Salem The Rat
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2011
- Messages
- 58
My rat Elin (1,6 years old) usually prefered to hide and sleep somewhere by herself, and generally didn't like to play or fight with other rats (she squeaked a lot), but was healthy. However, these days I noticed she has become lethargic, she remains for most of the time in one corner of the cage, gathers the bedding into a nest around her and sleeps a lot. Even out of the cage, she doesn't move very much. If I put her on me, she sleeps there, which she never did before. Most importantly, her breathing, although completely noiseless, seems faster. I might as well add that some time ago I noticed she had scabs and blood under her fur, however, when I checked her two days ago, there was nothing of it left.
So: otherwise smooth but faster breathing, clean fur, no -apparent- skin problems, no porhyrin, etc. BUT she sleeps or remains still in one place, and today I had to put the food bowl in front of her to eat. Yesterday, however, she ate treats by herself, normally.
Could it be mites? That affect her behavior? I haven't seen her scratch so much lately, though. She never had breathing problems before, nor anything else.
Should I expect the worst? And even if I took her to a vet, how do I know for sure he knows what the rat has, because he isn't a rat expert, and there aren't any in my country.
Any ideas?
So: otherwise smooth but faster breathing, clean fur, no -apparent- skin problems, no porhyrin, etc. BUT she sleeps or remains still in one place, and today I had to put the food bowl in front of her to eat. Yesterday, however, she ate treats by herself, normally.
Could it be mites? That affect her behavior? I haven't seen her scratch so much lately, though. She never had breathing problems before, nor anything else.
Should I expect the worst? And even if I took her to a vet, how do I know for sure he knows what the rat has, because he isn't a rat expert, and there aren't any in my country.
Any ideas?
