LA
Well-Known Member
I wanted to share something with you.
When we got Olivia and Pearl, Olivia was over the top outgoing. Then as she got settled into the cage and the dynamics got sorted out she calmed down a lot. Then she became very recluse in my opinion. Then she would push around Hazel and lose and get extremely huffy. You couldn't pick her up and cuddle her, she would squiggle out and sulk. Ruby who is alpha has selected her sister Hazel as second and that was that. I noticed when outtime would come she wouldn't come out, she would sit in the cage and just look. She would curl up with her tail around her and just lie there. I knew something was wrong but I didn't know what. I couldn't figure it out. She would pester Hazel, Hazel would go into the tube and Olivia would bug her until she got out. Last night Wayne and I came to a realization. We noticed that it got a lot worse when Hazel was put on meds. So twice a night she was getting a treat - Olivia who is always trying to match up to Hazel wasn't getting any. So last night we decided to put a little ensure in the syringe for Olivia - no meds just ensure. Well I never saw such a look of complete joy on a rat face before. She sat in Waynes hands and just licked it all up. So although ensure may put a little weight on her, happiness is key. I will keep you up to date on how it goes. I'm hoping this helps her sadness.
When we got Olivia and Pearl, Olivia was over the top outgoing. Then as she got settled into the cage and the dynamics got sorted out she calmed down a lot. Then she became very recluse in my opinion. Then she would push around Hazel and lose and get extremely huffy. You couldn't pick her up and cuddle her, she would squiggle out and sulk. Ruby who is alpha has selected her sister Hazel as second and that was that. I noticed when outtime would come she wouldn't come out, she would sit in the cage and just look. She would curl up with her tail around her and just lie there. I knew something was wrong but I didn't know what. I couldn't figure it out. She would pester Hazel, Hazel would go into the tube and Olivia would bug her until she got out. Last night Wayne and I came to a realization. We noticed that it got a lot worse when Hazel was put on meds. So twice a night she was getting a treat - Olivia who is always trying to match up to Hazel wasn't getting any. So last night we decided to put a little ensure in the syringe for Olivia - no meds just ensure. Well I never saw such a look of complete joy on a rat face before. She sat in Waynes hands and just licked it all up. So although ensure may put a little weight on her, happiness is key. I will keep you up to date on how it goes. I'm hoping this helps her sadness.