What to expect with aging rats?

[hopefloats]

We had one rat previous, poor girl was so sick and tumor ridden that we didn't get a chance to see old age in a rat.

My favorite picture of Skittles.

My girls Skittles, Bindi and Isis are about 19 months old now. I know that isn't old but they are on their way. I have no idea what to expect other than what I have read through everyone else s post. Which is mostly the bad things that come with age.

I have noticed they don't get into as much, the come out get into stuff and decide it is nap time Skittles has became the one who loves to be pet and rubbed on, the other two still prefer to run around and do their thing. Isis finally will come to you but it is only to me when I call her, she has not warmed up with anyone else.

I am just looking to learn what aging is like in a rat, body changes? mood changes? appearance? anything you find common with aging rats that I might not be aware of.

 

[eagle]

Lack of mobility, wanting to sleep more and thinning fur can be expected.

 

[Dahlas]

Some age very gracefully.....they just get slower, sleep more, and are more cuddly....they seem to now have time to sit and get lots of cuddles. Not all have major health problems....a lot of my oldies just got...old. Slowed down, couldn't jump or climb like they used to...

 

[temblabamomo]

Like Dahlas said, not all aging rats end up with major health problems. My oldies just sleep sleep sleep.

 

[jorats]

I think that's my first indication is all the sleeping they do and cuddling.
Like eagle mentioned definitely thinning fur, slower. Mine eat less as well but this is usually around 24 to 30 months of age.

 

[Maple]

The first thing I notice is the rough coat, the second thing is the the large amount of sleeping. After that the list is endless for some and just "ends" for others. I have found rats from the same litters have aged in totally different ways.

 

[hopefloats]

I know they can gain weight but can they lose weight too?

I can see the laziness they don't seem to do as much destruction as they used to. I can tell that has slowed down. They still look really good considering all that has transpired here recently....

 

[Dazzle87]

Yes some rats lose weight with age.

 

[hopefloats]

Yes some rats lose weight with age.

I have been watching Isis like a hawk she lost a little weight but nothing huge since her spay. I cannot find anything else wrong with her. I am not sure if she is starting to age a bit or if she is sick. The whole aging process doesn't seem to make checking them any easier. the biggest thing I watched for is sleeping to much LOL but if they do that when they are older does it get harder to tell if they are sick?


Funny I have this many and know nothing about aging! Glad I have this forum to come to, we didnt with luna and I was a wreck trying to weed out good information and bad.

 

[mamarat]

Some of my rats have lost weight after a spay or an operation but usually gain it back.