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I think there should be a section on selecting a good vet; not all of them are familiar with small animals such as rats, and you want to find one who knows what he/she is doing, especially if you take them in for tumor removal. Which is another point: cost. Starting cost for keeping rats is low, but if you plan on being a good rat parent, you should be prepared to take them to the vet as least once for a respiratory infection, and once or twice for tumor removal (more if you have girls, since mammary tissue tumors are the most common type), and possibly for a euthanization when tumors become inoperable or persistent. All of this costs money, and you should be prepared and willing to spend it. To keep my rats cool in the summertime, I used cold rocks. Find some medium-sized, smooth, river rocks, wash them thoroughly, and keep them in the freezer. When you put on in the cage, its like an AC unit and the rats can get as close to it as they like. In contrast to bottles of frozen water, rocks don't leak, crack, and can't be chewed on. And also look nicer. Also, its important to have a lenient attitude towards cage design and what you put in there. you might think this little cubby house is so darling in that corner, but they will turn it upside down and move it somewhere else, tear the hammock you put up off of the cage ceiling, ignore the toys you buy, and if they can grab onto any fabric outside the cage (curtains, blankets, your favorite jacket) they will do their best to drag that thing in and tear it to shreds. Little fuckers. Make sure the cage is un-openable by rats (who can push doors open by bracing on a nearby fixture); spring-loaded closures are best. Rats can and will figure out how to get out if possible, and if properly socialized, they will come cuddle with you at night.  Or they might wander off and get lost or eaten.
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Jun 24, 2010 16:58
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| # ¿ Apr 29, 2024 09:07 |
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