Hi everyone,
I am worried about my rat Martin. He has had a rough week. Last Sunday, I noticed that he had an infection due to bumblefoot (Did not notice the bumblefoot until I noticed the swelling/infection). I got him into the vet as soon as possible (Tuesday afternoon). While waiting to go to the vet, I noticed he was having a hard time eating. I figured this was due to him not being able to balance well, since he couldn't use his foot at all (by Monday, his foot was super swollen). But he would kind of vibrate his front paws when attempting to eat, and also seemed to have a hard time chewing. I soaked his hard food in water, and he ate it that way.
The vet put him on Baytril for the infection, and by the next day the swelling went down. However, on Thursday, I noticed he had a huge lump under his chin (If this was there earlier, it must have been very small, as neither the vet or I noticed it). I took him to the vet, she had to lance it (it was an abscess).
He is still acting weird, though. He isn't eating his regular food (Oxbow Essentials Regal Rat Food--he has been eating this for over a year), and still seems to have a bit of a difficult time chewing. I gave him a piece of a cracker today, and he was able to hold it and eat it, but seems to eat a lot slower than usual. He has also lost a lot of weird. And, unlike at the beginning of the week, he won't eat his hard food if I soak it in water.
He is also making a weird bruxing sound thst he has never made before. Rather than the noise he used to make while bruxing, it sounds like sharp clicking noises (if that makes any sense). He also starts making this noise after he eats. When I was at the vet, she clipped his teeth. I do not know if this would have anything to do with it.
This evening while I was letting him and his friend out to play, I let eat the end of my smoothie (Spinich, banana, apple, water). He enjoyed licking the remains of it, but then starting making the strange bruxing noise again. He then became very agitated, started rubbing his face, and tried to hide under a towel. If touched him at all he would shriek and try to run away (this is not normal). He is also still walking funny, but I am assuming that this is because of the remains of the bumblefoot.
What should I be feeding him if he wont eat his food? He is more likely to eat soft food right now. I have a good blender, so can mix him up something to eat through that. Also, how many times should I feed him the soft food (if I leave it in the cage, my other rat will eat it)? I guess I should also add thst his foot is no longer swollen, the bottom is just still sore.
I am worried about my rat Martin. He has had a rough week. Last Sunday, I noticed that he had an infection due to bumblefoot (Did not notice the bumblefoot until I noticed the swelling/infection). I got him into the vet as soon as possible (Tuesday afternoon). While waiting to go to the vet, I noticed he was having a hard time eating. I figured this was due to him not being able to balance well, since he couldn't use his foot at all (by Monday, his foot was super swollen). But he would kind of vibrate his front paws when attempting to eat, and also seemed to have a hard time chewing. I soaked his hard food in water, and he ate it that way.
The vet put him on Baytril for the infection, and by the next day the swelling went down. However, on Thursday, I noticed he had a huge lump under his chin (If this was there earlier, it must have been very small, as neither the vet or I noticed it). I took him to the vet, she had to lance it (it was an abscess).
He is still acting weird, though. He isn't eating his regular food (Oxbow Essentials Regal Rat Food--he has been eating this for over a year), and still seems to have a bit of a difficult time chewing. I gave him a piece of a cracker today, and he was able to hold it and eat it, but seems to eat a lot slower than usual. He has also lost a lot of weird. And, unlike at the beginning of the week, he won't eat his hard food if I soak it in water.
He is also making a weird bruxing sound thst he has never made before. Rather than the noise he used to make while bruxing, it sounds like sharp clicking noises (if that makes any sense). He also starts making this noise after he eats. When I was at the vet, she clipped his teeth. I do not know if this would have anything to do with it.
This evening while I was letting him and his friend out to play, I let eat the end of my smoothie (Spinich, banana, apple, water). He enjoyed licking the remains of it, but then starting making the strange bruxing noise again. He then became very agitated, started rubbing his face, and tried to hide under a towel. If touched him at all he would shriek and try to run away (this is not normal). He is also still walking funny, but I am assuming that this is because of the remains of the bumblefoot.
What should I be feeding him if he wont eat his food? He is more likely to eat soft food right now. I have a good blender, so can mix him up something to eat through that. Also, how many times should I feed him the soft food (if I leave it in the cage, my other rat will eat it)? I guess I should also add thst his foot is no longer swollen, the bottom is just still sore.
Last edited: