What does a rat seizure look like?

[amymckee]

It just occured to me that Scooter might be having seizures if he does have a pituitary tumor. What does this look like? It there any teeth chattering involved? When he's in the bedding or on my lap he makes these wild jerking movements, and I don't know whether he is trying to turn around and gather up his energy, or having a seizure. I put him on the carpet, and he moved a lot faster, like he had much more energy, but still no balance. I'm not sure how much he's had to eat, but he will only eat a bit of oatmeal before jerking around. I'm not sure whether he's trying to get away or not. How often can a seizure happen? I would take him to the vet right now, but it's closed for the night.

[Christine5000]

I don't know if this will help but I once had a rat who had a tumor in his inner ear.  One morning I found him spinning round and round.  I figured that was a seizure and it was time to let him go.  Also, I once had a dog who'd go into these epileptic seizures where her eyes would glaze over and she'd start shaking.  It would last about a minute then she'd be fine.  

[Leah]

Amy, this is probably too late since you posted last night, but when Godiva started to really go downhill, she didn't know which way was up and would just turn circles trying to find a position that felt balanced. I could put her in my lap completely and totally safe and she'd flip around over and over. It absolutely broke my heart. I don't think it was a seizure, just trying desperately to balance herself. I think she was really dizzy.

Once she got to that point, we had already tried steroids and antibiotics so I knew nothing was going to help her. She couldn't eat without me forcing it into her and then it was only babyfood and water that she could take. We decided to put her to sleep since I felt her quality of life was too far diminished for her to be happy.

I really hope that it is just an ear infection for your boy and that antibiotics and steroids will help him. Only you can tell if he's still got a good quality of life. Keep us updated.

[lotsorats]

I had a rat that had seizures. She was diagnosed as a brain tumor. She would be fine one minute then go into violent convulsions. She would slobber and lose control over her bodily functions. She would flop around for what seemed like forever and then when it would stop she would be disoriented and very tired. SHe was on phenabarbatol for 3 months until she passed.
It was the most terrifying think to watch

[Adventure Rats]

I had a rat that had seizures. She was diagnosed as a brain tumor. She would be fine one minute then go into violent convulsions. She would slobber and lose control over her bodily functions. She would flop around for what seemed like forever and then when it would stop she would be disoriented and very tired. SHe was on phenabarbatol for 3 months until she passed.
It was the most terrifying think to watch

  I don't want to be replying...it's hard to relive...

Lou had very very bad seizures for months. They are described above. The only good thing is that they don't know it is going on. If you have seen a seizure in a person it is the same. Be greatful it doesn't sound as if your boy is having seizures....if he was you wouldn't be doubting it.

On a good note, Louies was due to an allergy of sugar. I cut ALL sugar from his diet and he was fine. I helped Louie over the bridge due to old age not illness and not seizures.

Oh and his little feet would just kick around like mad. If your rat is having seizures, turn off all light and all sound. They say it helps. I would also comfort Louie, when I could.

[amymckee]

I had to put Scooter down tonight. It was obvious when I got home today that he was way past the point of recovery. I'm positive it wasn't an inner ear infection. I had to give him water from the syrenge, and he'd only eat about a spoonful of oatmeal. I noticed yesterday that one tooth was much longer than the other... that is one reason why I think he might have had some seizures. When I got home tonight he was in the same place as he was this morning when I left. He had pee down one side, since I don't think he could turn himself over when he had to go. I found some emergency place in the phone book. I'm not really sure when method they used to euthanize him, but I'm sure even the shot would have been less pain than he was experiencing. He bruxed most of the time in the waiting room.

He is survived by his brother Fred, who still has up to 1.5 years left. Fred has my 3 girls to keep him company, although I'm sure he will notice that Scooter is gone, since they haven't been separated a single day since birth.

[DragonTamer]

Caramel had horrible seizures for about 2 months before she passed away...  

she would begin spazming, backing up into a corner in the cage, and slowly flip to her back and sides, convusling..  she had a brain tumor... first couple times it happened it freaked me out.. but I learned to leave her alone when she had them, I didn't want her to get hurt so she was moved to a 1 level cage

[Leah]

I'm so sorry Amy. He sounds like he went downhill really fast. It sounds so similar to Godiva's symptoms that I wonder if he did have a pituitary tumor.

Take care of yourself and Fred.