the vet tomarrow.

 

[lindsayfawn]

I wonder if it's the yogurt and cheese doing it 'cuase aren't Rats Lactos intolorent? I know they're ok with very small amounts now and then but I think to much can make them have those kinds of poos.

 

[Teaka]

yeah, ive been cutting back on all cheese. i will stop with the yogurt and cut back on veggies for a few days to see if there is a change, she may just have a weak stomach

 

[Dahlas]

Try some unsalted soda cracker......I have heard that helps.
Maybe cut back or cut out the veggies and fruit for a few days....nothing extra but her blocks.

 

[minnow]

The BRAT diet tends to work on rats too... Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. They're all bland and easy on an upset stomach, as well as slightly constipating. I'd go heavy on the toast and light on the bananas and applesauce. If this doesn't help, it's definitely vet time.

 

[Joanne]

My ratties get yogurt a lot, and twice a day when sick as that's how they get their meds. They love cheese too. No diarrhea from any of that.

 

[Teaka]

I will pick up some fresh banana's and applesauce tonight so that i can try out the "BRAT" diet on her! ill also try soda crackers, im sre they will all love that. ill cut back 80% on what extra food they get in the night time to see if that calms her tummy. they are not going to like this!

Edit: yeah, all of my other rats eat the exact same things...it dosent seem to bother them, Teaka has not had good luck with anything ever, i dont know why this would be any differnt! im thinking if it was a paracite thouogh wouldnt the revo kill that?

 

[Joanne]

Edit: yeah, all of my other rats eat the exact same things...it dosent seem to bother them, Teaka has not had good luck with anything ever, i dont know why this would be any differnt! im thinking if it was a paracite thouogh wouldnt the revo kill that?

Yeah, that's why I was thinking bacteria...

 

[Moon]

It may just be that, as she gets older, some of the veggies and things might not be going through all the typical motions in the digestive tract.

You said they get lettuce, too much of which can cause very watery poos since many lettuces (iceburg especially) have such high water content.... so it could be as simple as cutting way back on that for a bit.

Give her a day or two with no veggies, just blocks and soda crackers.... if that seems to help, you can do BRAT, and then look at cutting back on the super watery veggies.

 

[Teaka]

not good, looks like ill be calling the vet soon. will it hurt her if i wait a few more days to see if the different diet hepls?

 

[Moon]

When did you give them soda crackers, and when was the last time she had veggies? You need to give this some time to work.

 

[Dahlas]

It may just be that, as she gets older, some of the veggies and things might not be going through all the typical motions in the digestive tract.

You said they get lettuce, too much of which can cause very watery poos since many lettuces (iceburg especially) have such high water content.... so it could be as simple as cutting way back on that for a bit.

Give her a day or two with no veggies, just blocks and soda crackers.... if that seems to help, you can do BRAT, and then look at cutting back on the super watery veggies.

Like Moon said...give it chance to work. All your rats are eating the same diet but not necessary the same amount of that diet....Teaka might be eating more of the veggies. I would cut out the veggies and fruit completely for a couple days....Just blocks and some soda crackers.....

 

[Teaka]

Alright, so looks like there all going on a "dry" diet for a while! lets hope this helps

 

[jorats]

With soda crackers, I find it helps real fast. So if it doesn't and your rat is showing symptoms such as lethargy, then I'd be more inclined to reach the vet sooner. But if your rat is still very active, then you can wait to see if the diet helps.

 

[Teaka]

well, she is very active, she can almost keep up with my rat who is 7 months younger....so i think shes doing fine. going to get sme soda crackers now, hoping it works though. hopefully she just has a very weak stomach.

 

[Teaka]

So, they have been limited to soda crackers and bran flakes as treats for the past few weeks....maybe over a month, i tryed to give them a bit of brocoli last night and the soft poo showed up again....i have it narrowed down to tiggy or teaka as i separated the cage into two sections...the soft poo was in the section with teaka and tiggy... This does not seem normal...

Looks like teaka and tiggy will be making a vet visit tomarrow p.s. im pretty sure its teaka having the problem, not tiggy.
So, anyone have an idea of what meds may fix this/how much im going to be out tomarrow?!

 

[mamarat]

Check the amount of fiber in the bran cereal too, that would make the poo soft.