My mom found this pair online. They had been abandoned for some stretch of time, in their cage. The cat shelter that was holding them was planning on putting them down, so my mom passed it along to me, and I got working.
Big cage is set up, dust free bedding, two water bottles, the good brand of food, all that jazz. I binged rat care videos and articles for a few days straight.
Then today, I drove 380 miles and back to pick them up. When I saw them, something inside me turned over. Now, in between bouts of crying, I'm trying to do the best I can for them. August 10th was the earliest vet appointment I could get, so they just have to hold out until then.
- PATCHES -
So named for his spotty, almost nonexistent coat. Could either be ringworm or mange, I guess? I'm going to try petting him down with an aloe rub (non oil-based), to try to help with the itching... until the vet can prescribe exactly what's needed.
Rail thin, emaciated. I've gotten him to eat a few bites of apple, and he's bruxing/boggling when I pet him, so that's a good sign. He's sneezing a lot though. He was being kept on wood shavings for however long before I got him. Respiratory problems are likely. He has trouble walking, but he has still done a bit of shaky climbing around the cage.
He's also showing some aggression toward his cage mate, which I am monitoring.
- LOPSIDE -
So named because he cannot seem to walk without dragging his whole left side across the ground. Some kind of pervasive neurological issue, no doubt exacerbated by the undernourishment.
He isn't as obviously underfed as Patches, but I can't interest him in any food, nor water. He seems to stiffen up and tremble, perhaps like a seizure. He doesn't respond much to being touched. He stops crawling around when I pet him, but definitely resists being held.
His primary interest has been in resting. It reminds me of some of mom's pets in the past, right before they died. It wouldn't be a shock to me if Lopside is dead by morning.
Barring that, I'm planning on making a chia seed pudding w/ a dilution of apple juice. Maybe the protein and omega-3 fatty acids can alleviate some of his neurological damage. I can only hope.
I'll also go find a fluid dropper tomorrow and try to get him to drink a little water.
I'm not totally sure, but I think Patches was beating up on Lopside in the ground floor hideout. I heard some ugly noises. I know you're generally supposed to let them sort it out, but it didn't seem appropriate this time.
I have Lopside tucked in under some fleece in the hammock, which is obviously not a sustainable solution for a rat who can barely walk, much less navigate the ramps and platforms to return to the food & water. I'll move him to a safer arrangement before I go to bed tonight.
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I don't really know what kind of advice I'm looking for. I just need to put this out there. I'll keep this thread updated as I learn more and the situation progresses.
Big cage is set up, dust free bedding, two water bottles, the good brand of food, all that jazz. I binged rat care videos and articles for a few days straight.
Then today, I drove 380 miles and back to pick them up. When I saw them, something inside me turned over. Now, in between bouts of crying, I'm trying to do the best I can for them. August 10th was the earliest vet appointment I could get, so they just have to hold out until then.
- PATCHES -
So named for his spotty, almost nonexistent coat. Could either be ringworm or mange, I guess? I'm going to try petting him down with an aloe rub (non oil-based), to try to help with the itching... until the vet can prescribe exactly what's needed.
Rail thin, emaciated. I've gotten him to eat a few bites of apple, and he's bruxing/boggling when I pet him, so that's a good sign. He's sneezing a lot though. He was being kept on wood shavings for however long before I got him. Respiratory problems are likely. He has trouble walking, but he has still done a bit of shaky climbing around the cage.
He's also showing some aggression toward his cage mate, which I am monitoring.
- LOPSIDE -
So named because he cannot seem to walk without dragging his whole left side across the ground. Some kind of pervasive neurological issue, no doubt exacerbated by the undernourishment.
He isn't as obviously underfed as Patches, but I can't interest him in any food, nor water. He seems to stiffen up and tremble, perhaps like a seizure. He doesn't respond much to being touched. He stops crawling around when I pet him, but definitely resists being held.
His primary interest has been in resting. It reminds me of some of mom's pets in the past, right before they died. It wouldn't be a shock to me if Lopside is dead by morning.
Barring that, I'm planning on making a chia seed pudding w/ a dilution of apple juice. Maybe the protein and omega-3 fatty acids can alleviate some of his neurological damage. I can only hope.
I'll also go find a fluid dropper tomorrow and try to get him to drink a little water.
I'm not totally sure, but I think Patches was beating up on Lopside in the ground floor hideout. I heard some ugly noises. I know you're generally supposed to let them sort it out, but it didn't seem appropriate this time.
I have Lopside tucked in under some fleece in the hammock, which is obviously not a sustainable solution for a rat who can barely walk, much less navigate the ramps and platforms to return to the food & water. I'll move him to a safer arrangement before I go to bed tonight.
-
I don't really know what kind of advice I'm looking for. I just need to put this out there. I'll keep this thread updated as I learn more and the situation progresses.