Charlize
Member
My old lady rat (2.75 years) has lost 20% of her body weight since the beginning of July. Vet was concerned about her weight loss, so I started to monitor whether she's actually eating her lab blocks. It seems like she has a nibble here and there, and if it's softened with water, she is not interested in it. She still eats her meds out of avocado oil/peanut butter or sweet potato.
He said that it's possible that there's a "body wasting" happening (can't remember the official word he used). He was also concerned about PT given that she drops food out of her hands sometimes. She's got HLD, so I assumed that some of her food dropping was because she can't properly sit back on her legs like she used to. She usually has to have one paw on the floor to kind of hold her balance. She also can't fish for peas anymore as she doesn't seem to have the same ability to reach her arm out and grab them.
Based on some of my forum finds, it seems like people try to supplement their rats with ensure mixed with something or nutrical. I've thought about trying to find Harlan Tekland instead of Oxbow, perhaps that would peak her interest. Any other suggestions on how to get nutrients and calories into her?
I think I'm going to call next week to see whether she's got some PT symptoms going on.
He said that it's possible that there's a "body wasting" happening (can't remember the official word he used). He was also concerned about PT given that she drops food out of her hands sometimes. She's got HLD, so I assumed that some of her food dropping was because she can't properly sit back on her legs like she used to. She usually has to have one paw on the floor to kind of hold her balance. She also can't fish for peas anymore as she doesn't seem to have the same ability to reach her arm out and grab them.
Based on some of my forum finds, it seems like people try to supplement their rats with ensure mixed with something or nutrical. I've thought about trying to find Harlan Tekland instead of Oxbow, perhaps that would peak her interest. Any other suggestions on how to get nutrients and calories into her?
I think I'm going to call next week to see whether she's got some PT symptoms going on.