Not Eating

[Ripred99]

I have a 9 month year old pregnant rat, and she has stopped eating, what should i do!!!??? I am worried for her and for her pups.

 

[Sheldon]

If she is near giving birth she may be preparing for the delivery. How long has she not been eating?

 

[Ripred99]

She is about 3 weeks from delivery, and she has not been eating for 2-3 days, I just thought she was not eating all of it, but now that i look, she hasn't touched it.

 

[Sheldon]

Rat gestation is only 3 weeks so it wouldn't make since for her to be 3 weeks from delivery.

Check to see if she is hoarding food in the cage. Pregnant females do this and she might be eating from a stash.

Can you take a pic of her belly?

 

[Ripred99]

She has one big pile of food, but i don't think that could be a hoard.

 

[Ripred99]

She is STILL not eating!!! I am freaking out!!

 

[Sheldon]

Hun, is she dropping weight?

 

[Ripred99]

Just a tiny bit, she is pregnant so it is hard to tell.
And her fur is starting to look dirty and un kept.

 

[Sheldon]

Can you please post pictures of her and her cage setup?

 

[Sheldon]

Also, go get some chicken baby food and offer it to her on a saucer.

Have you looked at her teeth?

 

[Ripred99]

I will try the baby food, but I don't have a camera or a phone, so I can't take a picture.

 

[Sheldon]

Ok. Try different baby foods. Chicken is most loved but she may like others.

 

[Sheldon]

Any new news?

 

[Ripred99]

She's eating! She really likes fruit baby food haha. But I have one more question, so it has been about a week of her just maybe taking a nibble or two, will that affect her pups?

 

[Sheldon]

Sadly yes. She may have reabsorbed some of them or some may be born very small.

 

[SQ]

you might also want to try her on organic soy infant formula thickened with baby cereal as it will have good nutrition.
and soak some of her blocks in cool water to make mush as she might like that too

Were her teeth ok when you checked them?