Refusing treats

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DanielZielwolf

New Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2018
Messages
1
Location
Melbourne
Hi,

One of my guys, Ari, is refusing treats: delicious things like chocolate chips, mayonnaise, banana. As far as I can tell he is still eating his kibble somewhat because the bowl slowly empties (he has his own bowl, because he tends to hang out by himself).
He's always been quite sniffly and I've kept it under control with long term doxycycline dosing. (5mg twice a day keeps the symptoms away, if I stop or even reduce the dose they come rushing back within 24 hours. Without the doxy I doubt he'd still be around.) He weighs around 500g and is around 2 years old.
Otherwise he seems fine, still responsive, active and so on.
However a rat refusing treats is not something I have ever heard of before, unless they are sick.
He will see the vet tomorrow but in the meantime does anyone know of conditions that causes them to lose their appetite?
 
in my experience, illness or heat
Did you check his teeth and mouth to make sure everything is ok?

You might want to ask your vet about baytril (enrofloxacin) as the doxy does not sound like it is good enough by itself. Giving both doxy and baytril (enrofloxacin) is much more effective and some rats are maintained on a low dose of baytril (enrofloxacin) - http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_agents/enrofloxacin_baytril.php

Do you feed a good quality block and a variety of daily veg?
My rats think their vegs, and occasional organic pumpkin seeds, cooked real oatmeal with blue berries etc are treats.
Ripe banana is a good treat for rats …… but the other things you mentioned are not good to give rats
 
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I very, very rarely give them mayonnaise, it was just to test if he'd take it or not as they do love the stuff. I do give them dark chocolate baking chips (only real ingredients, no vegetable fats) because dark chocolate helps their breathing and no, after 8 months it hasn't made them fat although everyone warns me they will get obese if I keep doing it haha. (I also give them ice-cream into which I dissolve the doxycycline powder and that has led to some weight gain, but I'm willing to accept that if it keeps the myco away.) I figure if it's okay for us to consume, it's okay for them, in moderation of course! (And being aware of the exceptions like oranges and mandarines.) I'm sensible regarding their diet but I'm not obsessive about it, we all only live once after all.
Yes, I feed them the best quality dry food available in Australia which is Rodent Origins and which has been created by vets and nutritionists especially for rats & mice only. This is supplemented with corn cobs, peas, carrots and other vegetables and salmon or chicken a few times a week as well as almonds.
His teeth and mouth look fine.
I think it's probably just that the Doxy is losing its effectiveness unfortunately and I think I'll need to put him on a course of Baytril in addition.
 
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