New rat problems

[belle_foudre]

I newly adopted 2 older female rats. I think they are about a year and a half each. They are both very social, both with people and other rats. However they were fed dry dogfood for the past 6 months and they were very fat. Im a little worried about the health of them, what could a diet of dogfood have done to them? They have since leaned up quite alot, and are loving the new carb based diet. Also one is having some Myco (sp?) problems. I though I could solve this with a better diet and supplements? And they are both a little high strung around feeding time. They rush the cage door, and act like they are starving, when I can clearly see food left in the bowl. They are also very aggressive when taking food from my hand. Any help would be great!

 

[jorats]

Do you free feed them their new diet? I would make sure they always have food in the bowl, this might make them feel more secure about it.
The myco should be addressed with meds. Good food can only do so much.

 

[belle_foudre]

There are 2 bowls that I put staple into. I mix the blocks with a 1/6 of a cup of oatmeal. And there is always some bits of oatmeal left in the bottom of the bowls, and I have to find stashed food and put it back in the bowls. But there are just a little aggressive when it comes to veggies/ banana chips/ rasins, or any kind of treat food.
And about the myco, I thought about taking her to a vet but they said they would probably just give her a injection of baytrill. And I decided not to take her cuz I remember reading that injections are very bad for rats. Are there any children's antibiotics I can give her?

 

[jorats]

Unfortunately, they would really need the Baytril. Find a vet that will give it to you orally.
As for food, with time they might come around.

 

[belle_foudre]

Ill have to work something out and try and find some online. Taking the two of them to the other vet in town that would see them would cost more than $500, Im in college and I cant really afford that. ARe there any antibiotics that I could try, and make taking them to them vet a last resort.

 

[xxchelle]

Taking sick animals to the vet is never a "last resort", it should be your first step.

You'll need oral antibiotics, usually Baytril as Jo said, to treat them. There's nothing you can give them yourself from home, they'll need vet care. Unfortunately, rats are expensive pets.

 

[Moon]

What about a vet out of town? It's not uncommon for rat owners to have to travel quite a bit for a decent vet that wont cost an arm and a leg.

What exactly did you get quoted $500 for? That's totally outrageous and they're taking you for a ride by even suggesting it.

 

[SQ]

You are right, baytril should never be injected in rats as that can cause health problems.
Baytril has to be given orally. Injectable baytril can be given orally but it tastes horrible so you have to add things to it to make it taste ok.
You need to see a vet and get oral antibiotics ... likely baytril + doxy, baytril + zithro, or baytril + clavamox.
Rats are treated with antibiotics for myco for at least 6 weeks.

Most vets have a standard exam fee they charge to see all animals. Then the cost of meds would be added to that. Some meds might need to be purchased by vet perscription from the drug store.
good luck finding a good vet willing to treat rats

 

[belle_foudre]

The vet that would see them said the exam would be 75 for each animal and then the cost of a culture and also meds. I told her I would not need a culture cause I know what the problem is and what I need to fix it, and she said that baytrill is a powerful antibiotic and they dont prescribe it without a culture. Thats why Im even posting and asking this.
Also is there anything I can do about them being so rough with me when I feed them? I got bit the other day, they didnt mean to but one of them was too excited about the food.

 

[Moon]

The vet that would see them said the exam would be 75 for each animal and then the cost of a culture and also meds. I told her I would not need a culture cause I know what the problem is and what I need to fix it, and she said that baytrill is a powerful antibiotic and they dont prescribe it without a culture. Thats why Im even posting and asking this.

Baytril is pretty much the go to drug for almost any rat infection... they're definitely taking you for a ride on that one. Find a different vet, as a respiratory infection really does need abs. Vet shopping sucks when you don't have people to refer you to good ones.

 

[puffnstuff]

I agree about needing oral Baytril suspension. Find somebody else. A knowledgeable vet will give it without doing a culture. If they know what they're doing, they will be able to diagnose the Upper Respiratory Infection with a 5 minute exam.

As for the food, just make sure they always have some. You don't know what their feeding schedule was like before, so they could have been poorly cared for their whole lives, so it's all they know. It will take time for them to relax about their food. Make sure you give them lots of cuddles and attention, so when they see you, they will associate you with LOVE and companionship, not only a meal provider.