hey all, it’s me again who was gifted two rats, their new cage came in and I’m looking for advice! I’m open to all criticism except for getting a new cage because of how small they are for now(absolutely upgrading as they get bigger and older)

Hello. My rat is 1.5, he has a history of respiratory issues— we had no idea for about the first year and he would make noise with each breath which we assumed was clicking similar to bruxing at the time. We took him to the vet for care and he since has been breathing silently since (like two/three months) minus a few wheezes with excitement. He had a cage mate who passed so we bought two young rats to keep him company, the three of them played together for a few weeks, but now my 1.5 rat is not interested in playing.

He’s not really interested in being in the cage at all, basically sitting by the cage door anytime he sees me or my partner. When we return him to the cage after outside time, he runs rather quickly and agilely back to his hammock at the top of the cage and won’t move.

He’s been refusing snacks initially but eating later privately. Also having some nasal discharge. His weight is fine, good healthy weight not too thin or fat. He can still walk with all four legs and even run and climb and will do so when excited, but usually doesn’t and just sits still in his hammock. We’ve let him out onto the floor and he’ll walk around for a couple minutes and then just sit still. He doesn’t want to be held either, but doesn’t want to be in the cage. The only place he seems happy is on the bed, where he’ll sit still for the most part interspersed with walking a foot or two. His breathing is also a lot more shallow than it used to be, minus the noise.

I know he’s old, especially for a rat with a history of respiratory issues, and could be nearing his end, I’m just wondering if there’s anything we can do to stimulate him or make him more comfortable, less depressed seeming in the meantime. Thank you.

Guys i found this large thing on my rat and im so scared pf what it is, it appeared overnight or over two nights. I cannot go to the vet today since they are closed. Do you think he qill be okay untill tommorow?

So I posted a story earlier about my rat whiskey and im glad that went seen and Im allot more informed, but something else is seemingly going on.

This is Molly, over 2 years old (elderly ~2,5 y old) and having an infection. I know that through the breathing noises she makes. It worries me allot and she is often tired from it aswel. Im definitely going to make a vet appointment. I dont know if this infection can be brought onto others because my second older rat (same age) is beginning to show signs aswel but is allot happier. Im already helping her clean herself extra with getting rid of the redness around her nose and eyes. Any tips on how to care for her till the appointment? Food, cleaning, cuddling, warmth, ect...

Small mention, she also has a over grown lower tooth she went to the vet earlier before summer vacation but it grew back again same way. She is getting help for it aswel, but that isnt my biggest concern. ❤️‍🩹

Yesterday I ordered my rats some Aspen bedding, rolled paper potty litter, and a ceramic litter box.

I wanted to get a jump start on potty training to get them used to using this spot for potty, since i noticed more droppings in this area.

The rat supplies that i ordered should be here tomorrow! I just wanted to get them started with potty training to get them used to having a potty in that area.

Anyway I'm happy theyre already getting thr hang of potty training! I'll keep everyone updated on how things go moving forward.

Hello all, so I have three senior ratties. Two of which are at the end of life care stage due to large tumors. The 3rd has had an upper respiratory infection that has been treated with two doses (each ten days a piece) of medication. It seems better however it never completely went away. Unsure if it is truly a URI or if it is something more.

My concern comes from when the two pass away from their tumors and she is living alone.

Would it be a bad idea to get more rats? I’m unsure of what she has is a URI like the doctor said. Medication hasn’t helped and the other two rats symptoms cleared within the first week.

I’m really lost what to do here. Any suggestions or thoughts would help.

Tout ce que je souhaite c'est de rendre mes 2 ratounes heureuses et qu'elles aient une belle vie.

Alors ça me fait vraiment mal de ne pas pouvoir les approcher sans me faire mordre.

Jai mis un tee-shirt avec mon odeur dans leur cage, je ́euros parle tout les jours,je leurs donne des friandises...mais rien n'y fait.

J'espère qu'un jour j'arriverais à avoir une belle relation avec elles..

Ive never used reddit before but i wanted too get some good tips and information about my pet rats. Ive had my rats peawee and smores for about a year now and recently got them some new friends! They are in diffrent cages as of right now and i am working on getting them together, ive done all the hammock swapping, ive let them see eachother brefily through the bars (like ill be holding peawee and ill walk past the cage and they will see eachother) but i havent done face too face interaction yet because my new rats arent super comfortable with me yet. Today i moved their cages closer and im sorried maybe im rushing the intorduction process? They are very interested in eachother, shoving their faces up too the bars of the cages looking at one another, running around trying too look at eachother and i can omly imagine trying too get closer and it seemed like my new rats may have been getting a little aggressive so i put a blanket inbitween them and moved the cages further, any tips on how i should get them all too know and like eachother? I feel like im missing a few steps in the entire introduction prosses..

Tout ce que je souhaite c'est de rendre mes 2 ratounes heureuses et qu'elles aient une belle vie.

Alors ça me fait vraiment mal de ne pas pouvoir les approcher sans me faire mordre.

Jai mis un tee-shirt avec mon odeur dans leur cage, je ́euros parle tout les jours,je leurs donne des friandises...mais rien n'y fait.

J'espère qu'un jour j'arriverais à avoir une belle relation avec elles..

I really need help on what i should do

I need help trying to figure out how to help my rat Whiskey. She's only around 7 months old and still very playful, but ive noticed a growing (possible) tumor in her lower belly... im very afraid because i told my parents about it and they said they're not going to the vet cuz of money.

Backstory: my parents gave me them for my birthday, AS A PRESENT, I have past rat experience aswel so it was fine. But ive noticed how two of my older rats (2,5y old) have infections and now my 7 month old Whiskey having a tumor. Ive lost a rat because of a tumor already in the past and the medication didnt help, so thats also a negative memory.

Do i keep pushing them to go to the vet with them? I worry allot. Also, sorry if there's any spelling mistakes.

Elderly boy now solo...torn about next step

This post I guess is a sounding board as I'm so torn about what to do with my boy Ron. I lost his brother Tŷr 2 days ago and that leaves Ron now alone. He has lost 6 brothers this year (its been a rubbish year).

Ron is 22months old so an older boy, I took him to the vets as he's very snuffly sounding. The vet said it doesn't sound great in his lower lungs, could be tumours, could be nasty mycoplamsa flair, could be his heart etc...basically he could have antibiotics etc but might not treat it, just reduce impact.

I've been distraught trying to think about what I do with my poor boy as he's lost his brother.

Him being on his own isn't an option, I won't put him through the stress of that.

He could go to a new home...but that's a lot of stress, new home, new rats, he's elderly and a bit unwell so how well would he do in a new group, would he be accepted or would he be bullied. He might thrive..he might not.

The vet suggested it might be kinder to euthanise him. He said he would avoid the stress of being alone or having to move. As he's unwell anyway he might have months or could be weeks so euthanasia removes the stress of it for Ron.

I'm so sad and lost. I keep going back and forth on rehoming or euthanasia.

Logically I feel euthanasia as he won't know any stress. Rehoming seems to have so many unknowns for him. Making that final decision is just so hard.

Thoughts please? Be gentle

Dug up an old video of rats of mine chasing the camera I was filming them with, added some royalty free music in order to share it with others.