how often do you feed a rat who can't feed herself?

[Petunia]

that's pretty much the question- Cookie has a PT and is not able to hold food, so I am giving her soft food and have some lab blocks soaking for her, but I don't know how often I should be feeding her

She's very confused so I pretty much need to be with her when she eats, and I need to take her out of the cage or the other girls will push her out of the way to get her food (and none of them need any extra food, for sure!!)

what else can I expect from a rat with a PT? she can sometimes make it up a ramp but other times seems too weak or off balance to handle it, so I am setting her up in a one level cage but put her back in the main cage when I can be there to keep an eye on her

most of the time she's inside a hut and doesn't come out until I bring her out to eat.

 

[sands]

Our rattle, Scabbers, had a PT this summer. I took her out to feed her in the morning before work and again in the evening. She couldn't use her paws, but could eat soft foods from a dish. One of us watched her when she ate as she often fell over, or we propped her up. I made her soft foods like cooked oatmeal mixed with yoghurt, scrambled eggs, apple sauce. I wasn't on rat shack then, so I didn't know about soaking the blocks.

I kept her in the same cage as her buddy Mishka, but moved everything to the bottom level.

We kept her comfortable and loved until we felt it was time to have her pts.

 

[Unepuce]

I too feed my "soft food" ratties in the morning and in the evening. I try to make it 3 times when possible, but I am pretty much able to keep weight stable with 2 feedings a day.

 

[mamarat]

I am home all day so I was feeding them about 4 times a day. I would put them in a smaller cage (usually the carrier) with their food and watch to make sure they ate or needed help eating.

 

[Godmother]

On weekends I feed a PT rat every few hours, with a syringe if necessary. On weekdays I have to hope for the best and feed just before and just after work, but this is not ideal at all. It works for a rat who can eat a bit on his/her own but, once they cannot eat unaided, I have to have them pts to avoid them getting dehydrated during the long time I am gone. It is very hard to see them get like that. :hugs: to you.

 

[Dahlas]

2 times a day would be minimum I would think......4 times a day would be perfect....I would think older rats would find it hard to eat/digest much at one time.....so frequent smaller meals are the best.....

 

[Petunia]

thank you.
This is very hard seeing her this way, it happened so fast :sad3:

There's really no improvement with the meds. She wanted some corn this morning, but could not get it into her mouth
I popped the skin off a kernel and put it up to her mouth but she couldn't get it in her mouth so I went back to the baby food cereal and some instant potatoes, which she can lick off my fingers

Just keeping her as comfy as I can for now.

 

[mamarat]

You should give soft foods only as they choke a lot with a PT. That's what my vet explained to me. Unless they are still able to eat it themselves. Don't put any solids in their mouth. Some can't chew. I'm so sorry, it is hard watching them like this.

 

[Petunia]

thanks Victoria, yes when she wasn't able to get the corn into her mouth on her own, I switched back to the baby food.
it appears she can't chew, what causes that? is she too weak? she feels very limp quite often but then sometimes she gets startled or nervous?? and starts pacing, or if I am holding her, she tries to get down

she doesn't have much strength now but just two days ago, she was able to jump off of the recliner and run under it, when I was trying to hold her and spend some time with her.

how long can she stay this way before she passes? I feel so helpless to do anything for her that will help.
If she'd let me hold her........... but most of the time she squirms and seems happier in her little hut in the hospital cage.

 

[mamarat]

It depends which part of the brain the tumor is affecting. Sometimes they also have breathing difficulties. PT's can be really aggressive or slow growing. It looks like hers is really aggressive. I've had some pass in two days and some linger on for a few months. (but those were still eating on their own)

 

[Petunia]

ok thanks

damn tumors!!! :rant:

 

[MissGuardian]

I´ve got no advice, just wanted to say I´m sorry :hugs:

 

[Fidget]

There's no set time for how quickly the tumor progresses, how long they live, or even exactly what to expect in all of them. I've seen many, they all gradually affect balance, posture & eating if the kid lives long enough but no 2 kids have been affected or progressed exactly the same.
My Bob's in the last stages of one right now, I've had him on prednisone since the 20th (which can help slow the progression in some kids for a time, but doesn't help them all, and cures none). He was able to do everything for himself for a long time with it, but suddenly took a turn for the worse sunday, and since then he can only lap a tiny bit of pablum/ensure very slowly & sloppily from my finger, mostly I'm syringe-feeding him Ensure since he gets both food & liquid that way. I'm home all day so I can feed him 4 times, but do what you can (it's amazing how much Ensure you can syringe in at one feeding). Like Godmother mentioned, you need to watch for dehydration.
I think their brains just forget how to move the mouth for eating.
Good thing she's a girl, with boys you have to clean out penis plugs, and boy did I get a shocking anatomy lesson yesterday! First time (in 13 years) I saw one suddenly pop full-out, hard and whipping around The boys are prodigious little critters, lol...
I'm sorry for you & Cookie, just enjoy the extra closeness that comes with her needing you so much right now.

 

[Joanne]

I think rats with a PT are a lot like people with Alzheimer's - they just eventually lose the capability to chew and swallow. With a person you can tube feed them. With a rat it's probably more humane to PTS.
Sorry you are dealing with this - it really sucks no matter how you cut it.

 

[RatsForever]

On weekends I feed a PT rat every few hours, with a syringe if necessary. On weekdays I have to hope for the best and feed just before and just after work, but this is not ideal at all. It works for a rat who can eat a bit on his/her own but, once they cannot eat unaided, I have to have them pts to avoid them getting dehydrated during the long time I am gone. It is very hard to see them get like that. :hugs: to you.

I'm with Godmother. When I see their quality of life slipping away I make the difficult decision. Normally, my rats love to eat so when they no longer get any joy in eating I consider it's time. :hugs:

 

[Petunia]

thanks everyone
she's leaving me soon, she's too weak to eat, breathing is shallow, just lovin on her and holding her and singing to her

 

[fenshae]

:hug:

 

[Rachael]

I'm so sorry to hear.

 

[Petunia]

she's gone

my heart is broken :sad3:

 

[fenshae]

Oh honey, I'm so sorry.

Play hard at the bridge little one.