Skinny and seeminly coat thinning.

[monstermage18]

Ok I am not sure how to put this, I do have two rats. Wallace and Emerson. When we got them Wallace was a small shy one and kept to himself. We actually think he turned out he was a little sick. Emerson had been fine and extremely energetic. As they got older wallace became the more outgoing type once he got over his sickness he was real energetic again and started growing fine, a little behind emerson but was growing at same rate. Suddenly emerson stopped gaining wieght. I knoticed it immedietly because suddenly they felt the same size. Now emersons hair was always a rough coat, thick hair, but it seems to have been getting thinner over time. My girlfriend keeps telling me its because he runs so much. Anyway let me continue. He stopped gaining wieght and actually started loosing some, around the same time he became ALOT more energetic. He never really used the wheel in the cage and then suddenly he wouldnt stop. He runs on that wheel ALL night and alot of the day. In between he seems to eat just fine, I give them occasional treat, apple sticks, everything I can think to do, healthy food 24-7. water always. But he just seems to be skinny and skinny. Doesnt appear to still be loosing much wieght but his coat seems to be thinning a slight bit now. Now all this is the course of 3 months or so. Anyway wallace is a big plump healthy rat now, and continued to grow past emerson but emerson is an over energetic rat. Now for a while I thought it was wallace turned into the more bully type and would take it food, which was the case occasionally when they were younger. But wallace doesnt really do that anymore, they still wrestle occasionally, the winner changes all the time, so I don't really see what the problem is. Eats, active, everything seems fine except he doesnt look or feel it!
I love my rats and I keep being told he's fine but i eventually decided I would try this forum stuff out and see if I couldnt find some input. Most things online I have found are close but are not quite how my rat is behaving and living.

Thanks again!
For my lovely rats! Emerson and Wallace!

p.s. Once I find my kitchen scale Ill give a wieght comparison. Any other questions I will be more then happy to answer. And if anyone could tell me the estimate price normally for vet visit for a rat. (Georgia, usa, east coast!) Thanks sooo much! At wits end so thats why i tried this forum stuff. >.<

\\

 

[jorats]

Hi and welcome. Usually we say follow your gut and if your instincts are telling you something is off, it probably is.
Emerson is the black hooded? I do see he's quite skinny.
How old are the two boys? What is their regular diet?
What type of bedding if any do you use?

 

[monstermage18]

Hi and welcome. Usually we say follow your gut and if your instincts are telling you something is off, it probably is.
Emerson is the black hooded? I do see he's quite skinny.
How old are the two boys? What is their regular diet?
What type of bedding if any do you use?

Yes Emerson would be the black one. Regular diet is lab blocks, dish always full, they eat a good bit often, so he eats. 16% protien, he eats fine as far as we can tell, um bedding is Red ceder bedding, pets pick brand. There 4 months, brothers, My girlfriend keeps telling me its because he runs ALL the time, all night and that hes just bored of the cage so he runs non-stop. That won't stick with me, =\ wallace(the white one) doesnt really run at all, well doesnt. Emerson seems very agile, active, doesnt sneeze, or show really much symtoms of anything just skinny, and coat seems amiss.

 

[mamarat]

Have you tried changing their bedding? I think the one you use has a scent to it. Some rats can't take that. Can you try fleece as bedding or newspaper and see if it helps. He's still a baby, he could be molting at 4 months.
Oh and welcome to the shack!

 

[hopefloats]

I would check for mites/lice for thinning hair. Rats will have different sizes even if they are from they same litter. I have a few boys who have been naturally thin for the year that I have had them. Some are beyond chubby. Is his poos normal?

 

[monstermage18]

Have you tried changing their bedding? I think the one you use has a scent to it. Some rats can't take that. Can you try fleece as bedding or newspaper and see if it helps. He's still a baby, he could be molting at 4 months.
Oh and welcome to the shack!

Hearing molting does kind of calm my nerves for the hair being wierd like the way it is. And maybe he is just naturally skinny with lots of energy, fella just makes me nervous and I want to make sure hes gonna be fine!
I will try and change his bedding! Thanks! Worth a try =]

 

[monstermage18]

I would check for mites/lice for thinning hair. Rats will have different sizes even if they are from they same litter. I have a few boys who have been naturally thin for the year that I have had them. Some are beyond chubby. Is his poos normal?

I mean he poos like he always has and poos like his brother. Seems pretty normal to me lol
and yea, no mites/lice, play with the fellas every day and always check how there doing.

 

[mamarat]

I wonder if Emerson could be a double rex?

 

[hopefloats]

I wonder if Emerson could be a double rex?

I thought that as well but in one of the photos his whiskers look pretty straight to me.


You wont see mites and lice is hard to see unless you know what you are looking for they are very small. Mites you cannot see at all.

 

[jorats]

Emerson doesn't appear to be double rex. He's at the right age for molting. Cedar bedding is very bad for rats so it would be good to change it. I also advise doing a mite/lice treatment, just in case.

 

[monstermage18]

Emerson doesn't appear to be double rex. He's at the right age for molting. Cedar bedding is very bad for rats so it would be good to change it. I also advise doing a mite/lice treatment, just in case.

Thank you I will change the litter today. I would very much like him to gain some wieght. But if he has mites/lice or whatnot would his brother not have them to? They cuddle to go to sleep all the time.

 

[SQ]

All softwood bedding ... cedar, pine, etc will gradually cause lung damange.
Change to hardwood shavings, paper based products or fabric such as fleece.
Many people use nonscented paper based kitty litter in litter boxes and a different bedding for the cage.

Good idea to freeze bedding such as shavings for 72 hours after purchase to kill any parasities (mites, fleas, lice, etc) that may be in it.

What brand of lab blocks are you using?
80% of the diet is a good quality lab block. The other 20% is daily veg and occasssional healthy treats such as a piece of fruit, cooked oatmeal, a cheerio, a piece of boiled or scrambled egg, etc

Very sweet boys :heart: :heart:

Like previously said, it sounds like moulting and likely the weight loss was due to the increased level in activity.
I would probaby treat with revolution for parasities just in case, especially if they seem to be sratching a lot.