rat - holding head sideways

I have 1 rat, she keeps holding her head sideways, and it is only her head not her whole body. I am trying to figure out whats up with her. I put her in her own tub alone for now. Anyone else seen this before?

Got pics or better yet a video?

I can take a video but its going to take like 2 days to upload it with my internet lol. Will a picture suffice?

Pics would be great

has she had any traumatic injuries...a fall or something??

How Old is she??

What kind of enclosure is she in (include bedding, furniture, enrichment items)

Has she been on any medications lately? (I figure you probably just euthanize sick animals in your colony, but wanted to check anyway)

Any previous history of other animals in your colony having weird behaviors: running in circles, wobbly gait, etc??

Sounds like an ear infection or inner ear injury. Animals have difficulty with balance and often hold their heads sideways.

I've had 2 rats do this to me ever. One was fighting with another and had blood pooling out of its ears. I thought she would've pulled through, buy she ended up passing away. And the other, I culled because it was a neurological issue.

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Is the head tilted like this? (Not my photo - found on Google).
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps20b7868c.jpg

If that's the case, it's more than likely an ear infection.

No other rats have been doing this at all, only her. I have her in a rack system in a tub using pine bedding changed every 4-5 days and no, shes not medicated. I would really like to keep her because a friend gave her to me for breeding purposes. I am starting to think its an ear infection. Also, maybe the male was trying to mount her and she didn't like it this time so he he bit her?? No blood though, although he had a little bite on him that I put some antibiotic ointment on. She was already full size when I got her, so not exactly sure of age, I will ask my friend when she got her!!

Same things I was "leaning" (get it...head tilt...its leaning...never mind) towards. I've seen rats end up like this because of a fall from inside their enclosure (usually its a multi-level enclosure though) or because of an inner ear problem. I had a mouse that would run in circles all day every day, only stoping to eat, drink, poop, and mate. It could not track a straight line, only circles due to inner ear issues.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Konotashi

Is the head tilted like this? (Not my photo - found on Google).
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps20b7868c.jpg

If that's the case, it's more than likely an ear infection.

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Exactly like that!!! Just the opposite direction lol

Yup. Definitely ear infection or inner ear injury then.

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