Rat Care Questions

[Anonymouse]

So I'm budgeting for my cute little friends, and I have a few questions.
I plan on getting two-three females. Will spaying them be a necessity?
I had a male rabbit when I was younger, and he seemed perpetually
frustrated by not having a female around. I didn't know that neutering
was the issue. Will they suffer a similar bought of mateless frustration?

That's my first question. The second one is very simple, what is the best
way to clip a ratty's nails? I don't want to hurt them, none of my animals
have ever liked having their nails clipped and my rabbit kicked his leg one
time so I knicked his cuticle, he was fine but it was scary. In your experience,
what is the least stressful way to clip a rat's nails?

Also, diet. I'm wondering what kind of fruits and veggies are best to feed
rats? Do they need a lot, or is it more of a treat?

Thanks for your help!
-Mouse

 

[Rachael]

Hiya - will it just be the 2/3 girls you'll have? If it's an all girl group then no they won't need to be spayed.

If you go onto the Diet section there's loads of information about what is good for them.

As for nail clipping I haven't clipped any of my ratties nails, just put up with the scratches rather than stress them out, a few of mine nibble their own nails too :giggle:

 

[jorats]

All animals, human alike do feel the frustration of hormone overload but not enough to need to spay. BUT!!!!! Spaying is a huge health benefit to the female. It reduces the risk of mammary tumours from 95% down to 5%. It also takes away all risk of uterine cancer. There is also less of a chance for pyometra.
Spaying and neutering takes away all stresses, allows your animal a healthier life and longer lifespan.
A proper diet is very important. Rule of thumb when feeding a rat: low fat, low protein, no salt, no sugar. Give them a block with a low protein level as well as fat and daily fresh veggies. The greener, darker the veggie the better it is for you and them. Fruits should be given as a treat, doesn't need to be everyday either.
I don't clip my rats' nails unless they are old and it starts to curl.

 

[Chevalrose]

+1. Most rats take care of their own nails. I've had a couple lazy groomers that I've had to keep an eye on and clip. I just use baby nail clippers and hold their foot steady. They get used to it the more you do it.

 

[jorats]

I also wanted to add, 3 is better than 2.

 

[Anonymouse]

Oh darn, what a shame, I'll guess I'll need to adopt 3 instead of 2. :wink:
Thanks for your responsiveness so far, everyone.
Okay, so what I'm hearing is that spaying is probably a good idea for their
health, if only to lower mammary tumor risk. So, I'd like to pose another question.
Can anyone from Canada tell me around how much it costs to spay a rat? I
would imagine it would be in the $50-$60 range.

 

[lizmo1221]

Spaying a rat is a lot more expensive than that! I have been looking into getting it done for my three ladies, and I have seen prices ranging from $175-300 per rat!! I don't know where you are located or when you plan to get your rats, but if you get them through a rescue they often have connections with certain vets to offer you a lower rate when you adopt, maybe as low as $100-140 per.

Wherever you get it done, make sure the vet knows rat anatomy and have performed rat spays before. No matter what it costs, you want to make sure your rats pull through alright.

 

[LA]

The cost of a spay depends on the vet. Spaying also helps cut down the likelihood of pituitary tumors.
One key thing I want to make clear. Research your vet, call around your area asking all vets if they deal with rats. In my town we have 7-9 vets and two deal with small animals. I am very lucky to have that many, some have one or none in their area. Also it takes a while to build up a wonderful relationship with your vet but it's well worth the time and effort.

 

[jorats]

In my neck of the woods, a spay costs us $240. It's insanely high but our vet is the best in town.

 

[Nekopan]

Just wanted to add that rescues can often get discounts on spays. It doesn't hurt to ask. That way, you could get some spayed girls for a lower cost AND be providing a home for rats in need.

 

[xxchelle]

Off topic! Just in reference to your signature, I can't remember if anyone has told you or not, but there are no good, ethical breeders in Ontario anywhere. In fact, one of the more "well known" breeders in Hamilton was recently (within the past year) shut down by my rescue, and it was found they were keeping 19 rats in a cage that holds maximum of two, and they were all on pine. The males all had massive injuries, one needing an eye removal even. So make sure you REALLY do your research before supporting someone, as you don't want to support a back yard breeder or unethical breeder. There are hundreds of rats needing homes in Ontario, so your best bet is to go through a reputable rescue. Good rescues will make sure that rats are healthy and well socialized before sending them to their forever homes, so you don't have to worry about getting a rat that's going to need a lot of work right off the bat.

If you do still decide to look into a breeder, make sure you ask about their health records, pedigrees, etc. I think you'll quickly find that none of the "breeders" in Ontario can produce any of these records, and if they can they'll be filled with inconsistencies and even pet store breeding stock.

 

[Lisette]

Definitely vouching for the 3 vs 2

I throw some rough (clean) rocks into my cage for the girls to climb on. I'm hoping that it'll trim their nails, but they don't seem too interested. Other rats might like rocks though

 

[zenia wulfe]

Just wanted to add that rescues can often get discounts on spays.

Yep! The boy I got from a rescue effort recently had a vet working with them and neutering for $35 and spays for $40. Much better than where I live... neuters are $125, and I am not yet sure what spays cost.