Goosemoose Pet Portal

Rats Rule! => Rat Care Corner => Topic started by: NightmareWolfie1 on June 11, 2008, 06:19:50 PM



Title: Help with hind end degeneration?
Post by: NightmareWolfie1 on June 11, 2008, 06:19:50 PM
So if you haven't hear, I got my ex's rat, Tweek back.
There's a topic titled "Weird story, but Im excited." in Rat Tails.
Well, he seems to have the begining of his ind end going out.
Hecan stil itch a bit, but it's really slow.
He kind of drags him feet when he walks.
And he has this unusual lumbering type gait when he walks.
His tail also just seems more limp that my other rats.
Does this sound like old age? He's almost three now.
I've not really dealt with this hind end stuff before.
He refuses to use the hammy or anything else, even though it's a single level cage.
Are there any special things I should do for him?


Title: Re: Help with hind end degeneration?
Post by: KoalaLou2 on June 11, 2008, 06:55:59 PM
There's really not much you can do.  Make sure he is able to clean himself (particularly his ears, you can use a Q-tip if he is having problems).  Also, if you notice he cannot clean himself all that well, you will have to check for penis plugs.  Check daily and if you start to see them then they will have to be removed several times a day or can lead to serious infection and be very uncomfortable for him. 
My Mr Smuckers has very advanced hind end degeneration and I clean him every day with a baby wipe and clean his ears, etc.  Your boy may eventually need to go on a soft foods diet because it can become difficult to hold food to eat it (because the front legs have to support the whole body).  Its a frustrating process because it will continue to progress without you being able to do anything about it, but he probably won't lose his spunk and should adjust to many of the changes on his own.