Rat Problem

Any ideas why shes like this.

just yesterday or thursday she was running and playing normal with her sister in the tub.

Shes new blood in my colony and only 2-3months old

YouTube - Rat possible injury/ear infection

I hope you quarantined her from your breeding group. It could be any number of things. It almost looks like a seizure, but it could be an inner ear infection. It looks pretty severe regardless.

http://ratguide.com/health/auricle_e...yrinthitis.php

Has she shown any signs of a Respiratory Infection? Is that her litter of pups? Is she currently pregnant? If she is pregnant/had pups recently, it could be a complication.

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Originally Posted by Michelle.C

I hope you quarantined her from your breeding group. It could be any number of things. It almost looks like a seizure, but it could be an inner ear infection. It looks pretty severe regardless.

http://ratguide.com/health/auricle_e...yrinthitis.php

Has she shown any signs of a Respiratory Infection? Is that her litter of pups? Is she currently pregnant? If she is pregnant/had pups recently, it could be a complication.

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Yes she was away form them all, ive had her since she was weaned at 30grams or so. Shes now around 150-200grams. So ive had her about closer to 2 months now.

Im thinking of letting her ride this tonight and see how she is in morning. If shes still like this ill have to put her in CO2 chamber.

EDIT: Reading that link says antibiotics would help with her head tilting and walking issues. Is it worth buying it for a no breeding female. When shes picked up shes lifeless kinda.

Watching her some more she she walks on her front right foot its bent and she pushes /walks like that. I think its a seizure more than ear infection.

Do they recover from this or will she be helpless like this and needing to be gassed.

Might be a stroke. I have had a number of rats have this problem, over the years. They can live quite some time afterward, but if she's very debilitated, she probably won't.
I had a female give birth and successfully raise a litter to weaning with a stroke/head tilt.
Her condition was quite severe the first couple of says, but she slowly improved, and was finally functional, able to eat and drink reasonably well--but she never lost the head-tilt.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Might be a stroke. I have had a number of rats have this problem, over the years. They can live quite some time afterward, but if she's very debilitated, she probably won't.
I had a female give birth and successfully raise a litter to weaning with a stroke/head tilt.
Her condition was quite severe the first couple of says, but she slowly improved, and was finally functional, able to eat and drink reasonably well--but she never lost the head-tilt.

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Well im going to give her the benefit of the doubt. Im hoping she can raise her head enough to drink on her own. Shes eating the food i put down for her. Shes all alone in her own clean tub and i gave her some water encase she cant lift her head well.

Im more attached to breeders than feeders, due to watching them raise up from babies and such.

I have also had a couple with the head tilt they spin when picked up by the tail also. They don't seem to be contagious though I have had two of them do it over the past several years and it never affected any of their cage mates but their production went down so I culled them.

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Originally Posted by jason79

I have also had a couple with the head tilt they spin when picked up by the tail also. They don't seem to be contagious though I have had two of them do it over the past several years and it never affected any of their cage mates but their production went down so I culled them.

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This is my first rat to do it like this. And shes not even of size to be bred yet. Shes a hold back from new blood source. With her gone itll be a set back on the new blood.

If this is a inner ear problem caused from URI then i wont risk anything, so thats why shes alone in her own setup with her own food and bottles.

I had that happen to one of my males, The vet said it was a nurological disorder they are prone to get. nothing you can do about it and nothing to prevent it. Best put her in the co2 and get it over with.

I would have said stroke, but I don't see labored breathing, etc. Strokes in rats are almost always associated with labored breathing and lethargy (days before they lose motor function). I just lost a very special rat to a stroke and he was only 4 months, so it could be a stroke. I'm leaning more toward neurological or inner ear infection though.

Is it possible her head was crushed or she had some other form of blunt trauma? I know some rat racks are difficult to close and accidental injuries can be caused without knowledge from the keepers.

On a personal note, if you notice she is suffering and still has the same symptoms tomorrow, I would euthanize her.

Anyway, good luck.

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Originally Posted by Michelle.C

I would have said stroke, but I don't see labored breathing, etc. Strokes in rats are almost always associated with labored breathing and lethargy (days before they lose motor function). I just lost a very special rat to a stroke and he was only 4 months, so it could be a stroke. I'm leaning more toward neurological or inner ear infection though.

Is it possible her head was crushed or she had some other form of blunt trauma? I know some rat racks are difficult to close and accidental injuries can be caused without knowledge from the keepers.

