HELP? I cant figure out whats wrong

Hi im a new member but I joined because i need some advice. My rat Quasimodo functions normally for the most part but seems to be very off balanced. He wobbles when he eats, he often falls, he isnt nearly as able to run and jump as my other two boys. Hes only 6 months old and doesnt seem to have any abnormal growths, i cant pinpoint exactly when all of this started because it comes and goes. The only thing that it could possible be from would be a time when my fiance and i were in our basement and we heard one of the rats squeal so we ran upstairs and we think our dog may have gotten his tail or maybe a back leg (we learned quickly but not quick enough to NEVER let our dog even in the same room as our rats) This was months ago and when it happened we checked him out he didnt have anything broken just a little scared. We were skeptical if our dog even got him because he was perfectly fine and these symptoms didnt start to occur until probably a month after this happened. At one point we contacted our breeder and asked if she had seen anything like this with any of his siblings and she said that it looked like his back was broken!! We set up a vet appointment and were prepared to put this sweet ratty down... we thought about it and did some research and he still runs around and plays, he cleans himself, eats, he seems great most of the time its almost like towards the end of a long day of running around and playing he gets stiff and more clumsy. His lower back is almost flat and more towards his neck/shoulder area he has a more pronounced hump (Hints the name) He has complete control of his front legs he grabs treats and eats out of both hands. I check him every so often and his ears arent stinky, his nose isnt bloddy. Ive researched back leg deterioration and he doesnt drag has hind legs or anything...Ive looked into rats having strokes and like i said it comes and goes so im not set on that being the problem especially with him being so young still... im just lost. We cannot afford to take him to the vet. I feel like a horrible furmommy. Does anyone have any idea? I have made our cage more older rat friendly just because its hard for him to get around occasionally... I CANT FIGURE IT OUT
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_SRhapqRRo[/ame]
Heres a video from a 2 months ago showing how he walks.

It looks to me like he's trying to navigate walking on those bars, for one thing. Please put something over the bars; bare bars are a fast route to bumblefoot (ulcerative poditis). A cloth covering, at very least, would help. If you can get or make hard plastic floor coverings like the ones available for the Critter Nation and then put cloth over those, that would be ideal. He's a little guy with tiny feet and may be worrying about getting them stuck between the bars.

If you can't afford to go to the vet, please ask them about PetCard. It's sort of like a credit card for the vet, which would allow you to pay off the visit at a rate more affordable to you. If she doesn't do that, maybe see if she'll let you pay in installments. Many vets are happy to work something out.

Definitely cover those bars asap! That looks quite scary. I have plastic in my DCN and cover the plastic with fleece liners. This guy is well on his way to getting bumblefoot with those bars. Hope he feels better soon.

Do you have a video of him on a flat surface?

This could be bladder infection. I've seen males flatten themselves and are in a lot of pain with a bladder infection. It could also be something with his spine. His back seems very off. Hopefully your vet can help.

Please take him in to see a good vet experienced in treating rats or a good vet willing to research and learn about rats and treating them.

As others have said, bars (and wire) floors must be covered. I would suggest that you cover the bars with chloroplast (corrugated plastic) or thick linoleum cut to fit - both should be available at a hardware store.
Then you can cover the solid floor with fleece, paper, etc

good luck and please let us know how it goes and how he is doing

SqueakingJellybean said:

It looks to me like he's trying to navigate walking on those bars, for one thing. Please put something over the bars; bare bars are a fast route to bumblefoot (ulcerative poditis). A cloth covering, at very least, would help. If you can get or make hard plastic floor coverings like the ones available for the Critter Nation and then put cloth over those, that would be ideal. He's a little guy with tiny feet and may be worrying about getting them stuck between the bars.

If you can't afford to go to the vet, please ask them about PetCard. It's sort of like a credit card for the vet, which would allow you to pay off the visit at a rate more affordable to you. If she doesn't do that, maybe see if she'll let you pay in installments. Many vets are happy to work something out.

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They have lots of resting spots all over the cage, i handmake all of their pillows , rugs, hammocks it just so happen that where i recorded was where i usually put their plate of food so it stays uncovered. I looked at pictures of Bumblefeet and he doesnt have anything like that. Its like he is having trouble with his back left foot...

jorats said:

This could be bladder infection. I've seen males flatten themselves and are in a lot of pain with a bladder infection. It could also be something with his spine. His back seems very off. Hopefully your vet can help.

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A bladder infection would make sense! When i first started them on fresh foods i gave them some spinach and then I later found an article that said that spinach could give them a bladder infection. Today i was washing their laundry and one of their pillows was orange, at first i thought well they must have all been peeing on this pillow but if he has a bladder infection that would make sense! Im going to see if i can find any natural remedies or if cranberry supplements will work. Thank You!

If it's at the point that he has altered the way he walks he is in pain and beyond natural remedies... He needs antibiotics.

Vicki said:

If it's at the point that he has altered the way he walks he is in pain and beyond natural remedies... He needs antibiotics.

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Thank you Vicki. I have contacted a lady who goes by "The Rat Lady". She is thinking that Quasimodo has meningitis and suggested to give him amoxicillin. I hope this is the answer. The natural remedy is just in case that he does have a bladder infection.

How's he doing this week?