Hi all,
Short version: We had a pair of brothers, 23 months old. First rats for us. Amazing little fellas. Little Felix developed a big tumour and we had to put him down last week. His brother Oscar stopped eating Oxbow at about that time and I'm wondering what might be wrong and what I should do.
Longer version:
We had to put our little Felix down last week, one of our pair of 23 month old brothers. They've been on Oxbow Essentials adult food since they were a couple of months old, with fresh veg every day. Early last week, Felix stopped eating his Oxbow, and that was part of what alerted us that something might be wrong. The vet said that he had a big tumour and there wasn't much that could be done. He seemed to be in pretty good shape for a few more days, and we fed him whatever he would eat until his time came. Oscar possibly took advantage of this situation and partook in the treat foods, but I did notice a little earlier that he hadn't been eating as much Oxbow. Oscar has completely stopped eating Oxbow since his brother passed. He seems to be in a reasonable mood, and eats his veg and some harder stuff (e.g. dog kibble), but won't touch the Oxbow. From searches, I'm aware that rats can get used to the treat foods and turn their nose up at the lab block, but I don't think that's it. I tried leaving the Oxbow out of the cage for a day or so, and reduced the treat foods (veg) for a bit, but he simply won't touch it. Part of me wants to say "that's fine, little fella, eat whatever", but I want him to be healthy. I don't know whether it's a function of him getting older, or whether he's just a smart little fella who decided to play it safe when he saw his brother stopped eating it. Does that happen? Any suggestions? Just try another lab block? If he seems okay, is it still a good idea to have a vet check him out?
Thanks for any suggestions!
Short version: We had a pair of brothers, 23 months old. First rats for us. Amazing little fellas. Little Felix developed a big tumour and we had to put him down last week. His brother Oscar stopped eating Oxbow at about that time and I'm wondering what might be wrong and what I should do.
Longer version:
We had to put our little Felix down last week, one of our pair of 23 month old brothers. They've been on Oxbow Essentials adult food since they were a couple of months old, with fresh veg every day. Early last week, Felix stopped eating his Oxbow, and that was part of what alerted us that something might be wrong. The vet said that he had a big tumour and there wasn't much that could be done. He seemed to be in pretty good shape for a few more days, and we fed him whatever he would eat until his time came. Oscar possibly took advantage of this situation and partook in the treat foods, but I did notice a little earlier that he hadn't been eating as much Oxbow. Oscar has completely stopped eating Oxbow since his brother passed. He seems to be in a reasonable mood, and eats his veg and some harder stuff (e.g. dog kibble), but won't touch the Oxbow. From searches, I'm aware that rats can get used to the treat foods and turn their nose up at the lab block, but I don't think that's it. I tried leaving the Oxbow out of the cage for a day or so, and reduced the treat foods (veg) for a bit, but he simply won't touch it. Part of me wants to say "that's fine, little fella, eat whatever", but I want him to be healthy. I don't know whether it's a function of him getting older, or whether he's just a smart little fella who decided to play it safe when he saw his brother stopped eating it. Does that happen? Any suggestions? Just try another lab block? If he seems okay, is it still a good idea to have a vet check him out?
Thanks for any suggestions!