REFERENCE Thread - Read Only

Forum Rules and a message from Jorats, the founder of this forum

https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/please-read.29217/

Recommended sites: Ratguide.com (a vet approved medical site for rat owners), & joinrats.com
Real Rat Lovers Want To Know is a facebook group where rat owners can ask for medical advice. Some people have found this group to be helpful.

If no one responds to important Questions / Sending Messages
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threa...t-questions-send-individuals-a-message.36331/
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Thinking of getting a rat? Things to consider
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/thinking-of-getting-a-rat-things-to-consider.32306/

Quarantine
http://ratguide.com/health/basics/quarantine.php

Breeding Rats
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/breeding-rats.4886/

Sexing????
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/sexing.8582/#post-125714​

Introducing new rats
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/introducing-new-rats.34842/#post-491257
www.joinrats.com

Rehoming a rat or accidental litter? Things to Consider.
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/rehoming-a-rat-or-accidental-litter-things-to-consider.22990/

Bedding to use in the cage
http://ratguide.com/care/environment/cage_bedding_litter.php
http://ratguide.com/health/integumentary_skin/ringtail.php
the use of pine and cedar http://www.ratfanclub.org/odynets.html and http://www.ratfanclub.org/litters.html

Play areas
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/playpen-ideas.32723/#post-474972
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/play-pen-recommendations.24491/#post-368974
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/ideas-for-a-contained-play-area.9742/#post-141348
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/pics-of-your-rat-play-room-free-rome-area.9626/

Enrichment
https://www.joinrats.com/Enrichment

Toys
http://www.dapper.com.au/toys.htm
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/toy-ideas.33174/
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/best-toys.35527/
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/homemade-rat-toy.27774/

Homemade bin carrier and temporary bin cage
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/homemade-bin-carrier-and-temporary-bin-cage.35893/

Fixed up rabbit cages
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/fixed-up-rabbit-cages.23588/#post-355655

Critter Nation cage pictures
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/critter-nation-pictures.29745/

Show Your Cage - pictures of various cages over the years
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/show-your-cage.1637/

Taking Rats Outdoors
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/taking-rats-outdoors.34675/
https://www.joinrats.com/Enrichment/Outdoors/
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Pregnant? http://ratguide.com/breeding/pregnancy/determining_pregnancy.php

Labour and Birth http://ratguide.com/breeding/birth/labor_and_birth.php

Labour Emergencies http://ratguide.com/breeding/birth/labor_emergencies.php

Lactation and Milk http://ratguide.com/breeding/postpartum/lactation_and_milk.php

Maternal Behaviours http://ratguide.com/breeding/postpartum/maternal_behaviors.php

Birth Trauma http://ratguide.com/breeding/birth_abnormalities/birth_trauma.php

Birth Abnormalities http://ratguide.com/breeding/birth_abnormalities/

Orphans: Aspiration pneumonia and important care information for orphans, including Rescue Formula 2018
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/infant-rat-uri-clicking.35697/#post-496055

AFRMA article on caring for orphans, 1998
http://www.afrma.org/orphanrm.htm

Rat & Mouse Gazette article on Caring for Orphaned Baby Rats or Mice, 1997
http://www.rmca.org/Articles/orphans.htm

Joinrats section on Raising Rat Orphans
https://www.joinrats.com/RatHealth/OOPS/Orphans/

Baby Development: Birth to 8 weeks
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/baby-development-birth-to-8-weeks.22236/

Baby Development: Birth to 4 weeks
http://ratguide.com/breeding/baby_development/

Wild Orphaned Baby Rat
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/wild-baby-rat-suggestions-wanted.23994/#post-361415

Rhydian-- wild baby rat growing up
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/rhydian-wild-baby-rat-growing-up-new-update-8-20-13.23622/

Orphaned wild rats and mice can not be released into the wild
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threa...-be-released-into-the-wild.35656/#post-495767

A few Baby threads:
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/mouse-the-rat-babies-continuing-the-rescue-story.30977/
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/theyre-here-mama-and-now-only-2-growing-babies.16879/
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/nancy-lila-and-their-26-babies.33571/

 

Diet​

https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/diet.3605

Food Do's and Dont's
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/food-dos-and-donts.22782/#post-343892
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Jorats' Suggestions regarding a Better Diet
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/jorats-what-i-will-do-re-diet-posted-on-october-6-2018.36055/

Nutrient Requirements of the Laboratory Rat
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK231925/

Protein and the China Study by Dr. Campbell :
the most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/the-china-study.36056/

Glyphosate in food = fatty liver disease in rats
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/glyphosate-in-food-fatty-liver-disease-in-rats.35934/

Nutrition Information:
https://cronometer.com/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK231925/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413114000655
http://ratfanclub.org/nutreq.html
http://nutritionfacts.org
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/dr-gregers-daily-dozen-checklist-2/?utm_content=bufferea45f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

 

Pet rats - why it's important to have two or more
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDy3bMRuobE
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/single-rats.36472/

Grieving Rats? Becoming a Single Rat?
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/grieving-rats-becoming-a-single-rat.16612/​

 

Clinical Signs/Symptoms Guide
http://ratguide.com/health/basics/clinical_signs_symptoms_guide.php

