Heat Cycle and Fighting

[Kacee9]

I have started to notice an increase in scuffles about once a week with my rats.  It got so bad this last week that I actually had to separate everyone for the entire night.  I found that it is my youngest girl who is about five months old is the one who is causing the problems.  She becomes overly assertive with the other female and the male about one day a week and this aggravates them to the point of very rough and loud scuffles.  She goes around grabbing onto their backs with her front legs and holding on while they run around trying to get her off.  This tension leads to the other two getting into it with each other and the little bully and then into all out fights.  I was wondering if her behavior could be a result of her heat cycle and if spaying her would help?  I have heard of neutering males for such behavior but not sure if the same goes for females. 

They have all also been put on a diet and I am noticing that they are now fighting over food as well.  How can I help to reduce or eliminate this fighting?

Thanks you for any help, this forum is wonderful!!

Kendra   

[Ktina]

It does sound like it could be from her being in heat.  Spaying may help, however you'll never know as I've heard of females still acting like they're in heat even after spays.  I'd say that may be your best bet though if she's the one causing that bad of problems.

[ratlets]

Is she drawing blood?  If not, I wouldn't risk the surgery.

[Kacee9]

They are not drawing blood but I do not want to let it get to that point.  I already had an incident between my boy and my older girl awhile ago and she ended up with stitches and almost lost her eye, so I am very cautious about any type of fighting that is not play.  It is also not so much fun to have rats fighting all night and having to wake up about every hour to break up a fight when you have to be up at 6 am for a midterm     

I was thinking about spaying her anyways to help prevent tumors but if it also cut down on her behavioral problems I will DEFINITELY get it done ASAP!!  I was wondering if she is old enough for the surgery, she is about five months?  I do not want to rush into the surgery if she is still too young. 

Thank you for any help, I really appreciate it 

Kendra

 

[Kacee9]

  , please!!

[Leonakitty]

Five months isn't too young for a spay.
I've had two done at about 10 months and one at about 6 months.
Mandy's had kiddos done really young, it's actually preferable to spay girls early as the general thought is that tumor reduction benefit increases the younger you do it.

If you have a vet who is familiar with rat spays and has a good track record of success, I'd go for it.
Between Mandy and I we've had all our girls spayed... so that's (counts) 9, total I think and no issues.  No one acts like they are in heat anymore, either.  And my Sophie used to drive the older girls BATTY humping them.  She never does it anymore.  My MaeMae was spayed by HVRR at over a year, I believe, and she did fine.  The key thing is an experienced vet. 

Melissa

[Kacee9]

Thank you so much!!  I am going to talk to my vet this week about his experience with spays.  He actually suggested that I get her spayed when I first got her, and seemed to understand a lot about the health benefits of spaying but I was not comfortable with it because she was so small and weak after having babies and not having proper nutrition.  Are there any specific questions I should ask the vet before deciding if he is experienced enough to do the spay on my girl?

Thanks for all the help!!

Kendra

[Kacee9]

Please 

I want to contact the vet this week but I really do not know what type of things I should ask in order to find out his experience level.  Any thought would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,

Kendra

[ratlets]

Easy. Ask how many spays he's done.

[Leonakitty]

Yup, I asked how many spays and how many times he'd lost the patient (luckily, the vet I used hadn't ever lost anyone, which was reassuring! He'd also spayed birds?!).  I also had him run me through the procedure, if he kept them warm during (he does, good thing), if he removed both uterus and ovaries (yup), how he stitched them up (double layer of dissolvables, so no return visit to remove) and such.  He volunteered a lot of info, too, and I felt very comfortable with him.  Still freaked out while they were there, but knew he'd do a good job.

Melissa