*update*Ratsitting a blind rat

[Urbanratgirl]

A friend rang me up last night and asked if I would keep an eye on her rat today for her as she is working /going into hospital herself.

She first noticed yesterday her rat Pippa, had started stumbling, and waving it's head in the air sort of like Cerebral palsy exagerated movement. The reason she is very concerned and wanted her constantly watched was the rat's sister (from the same litter) died of a brain tumour? and the symptoms started the same way.
 She brought her around this morning and gave me money for when I felt it was time to go to the vet, she is still eating and enjoyed the company of my rats although no her usual playful self.

My feeling is if she has the same problem  should I wait till she appears to have more side affects? Or should Itake her her for what is most likely to be the same as the other rat, and have the vet say there is nothing they can do and want to put her down already?

Obviously if we were unsure of what it was I'd take her straight up there, but I just thought she could enjoy the company of my rats and me for awhile longer.

I am just worried she maybe suffering and this is delaying what needs to be done?

She is such a gentle beautiful ratty, I hate to see her get worse..

*update* I took Pippa to my vet who did tests on her and worked out she is blind! That explains the Stevie Wonder head rocking! He feels her lack of coordination is caused by this but after several more tests (eye drops to dilate her pupils) he thought it could be inscectide poisoning, he concluded even with the eye drops which should combate the poisoning she was still blind, she fell off the table!
He feels she  is in no other pain but it is likely to be a tumor, and feels as long as she has a safe environment she can live her life happily as a blind rat, he said she may even regain her sight, and it it is indeterminable to how long she lives!'

Her owner left the decision up to me, but I am happy to care for her and although the vet said not to let her live with the other rats a bit of a play now and then will be good for her if she gets better.

[molucass]

I think if it was me, I would bring her to the vet just to be on the safe side.

[Urbanratgirl]

I think if it was me, I would bring her to the vet just to be on the safe side.

Also, it probably wasn't a good idea to put your rat with your friends rat due to quarantining new rats, and etc..

She is a regular playmate of their's other wise I wouldn't have. I think perhaps you are right, I should take her anyhow, as I can always tell my vet I want more time with her if she's not in any pain.

[Ziggy]

My rat Gabriel is virtually blind yet he doesn't do any exagerrated head movements. The only difference between him and my others is that he's a little slower, he doesn't notice your hand untill you touch him and he is more clingy to me. But other than that there is no noticable difference.

[Suebee]

Note: I don't think Australia has the same disease problems the US/North America has, so quarantine is not as strict.

[Jester]

Glad to hear the vet thinks she'll get better and that its not a tumor.
I think I would still put her in with the other rats as long as they get along. Rats have been know to help out each other when one is ill or impaired. Other than that jsut the usual precausions, single level cage and easy ti find food and water.

Good luck
Jester

[Urbanratgirl]

She only does the head waving  (think stevie wonder) when she is trying to look around, the vet said she may still have very slight vision. So I guess she's scanning? The stumbling seems to come from bumping into objects, the poor thing is getting used to where everything is by a different sense,  but she knows where her food and drink is so that's a good start. Now I realise she has a vision imparirment it all makes sense.

Unfortunately the Vet cannot be sure whether it's a tumor, as he said if she was human the next stage would be a cat scan. But unfortunately it would be inpractical for a rat.

She is doing really well and loves being in dark soft places, she feels most comfortable down my top or under my doona (don't most rats though!) so we are happy we have more of her and she's eating well..she sleep in our bed this morning and she's far better behaved than my rats who run around in there like mad things

I still will let her play with the others, but in my bed as it too dangerous in our cage for her the have many levels and she can't cope with them without me to supervise, they remember her as the energitic playmate before. But she is loving the company!
             

[pigsandrats]

Years ago, we had an older gerbil, (almost 4 years old) and the last few months before he died he went blind also.
He was pretty much okay as long as we always put everything back the way it was after cleaning his cage. He memorized the layout of his home.  

