I don't know about the rotting...but my BP went off feed after eating too big of a rat. That was 4 months ago and he is still off feed. I think he may of hurt his mouth or jaw in the process because for about a week after eating the rat he would open his mouth really wide every couple minutes...almost like he was trying to reset his jaw. I had a vet appointment scheduled for him, but by the time it came to take him he wasn't doing it anymore.