Spaying for aggression

[Argent]

Mimi's getting worse

She bit OH today and drew blood...he only stroked her, and she was sat in his hands. Then after a 10 minute time out, she came over to me and started jumping up at my face and I was too freaked out to keep her out anymore.

I feel like a total wuss, but I've been bitten before and I'm scared I'll have a full-on allergic reaction. I keep trying to feel confident in front of her, and at first I thought it was all four girls as a group that caused me stress, but it is just Mimi I'm having the problems with. Anyone that's read my other threads will know she's a bit funny in the head and overly territorial (she was rubbing herself all up and down the hallway again too). I've been reading on the fancy rats forum that many people have had success with spaying for aggression. I'm hoping that what she has is not neurological but hormonal. She does seem to get better and worse in waves that go with their heats.

As soon as I put her in the carrier, Lavender seemed a lot happier and started bounding up and down the hallway. Lavi's also on the skinny side and even has a bit of a hollow tail :sad3: I hope Mimi's not bullying her away from food - she's the biggest of the lot now. I used to think all the girls were just crazy when they were out, but having Mochi, Lav and Shank out together was a breeze...it's Mimi that storms around and makes out-time a nightmare >.< Will spaying help? Does anyone else have any success stories?

 

[jorats]

It's definitely no guarantee, in fact, I'd say it's more likely not too but if she were mine, I'd definitely would do it anyway.
How old is Mimi?

 

[mamarat]

I had a Mimi (yes that was her name too) and she was such a little nipper. But after her spay she never nipped me again. I would take a chance and get yours spayed too. Good luck.

 

[Argent]

She's about 6-7 months now I think. I'd like to get them all done for their health's sake anyways It's just her attitude is really offputting, I'd like to see if it will make a difference! She's a lot bigger than the others now, and poor Lav's the oldest but tiniest/lightest. She's such a gentle little thing >.<

 

[jorats]

Do you also have males in the home? (male rats)

 

[Argent]

Yes, the 6 boys (one is neutered) live across the room from them, but there's never been an issue before, and the boys appear unaware of their presence.

 

[victoria]

Spaying my rat did not work for her aggression. She did (still does) the same rubbing thing you're talking about and is very rat aggressive when she's around unknown or new rats. During intros and the first few weeks and months living with new rat(s), not only would she be aggressive to the new rats but also to the ones she was used to. I used a lot of the techniques discussed in the Intros thread, especially dominant pinching and time outs in the carrier. she never bit us humans though, ever, just rubbed up against us to mark us as her property.

That being said, I do not regret spaying her and Jo makes a good point that she is living in a house with intact males. It's worth a try and it will definitely help her, just maybe not with the aggression. If she bites you again I would strongly recommend you give her a time out in something like the carrier with nothing in it (blankets, food, hidey box) for 10 minutes at a time so that she realizes she's done something wrong and hopefully realizes she misses you. Dominant pinching could help in this situation too, but there's the possibility she may bite you.

 

[Argent]

I know a person who is very good with her rats, and has intact males and females in two big cages right next to each other and has never had any sort of hormonal aggression...these rats have all come from different backgrounds too, plus, Lavender and Shank, my first ever girls, have never ever been affected in such a way...not even Mimi's litter sister acts like this.

Mimi is normally good with other rats, I think it's when either she or one of the others comes into heat that she starts getting worse and gets really rough, so I'm hoping the spay will at least help calm her down a bit, while we try and train her to not be shocked by us petting her (going to use click and treat method) as her eyesight is almost non-existant. She got OH pretty good - he only went to stroke her with a knuckle and he's got 2 bite marks and several pinhole scratches where she dug her claws in o.o She just seems to overreact at everything! Will have to keep the carrier around for time out definately, though when she came out, she was almost twice as huffy!

 

[victoria]

I know a person who is very good with her rats, and has intact males and females in two big cages right next to each other and has never had any sort of hormonal aggression...these rats have all come from different backgrounds too, plus, Lavender and Shank, my first ever girls, have never ever been affected in such a way...not even Mimi's litter sister acts like this.

Mimi is normally good with other rats, I think it's when either she or one of the others comes into heat that she starts getting worse and gets really rough, so I'm hoping the spay will at least help calm her down a bit, while we try and train her to not be shocked by us petting her (going to use click and treat method) as her eyesight is almost non-existant. She got OH pretty good - he only went to stroke her with a knuckle and he's got 2 bite marks and several pinhole scratches where she dug her claws in o.o She just seems to overreact at everything! Will have to keep the carrier around for time out definately, though when she came out, she was almost twice as huffy!

Not all rats will get hormonally aggressive, but if they're predisposed to aggression, the opposite sex could bring it to the surface. Ava was always very huffy (and scared) when I brought her out for time outs, but in time she did learn that her behaviour had consequences. It's important to start the time out almost immediately after she bites, otherwise she will not understand.

 

[Argent]

Yeah she probably didn't quite get it this time because there was a bit of a delay in me getting the carrier...will keep it handy from now on and see how it goes. Just can't stand the through of getting bitten again! It was awful when Bijou (a rescue with bubs) got my fingertip and tapped the bone!

 

[jorats]

She's at the right age to awaken hormonally. I'd say having the boys nearby might be what's triggering her. Some rats are ok with the opposite sex nearby but most really aren't.

 

[Argent]

Hmm I hope spaying helps...can't really keep the girls anywhere else, same when I go home too - they're not allowed in my room due to my allergies and asthma, and it's such a tiny room, they all have to go in the alcove under the stairs (plenty of activity for them to watch going's on in the kitchen, it's the hub of the house)
I am so hoping a spay works...I can see she's making the other girls miserable by their sudden change when she went into time out. My wee little problem girl <3

 

[jorats]

I'd really do the spay... it might work if it is caused by her maternal clock.

 

[Argent]

I've found a vet in Liverpool that apparently has a vet experienced in exotics so I'll give them a call next week to see if I can get her booked in for the week after when I go home for Easter. Sooner the better, then she can have 3 weeks to recover before we come back