[killersmom]

well, let me tell  you about emma, my totally blind rat.  She has NO eyes.  Was born without.  She is as fit as any of the rats with eyes.  She does the ramps, she does the hammocks, she does the dishes being moved about on her.  She adjusts perfectly.  She doesnt know she isnt like the others, she doesnt care.  She is a brat.  And she is a stinker, she beats the others up.  But dont tell her she is "special"  she is the same.  And so will your rat.  you will be surprized at how well she and the others will adjust.  Emma was my rescue, with her sister suzi.  She has been with other rats, came to me with her sister and a newbi and then, after quarenteen, she got in with my other two.  I have five girls living in one large cage.   I am the only one who will hand feed her tho, becouse, she goes on smell, and will get overly agressive to get her treats.  So I dont let the kids feed her.  Unless you really looked, you would never know she couldnt see, she is usually the one hanging upside down on the top of the cage,.....  unless she is really old, I wouldnt pamper her to to much.  (besides the obvious we do for all the rats.....)  


my girls live in the palace, its accually a cat cage, its that big.  I have four levels, cloth ramps, hammocks hanging here and there, I am forever changing the boxes inside the cage, I am forever changing the hammocks.... The shelves stay the same.  I keep the water bottles, several, about the same usually, but my kids when they change the water, sometimes move them, emma finds them.....  emma gets around like a charm.  I have just made sure that a drop from one level to another isnt more then about eight inches in drop, becouse in case of a fight between anybody, I wouldnt want them to fall far.  So far, this hasnt happened.  

[molucass]

Killer, do you have any pictures of your rat?? I bet shes beautiful..

She sounds very smart!!  

[Urbanratgirl]

unless she is really old, I wouldnt pamper her to to much.  (besides the obvious we do for all the rats.....)  

Now I can be completely convicted guilty of this! However~ an aquired disability is completely different to a life long one! (I work with children and Adult Humans with disabilities so I do know)
My feeling is Emma adapted so well out of survival instinct and never have known any different. Pippa is so used to being able to see that suddenly her world is thrown into confusing turmoil due to being suddenly in the dark!
Not that I don't think that in the long run (unless of course if it's a progressive tumor) she wouldn't learn to cope.
I have seen some animals (and humans) do some amazing things for survival, but at this stage in her life (she's 15 months) it's a hard deck of cards.

I have been spending heaps of time with her and really my rats aren't her pack so she has to re-learn her pecking order (she used to give my alpha female a run for her money when she visited previously) so I think so and steady for her new learning process, also I am making sure she is definiteley eating and she slept in my room last night and I woke up at 2am and brought her into the bed to sleep (I has a very understanding partner)

Emma sounds amazing, it's very cool she does everything the others do, and although I treat my clients with disabilities without the "special" and expect them to live up to their full potential it's hard to to spoil her rotten at this point!(my rats are looking jealously from their cage at the idea she got to sleep in my bed!)

[menagerie]

How long are you going to have Pippa, will she be going back to her mum? I agree that putting her in the cage with your girls is not a good idea. If she will be staying with you for the rest of her life you might consider putting one of your more understanding rats in with her and see if that helps. She could have her own seeing-eye-rat.

[Urbanratgirl]

Not  sure actually, her Mum had to go into hospital yesterday for an operation and will be out of action for a couple of weeks. She wanted someone who would understand and look after her if she got worse.
But we have always talked about me taking her when her other rat died as Pip is alone, she has come over to play several times and they all used to get on well. Her Mum is going back to England in 6 months and doesn't want to get a another rat.
I was waiting to build my big cage to take her, as I thought it would be easier terriorially to fit into a pack of rats when the environment was new to everyone. But her new situtation changes things.
I will see as I think with the right cage she'd be okay, with the others. My personal belief is (and I know it's shared) is that for quality of life especially now she needs company or she's going to go downhill.  I am going to offer to keep her but obviously it's her Mum's decision..
My alpha female is actually the most understanding, I think it's because she is such a rat's rat, very much a pack rat..looks after the weakest but at the same time keeps her place. My other too I hate to say it are spoilt, and they sqabble amongst themselves to be second, and complain if other rats touch them. The pecking order thing is a classic to watch.
Anyhow I will see when her mum is better what she wants to do.
 

[menagerie]

It sounds like you've really thought this through and I know you'll all do what is best for Pippa.

Hugs to you all.