Question about wire floors

[Madmanzx]

I thought wire floors were bad for rats but the Martin cages all have wire floors on the top levels.  Why are these any different than normal wire floors?

[Suebee]

The wire floors = bad view has actually been declining rapidly for the last few years as people realized that it was not the wire that caused things like bumblefoot (which was the primary reason the wire = bad mantra was cited).

I'm on my way out the door, so I don't have time to go into great detail... hopefully someone else will offer more information.

If you want to cover your flooring with something, you are welcome to (carpet runner, carpet, fabric, needlepoint canvas, etc.), but it's not necessary. I stopped covering my floors, and haven't had any problems. As long as the wire spacing on the floor is 1/2" x 1/2" it's safe. Martin's uses this spacing for the floors of its rat cages.

[quellykin1]

I would stil cover up... I just use cardboard or cloth. Since I still hear bumblefoot can be caused by wire, better safe than sorry. Besides, I'd rather throw away cardboard than clean urine, etc. from between the wires. 

[ttiwedas]

from what i'veread, wire floors are not the cause of bumblefoot. the problem seems to be cleanliness. You can keep your martin's cage floors clean, and you rats should be fine. But if you want, you can always cover the wire floors for added safety.

[Suebee]

Wire does not cause bumblefoot. This is a myth that is still very tenaciously circulating, which is why people are still hearing it floating around.

Every bumble case I have ever had in my rat-keeping experience has been with a rat kept exclusively on solid floors. Usually, they had another issue, such as obesity or other illness, that compromised their mobility or immune system -- which may have contributed to their susceptibility to bumblefoot.

I also have a friend who has had up to 50 rats in the past, and does not cover her wire floors, either. Just like me, her only bumble cases were those on solid floors. Go figure. Again, like me, the affected rats also had other contributing issues.

Husbandry (cage cleanliness) can also be a factor, but it's not the only one. In other words, you're not necessarily a shoddy maid if you get a rat with bumbles. There are many, many factors that can contribute.

I don't cover my wire floors anymore, but if you're still squeamish about it, I recommend offering a VARIETY of surfaces to walk on. When I used to cover floors, I only covered the big, main floor of my 695. I left the balconies wire, and the bottom level was CareFresh. The problem I had was that the covered floor got NASTY with urine, and my home reeked of rat pee, especially on humid days, no matter how diligently I cleaned. I haven't had any problems with major urine buildup or odor since I stopped covering my floors. *shrug*

If you clean your cage regularly, you shouldn't have any problems with urine building up on the wires... some enzyme cleaner or Simple Green and a nylon-bristled brush do the job just fine.

[jorats]

Like Suebee mentions, wires do not cause bumblefoot. Pododermititis is actually a pressure soar. Rats that are obese or have other illness can develop these pressure soars from always lying on solid levels. Infection can then set it, going straight into the bone, this is why it is so hard to treat. So the best treatment is taking preventive action. You can pad your cage and keep your rat at a healthy slim weight.
I can understand why  many think that it must be uncomfortable for the rat to walk on wire floors, it would be for our feet. But look at the underside of your rats feet. They have several bumps which in fact allows them to walk on wires and other unstable flooring. Also, wire floors would prevent or make it hard for the rat to develop a pressure soar on his feet, the feet are never totally on a hard surface.
So spread the word, wires are ok!