Thanks, Shelagh   She does seem like a happy girl... and still full of energy like always.

Bandit and Peanut are cuddling in the carrier.  Going to put the bachelor pad cage together when I can find a good palce in my room to put it.  Currently in the process of moving into a bigger room, so I might wait until I'm in there.

Well I know of PT's that go in 24 hours (bleeding adenoma I believe?, I am totally pre-coffee at the moment and can't look it up) and some that last 3-5 days, and my Ariel who lasted 5 weeks then I also know of some rats living now with PT for months and months...each case depends.  I have my fingers crossed your sweet brave girl is the latter type

Took Peanut to the vet's to weigh her as she's too wiggley for my scale.

She has lost 40 grams in a week.  Any advice?

She wasn't exactly at an ideal weight before... she had a bit of a back-end, but now she looks to be a normal weight (slim).

Edit:  I put her and Bandit in my one (and a half)-level cage yesterday afternoon (had to wait to move into a bigger room in the house).  I decorated it with hammocks that have sort of a stair-step arrangement to get from one to another, and put the half-level on the lowest setting.  There was a big puddle of water under the bottle's nozzle this morning (on the half-level), so I believe Peanut is getting around just fine.  Bandit doesn't leave puddles... Peanut does due to her inability to balance.

As for nutrition, try getting some nutrical, and giving her that a few strips a day.  Its very high calorie, but in the case of the sick kids you want them to get some more calories especially if she is not eating well to begin with.  Also try some instant baby oatmeal/cereal, I make that to tempt mine that are off food.  Adding a small amount of peanut butter to the warm cereal and mixing it in is usually a good temptation.  Also try seeing if she will have some ensure, and you can always mix the ensure in with the baby cereal too!

Pretty much anything that is of the soft texture and they are willing to eat it, they get when they are not feeling so well.

No not with PT.  For some reason I recall Shelagh talking about this....one of her girls had jaw issues.....pm'ing this over to her so she can catch it.

Sent lilspaz a pm, but I also ran a quick search here is her old link:

http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat/topic,4032234.0

Peanut's teeth are straight (as far as I can tell), but they were too long... she was bumping them into treats/lab blocks when trying to eat.

Her nosey isn't pushed to the side like in the link, but her jaw is offset just like Kerfuffle's was although nowhere near as severe (and on the opposite side).

If her teeth are straight then there's no need for trimming whatsoever...

Yeah the confusion esp. with their mouths is another classic sign.

Interesting info!  My boy Ramses, who passed away this time last year, had this same issue.  I never really found out if he suffered from a stroke or PT, but this is a sign that he had as well.  I was syringe feeding him at the end (also partly because he had no use of his hands).

I do know the structure of the mandible.  I looked at all my other rats' teeth... none of which were separated (unless bruxing/boggling)... and none of which were anywhere near as long as Peanut's.  I guess the trimming could be seen as pre-cautionary, since she doesn't appear to be able to wear them down herself.  I'll leave her teeth alone from now on unless they seem to cause problems (like I thought of the bumping ).

Thanks!

Thanks for asking, Jen!

Peanut seems to be getting worse but slowly.  Her balance/coordination is worsening.  She does better on the carpet on the floor than on my blankets on the bed... I imagine due to grip.

She ate much less Ensure yesterday than previous days.  I tried offering her some babyfood with crushed lab block mixed in, but she kept getting her nose and face all in it.  She actually gave up on it herself.  It seemed like torture as she wanted so badly to eat it, but she couldn't. 

I went out today and got some vanilla-flavored Ensure Plus... it has more fat and protein in it than the high protein banana-flavored Ensure I've been giving her.

I'm doing my best to take care of her, but now I'm sick with pneumonia (again).  Thanks for keeping Peanut in your thoughts!!

Thanks!

I've been feeding her out of an eye dropper.  It's been going well so far!

Yesterday and today, I have not been able to get anything into Peanut.  She goes for the dropper, gets it in her mouth, but doesn't chew or suck on it like she usually does.  I have been trying to slowly let some ensure in her mouth, but, as far as I can tell, it's just coming right back out.  I'm not sure if she can swallow.  She can't lick stuff up... her tongue seems to be pushed permanently toward the right side of her mouth.

She's still got a load of energy.  I've been tryin