Slowing down... how to make her more comfortable

[Zooy]

Honey came to me in September, not expected to last longer than a month. I noticed yesterday she's slowing down, she's lost a little bit of weight (not a lot) and she's really poryphiney. Her breathing is still fine, thats the first thing I checked so I don't think meds are necessary right now.
How can I make her more comfy. I've always had rats that die suddenly, Honey is over 2 and a 1/2 so I know her time is just about over. She's sleeping a lot more now, doesn't really run around and just chills when I have them out.

What can I do to make her last months comfortable as possible?

 

[lilspaz68]

supplement her diet with baby cereal/ensure and a bit of olive oil, if she's unable to groom herself as well, its up to you to rub those itchy ears, wipe her down occasionally, etc.

Love, food,elderly care and companionship is all she needs. The loss of weight is normal as the older bodies don't process the nutrients as well, the porph also can be normal as they get lazier about cleaning it, and sleeping all the time? Very normal for oldies, as long as they wake up bright and "active" you're good

 

[Godmother]

My senior girls don't really like leaving their cage any more, and they have lost a lot of mobility, so it's more of a challenge to keep things interesting for them. So I make sure to provide whatever they seem to like best. Right now that always includes a Chewb, a pocket hammock, their hanging ball, and a box and/or wood to chew. I also have dishes on every level so that they don't have to go far for food.

 

[Zooy]

Is it normal for her to be fighting this much with her cagemates? Every time I turn around she's hitting them.. mainly Glinda. Now I can imagine maybe she just wants her space.
I'm debating if I should seperate her and make an old lady cage. Today she wasn't so bad but yesterday she may of just been grouchy.

 

[henry's_mum]

Is it normal for her to be fighting this much with her cagemates? Every time I turn around she's hitting them.. mainly Glinda. Now I can imagine maybe she just wants her space.
I'm debating if I should seperate her and make an old lady cage. Today she wasn't so bad but yesterday she may of just been grouchy.

I'm asking myself the same question about my Toby. He and Brillo are constantly going at it, but then I peek in on them in the middle of the night when I wake up with my son, and they're snuggling... :wallbang:

He too is always sleeping, sunken sides, i'm giving him oatmeal, and baby cereal mixed with ensure, and I help him to wash every now and again, he to is almost at an end unfortunately, as i've not had them long at all....

It will be intresting to see what eveeryone says about seperation...