Quote Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny View Post
I really don't know what to say. I give my rats clean water, food, a clean enclosure, and on occasion, handling. I try and QT new rats. There have been no new rats added to the colony recently. The sick male was the most recent. He got sick so I moved him to his own enclosure. Solja seemed fine. I'm not a vet. I put him in with his father and the two of them have been fine together for the past month. Monk's rapid decline has been very recent, within the past week.

I'm not going to sit here and defend my husbandry tonight. What I need is advice on how to make him comfortable until I can get him to a vet tomorrow. The emergency vet couldn't help us even if they wanted to. The vet they have tonight does not work with small animals. The closest emergency vet is in northern, Va. (2 hours away). I just want him to be ok.
Rats are just like all other prey species. They hide all illness until it is just about too late and progressed very far.

If they've been together for a month, then it makes sense that you begin to see the outward signs of illness now.

Just... stop bringing in rats. You cant afford it in lost production or vet bills.

Keep him warm, well ventilated away from drafts. Give him soft food, and away from all the other rats.