Tail Dragging

[Dazzle87]

So today I noticed Lexis wasn't lifting her tail like the other rats when walking.  So I've been watching her, she doesn't lift it at all!   She's had a bit of a waddle from being obese for a while (it makes me feel irresponsible, but all she gets to eat is 14 percent protein lab blocks and low carb veggies, I also make her excercise, she rarely comes out of the cage on her own so I take her out) but I think its a teensy bit more pronounced.  She also props herself on the bowl to eat, but I thought she was blocking the other rats and/or being lazy, but in light of new symptoms its probably easier for her.

So, from what I've seen, HED usually happens in much older rats.  Is it possible she has it?  I've researched it some more, and saw that pain meds and steroids can be used.

We're having bad back leg luck here, my rat Missy is limping with one of her back legs  :doh:  At least she will get better though.  My rats need to realize they're not as young as they used to be, and can't shimmy up "poles" anymore  :doh:  That is how she injured herself.

 

[MomRat]

Run a search here on the boards for glucosamine chondroitin, there is a great thread discussing use, effects, and dosage. Our vet says it is better as a preventative(start giving it before they have symptoms, to reduce eventual symptoms), so we start giving it at two years whether they are draggy or not.

Our boy dom had very noticeable signs of HED at 20 months. He's still going strong, but his hind end doesn't do much anymore. He's 32 now. =)

 

[Dazzle87]

Thank you, I looked that up. I will try to buy some soon. At the very least it might help my other girls who seem to be doing fine so far.

Aww that's great your boys so old, I hope all my girls live that long!

I'm bringing her to the vet, but I like to compile information first unless it is an emergency of course.

 

[Moon]

how old is Lexis?

 

[Dazzle87]

Oh duh, I thought I mentioned. She is 18 or 19 months.

 

[Godmother]

One other thing you could ask your vet to check out: how is her heart? I had a family of mom and five daughters. All but one were very active and agile, climbing my pant legs when I was cleaning their cage. The one who did not do that was always heavier and less active than the others and she had frequent respiratory issues. Turned out that her heart wasn't working up to standard.

 

[Dazzle87]

She hasn't been to the vet in a long time, I will definitely ask about that . Thanks for the suggestion. She was very active and thin until she got to be around 6-8 months old, then she gradually started gaining weight.

I will definitely update after I get her seen.

 

[jorats]

That does seem quite young to be starting HED. But who knows.
I know that some loss of back end mobility is also a symptom of PT.
But from the sounds of it, she's slowed down young as well.

 

[lisab40]

My rat isn't limping, he can't walk on his hind feet; he is dragging them behind him and can't get out of him bed that is higher than the bottom of his cage and absolutely cannot get into it. I had to feed him water cause he can't seem to do that himself and I also had to put his food bowl that is hooked to the cage on it's side so that he can pull himself over there to eat it but he's not even doing that!