Rat Biology (etc)
http://ratbehavior.org/rats.html

Breathing Issues (a few possible causes)
* Mycoplasmosis http://ratguide.com/health/bacteria/mycoplasma_mycoplasmosis.php
* Pneumonia http://ratguide.com/health/lower_respiratory/pneumonia.php
* Cardiomyopathy http://ratguide.com/health/cardiovascular/cardiomyopathy.php
* Congestive Heart failure http://ratguide.com/health/cardiovascular/congestive_heart_failure.php​

Bumble Foot
http://ratguide.com/health/integumentary_skin/ulcerative_pododermatitis.php

First Aid Supplies for Rats
http://ratguide.com/health/basics/first_aid_supplies.php

Health Check:

Basic Health Check (weekly) http://ratguide.com/health/basics/basic_health_check.php
Advanced Health Check http://ratguide.com/health/basics/advanced_health_check.php

Care of Hairless Rats
http://ratguide.com/health/figures/congenital_hereditary_alopecia_figure_3.php

Kidney Problems and prevention
http://ratguide.com/health/urinary_renal/chronic_progressive_nephropathy.php

Dehydrated Rats
1. Oral Rehydration Formula
- Quote from Lilspaz68: "Homemade rehydrating formula: 10 oz warm water, 1 tsp sugar, 1/3 tsp salt. Mix well, refrigerate extra, warm up to feed."
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/please-read-my-toby-keeps-losing-weight.7499/#post-110368
2. Intravenous or subcutaneous (sub-Q) fluids
- Your vet can do this. Your vet can also teach you how to do it and sell you the necessary supplies (25 or 27 gauge butterfly needles, single use large syringes with detachable single use needles, & a bag of fluid) http://ratguide.com/meds/fluid_therapy/
3. How to give sub-Q fluids
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/subq-a-dehydrated-rat.5076/#post-76759

Things to discuss before Surgery
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/things-to-discuss-before-surgery.7691/

How to give medication
- by syringe https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/video-of-how-i-syringe-meds-into-my-rats.19819/

Why Spay or Neuter Rats?
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/why-spay-or-neuter-rats.35402/

What is an Olive Oil bath?
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/what-is-an-olive-oil-bath.35370/

What's ON my rat?
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/whats-on-my-rat.22409/

Signs of Pain in Rats
http://ratguide.com/health/basics/signs_of_pain_in_rats.php

Moulting - a change in the rat's coat
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/moulting.36097/

Vital Statistics for Rats (Physiologic Data, Environmental Requirements, Blood, etc)
http://ratguide.com/health/basics/v...14TaJTjPAuF9dueXAHkUzUDK0ioLm0jUTHpNmVoGfD__A​

 

A-Z List Of Poisonous (and Toxic) Plants To Rats
https://www.ratcentral.com/plants-poisonous-rats/

How to Save a poisoned animal
Remember, rats can not vomit
http://www.paws-peliongreece.com/how-to-save-a-poisoned-animal/

Ideas for how to help your ratties deal with the HEAT
1) https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/ideas-for-how-to-help-your-ratties-deal-with-the-heat.35548/
2) https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/quick-hot-rats.35817/#post-497995
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Euthanizing a pet rat-A Veterinarians advice on deciding if and when
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threa...narians-advice-on-deciding-if-and-when.35579/

Message from a vet re being present when your pet is put to sleep
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threa...-present-when-your-pet-is-put-to-sleep.36096/

Debbie D. - She had a lasting influence, particularly in the USA. While she did have some good info, other information was wrong, outdated, or abusive. The standards she promoted for rat care are far below the accepted standards of care promoted on this forum and among experienced rat owners. https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/urgent-calling-all-rat-lovers.33713/

 

Rat Rescue:

This is a Rat Rescue forum
- where the adoption of rats from shelters, rat rescues and rats being rehomed is supported and encouraged. Many of the members of this forum are or have been involved in rat rescue. We do not support purchasing rats from stores or from breeders or the breeding of rats.
- Breeding rats https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/breeding-rats.4886/
- Rat Mills https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/rat-mills.1749/
- Mill Seizure https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/warning-graphic-heartbreaking-content-mill-seizure.25190/​

Rescue Explained:
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/rescue-explained.36095/

Rescuing Rats found Outdoors?
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/rescuing-rats-found-outdoors.35954/

2008 Moncton Rat Train by the Rat Shack ...Never say Never...
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/2008-moncton-rat-train-never-say-never.22708/

Rat Shack members purchase CN and supplies for SPCA rats 2012
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/rat-shack-members-purchase-cn-and-supplies-for-spca-rats.22466/

Reviving the ratshack member's donated CN 2015
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/reviving-the-ratshack-members-donated-cn.33573/#post-482844

Rescue Effort 2013
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/rescue-effort-feb-2013.25742/​

 

The Lab Rat - A Natural History
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/the-lab-rat-a-natural-history.35666/

 

Changing Behaviour (Aggressive Rats, Clicker Training, Litter Box Training, Trust Training)
https://www.joinrats.com/ModifyBehavior

Rat Behaviour
http://ratbehavior.org/RatBehaviorMain.htm

Earning Trust
https://www.joinrats.com/EarnTrust

Normal Rat Behaviours (including body language and fear)
https://www.joinrats.com/RatBehaviors​

Normal Rat Play
https://www.joinrats.com/RatBehaviors/NormalRatPlay/



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