My Poor Rat May Have A Twisted Back

[Ross]

I just had my Rats out and they were out about 10 Minutes when I looked around Jodie was on top of the wardrobe.
I was just about to get her off when the phone went I went to pick it up when I heard a thud Jodie had climbed ontop of a rat ball that was ontop of the wardrobe and it rolled off She fell off the wardrobe from about 7ft and landed on the floor and the ball I think hit her as well.

She dragged along the floor to a corner and sat there I gently picked her up and took her over to my bed and she dragged herself under a pillow, I enticed her out and she seemed to be dragging her back legs I have watched her for about half an hour and she snow seems to walk but painfully while limping and does not really want to walk but her tail seems very limp.

I have now wrapped her up in a towel and she is beside me on the bed with some water but does not seem to want to eat I have checked her mouth and nose and there do not seem to be any signs of blood I can't get to the vet until tommorow morning can anyone give me any advice?

I feel so so bad for answering the phone now and want to do everything I can to make her as comfortable as I can.

Regards
Ross & Poor Jodie

[Suebee]

I am very sorry to hear about your rat!  

If she is showing no immediate signs of injury, I would keep an eye on her overnight, and make the vet appointment for tomorrow, just to give her a once-over.

She is probably not eating or drinking because she is a little stunned, and maybe a little scared from her ordeal. I would let her be for a while, and let her calm down.

(next time, though, some punctuation would be helpful in making your post easier to read)  

[Ross]

Sozz about the punctuation I was typing as fast as I could.

My rat now seems to have taken a drink of water and is nibbling on a small dog biscuit. But she still looks like she is labouring when she is moving and is finding it painfull even though she is only moving very slow. I put her back in the cage with my other Rat Meg but Meg seemed to want to play and Jodie made some lound squeaking noices although Meg hardley touched her, I took her out and have now put her in my spare cage with some food, water and bedding and removed the ladders out of it so she cannot try and climb.

Has anyone had any experice of a rat falling from height and how did they recover?

Regards
Ross & Poor Jodie

[Marybelle]

I haven't had any of my rats fall from that high, but I have had them leap from about 5' to the floor.  Sounds like your poor baby may have sprained something.  Does she squeak when you pick her up?  Or just when her friend tried to play?  Can you touch her back feet and move them without her reacting in pain?  You said she was moving her back feet some.  Keep an eye on that.  If she had a spinal injury, she wouldn't be able to do that at all. Definitely get her to a vet, although if there is no blood and she's drinking and nibbling, it's probably not urgent that she go tonight.  Tomorrow would probably be soon enough.  In the meantime, sounds like you're doing all the right things.

I'd recommend some soft food tonight, something she doesn't have to pick up, like baby food, or oatmeal with a little honey for sweetness.  That way she doesn't have to worry about trying to balance if her legs or tail hurt.  And the biggest thing? If she wants to cuddle and be held, do so as much as possible.  Rats are very social, and it always seems when mine are ill, that's all they want, even the ones that don't normally like being held.

Also, for tonight, you might be able to give her the tiniest little bit of baby tylenol.  Get one of the flavored liquids and give her just a drop of it.  It might help with pain and swelling.  

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!

[fusche]

My rattie fell from my shoulder onto the hard floor.  It was terrible.  I felt so bad.  She made a big thud on the floor.  There was a little blood around her nose.  She was stunned.  I just watched her and she completely recovered pretty fast.  

I HATE WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN!   I hope your rat is ok.

[Maggie's Mom]

My first rattie fell of my shoulder, and onto the garage floor.  She died the next morning.  But, that was a garage floor.  One of my friend's ratties fell onto hardwood and died...
You sound lucky, hope she gets better!

[Natasha]

My rat had a fall. Shee was about 1.2 metres high, luckily she was not injured but was a little shocked and frightened

[Ross]

Thanks Guys For Your Posts.

I Took Jodie to the vet this morning and it looks like she has twisted the base of her spine and that is why she is having trouble moving her back legs and tail he says her legs may get a bit more strength in time. But if her tail does not get its strength back it will have to be amputated. He then gave her a pain killing injection which will hopefully ease her suffering.

I have to keep her separate from my other Rat Meg for a few days as Meg wanted to power groom her and was hurting Jodie.

I feel so guilty for not keeping a proper eye on her when she was out and so upset about her current condition.  

All I can do is make her as comfortable as possible and hope she can make some sort of recovery and give her the best sort of life she can have if she does not.

Ciao
Ross & Poor Little Jodie  
Not Forgetting Meg

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[Ross]

Has anyone had anything similar with a twisted back and how did there rats recover?

[Ali]

I'm so sorry to hear about Jodie. I've never had a rat with a twisted back but your vet sounds as if he knows what he's talking about so fingers and paws crossed that Jodie will be fine. I think you need to give her lots of time and love.

Please try not to feel too guilty - I think a lot of us have had similar experiences and have just maybe been luckier than you. One of my does fell off the top of the wardrobe once - she was fine, but that was just luck of the draw I think.

Just last night I went into the bedroom to find Roger clambering on top of a very high and narrow wallshelf (well over 6 foot off the ground) - he can't normally reach it but had clambered from the chair, up a cardigan that I had stupidly hung to dry off on the shelf on a clothes hanger. I'd left them too long unsupervised in the bedroom and he was desperate to get down. I'm just glad I got there in time before he fell or tried to jump. I know this doesn't help much, but my point is that we all do things which we wish we hadn't, and I guess every now and then someone is unlucky.

Take care and special hugs to Jodie (and of course, Meg, who's probably jealous of the attention!).

[Mandarb]

Do not feel guilty, these things unfortunately happen.  We had visitors that upsett my ratlet and as I carried her down stairs she jumped,   she fell around 8 feet, but recovered very well.  I wish you all the best with your little one.