Rat Health
We need to talk about - rat health. Not an easy subject for some but I would like to highlight some health issues that I believe owners should be aware of. In my years of keeping I've come across a number of health issues, most are treatable or managed but unfortunately a few are not.
You don't need to see a specific exotics vet when keeping rats however, you may find some vets don't see them very often and will not be very knowledgeable in the best treatment methods. Please don't be afraid to advocate for your rat and travel a little further to a vet that is comfortable seeing rats or allow your vet to work with you to build their own understanding of a pet they may not see very often. I always ask the receptionists when trying to find another vet, if the practice sees many rats and if so, what do they usually treat them for. I also ask if they will prescribe meds other than just baytril (enrocare) for some medical issues. Some vets knowledge means that they are not willing to provide medication combos that will be truly effective so I always ask this at a new practice before committing to book an appointment.
Disclaimer: I am not a vet and this page is not a substitute for a vet consult or an official diagnosis. These are only my experiences and learnings from my rats. If you suspect your rat may have an issue which requires treatment, please book an appointment with your vet to get a diagnosis and suitable medication.
My experiences cover the following:
We need to talk about - rat health. Not an easy subject for some but I would like to highlight some health issues that I believe owners should be aware of. In my years of keeping I've come across a number of health issues, most are treatable or managed but unfortunately a few are not.
You don't need to see a specific exotics vet when keeping rats however, you may find some vets don't see them very often and will not be very knowledgeable in the best treatment methods. Please don't be afraid to advocate for your rat and travel a little further to a vet that is comfortable seeing rats or allow your vet to work with you to build their own understanding of a pet they may not see very often. I always ask the receptionists when trying to find another vet, if the practice sees many rats and if so, what do they usually treat them for. I also ask if they will prescribe meds other than just baytril (enrocare) for some medical issues. Some vets knowledge means that they are not willing to provide medication combos that will be truly effective so I always ask this at a new practice before committing to book an appointment.
Disclaimer: I am not a vet and this page is not a substitute for a vet consult or an official diagnosis. These are only my experiences and learnings from my rats. If you suspect your rat may have an issue which requires treatment, please book an appointment with your vet to get a diagnosis and suitable medication.
My experiences cover the following:
- Hormonal Aggression
- Parasites
- Respiratory Issues
- Abscesses
- Tumours
- Heart issues
- Limb issues, specifically hind legs
- Seizures