On a personal note, if you notice she is suffering and still has the same symptoms tomorrow, I would euthanize her.

Anyway, good luck.

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Ive held her and shes breathing normally and is trying to sit up right. But she just cant do it and she is eating when she wants. I know i didnt cause the trama if there is some as i use my hand to push thier heads back in when they try to come back out.

Though like i said her and her sister were rough housing a day or so ago and she was fine. I think she got roughed too much but wont ever know really why.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Ive held her and shes breathing normally and is trying to sit up right. But she just cant do it and she is eating when she wants. I know i didnt cause the trama if there is some as i use my hand to push thier heads back in when they try to come back out.

Though like i said her and her sister were rough housing a day or so ago and she was fine. I think she got roughed too much but wont ever know really why.

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Very highly unlikely that her sister caused the trauma without there being any noticeable marks.

It's a sad fact, but rats don't live long. Something or another takes them out. Unless you take her to the vet or she's healthy tomorrow, I doubt you'll ever know.

It makes me sad that she is potentially suffering though. Just make her as comfortable as possible and keep her warm. If she did have a stroke, she'll need the external heat. As long as she's not in obvious distress and you care about her, I'd give her a bit to see if she comes around. If you are just hoping she pulls through for a new bloodline, I'd euthanize her.

I'm sorry I can't help more. :(

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Originally Posted by Michelle.C

Very highly unlikely that her sister caused the trauma without there being any noticeable marks.

It's a sad fact, but rats don't live long. Something or another takes them out. Unless you take her to the vet or she's healthy tomorrow, I doubt you'll ever know.

It makes me sad that she is potentially suffering though. Just make her as comfortable as possible and keep her warm. If she did have a stroke, she'll need the external heat. As long as she's not in obvious distress and you care about her, I'd give her a bit to see if she comes around. If you are just hoping she pulls through for a new bloodline, I'd euthanize her.

I'm sorry I can't help more. :(

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Its more than keeping her around to breed, i grow attached to all breeders as they are hand selected by me to be held back. Some of my breeders are 2 years old, males mostly and are healthy as can be.

If she pulls through it she will become a pet more than anything.

Heres some pictures of her just now as she is sitting up more and better, and you can see the front foot.

Shes kept in snake room at 81F right now.

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/100_3310.jpg
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/100_3309.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Its more than keeping her around to breed, i grow attached to all breeders as they are hand selected by me to be held back. Some of my breeders are 2 years old, males mostly and are healthy as can be.

If she pulls through it she will become a pet more than anything.

Heres some pictures of her just now as she is sitting up more and better, and you can see the front foot.

Shes kept in snake room at 81F right now.

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/100_3310.jpg
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/100_3309.jpg

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She's a beautiful little girl. With her losing motor functions, it does look like a stroke. Does she have more difficulty using one side more than the other? I know she was flopping around, but does she switch sides or is it constantly one side that is limp?

If it is a stroke, she will never make a good breeder. She will probably not make it through it this time and they almost always stroke out again, and breeding only increases these odds. If she lives, I suggest making her into a cage mate for other pregnant females, etc. Breeding her would likely cause her demise.

Honestly, imo, no matter what, she is not good breeding stock and I would possibly consider the new bloodline one you don't want to incorporate into your lines. Unless you know the bloodlines and this is a new health concern.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Michelle.C

She's a beautiful little girl. With her losing motor functions, it does look like a stroke. Does she have more difficulty using one side more than the other? I know she was flopping around, but does she switch sides or is it constantly one side that is limp?

If it is a stroke, she will never make a good breeder. She will probably not make it through it this time and they almost always stroke out again, and breeding only increases these odds. If she lives, I suggest making her into a cage mate for other pregnant females, etc. Breeding her would likely cause her demise.

Honestly, imo, no matter what, she is not good breeding stock and I would possibly consider the new bloodline one you don't want to incorporate into your lines. Unless you know the bloodlines and this is a new health concern.

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She always when trying to walk will fall on her right side and try to get back up. When she does she sits up like the pictures. And i will never breed her as i dont need what ever happened passed down. I am heavily leaning towards stroke due to no signs of Mycro flares as she never sneezes but the occasional one. Eyes and nose are clean. If shes just as bad tomorrow with not major improvement she will be put down and fed off.

Just an update, She got worse over night, still ate the soft foods i gave but wouldnt move and was completely limp when held.

Shes now resting in peace.

I remove any defective females from my colony right away. I don't need anything possibly tainting the pool.