We all hope that doesn’t happen, but no matter how good a rat owner you are, there will be a time when you find yourself nursing a sick rat.
Quarantine?
The first decision to make is whether to move your sick rat to another cage. If you are not too sick and the disease is not contagious, it is best to leave them with their companions. It will be less stressful and your rat will feel better being around its friends.
If your rat is very sick or has a contagious disease, you should move it to a separate cage. This way you will not spread the disease and you will also have peace and tranquility, in a space where you can recover.
Litter
Make sure the cage is the most comfortable for your rat. Use old sweaters or towels as bedding for your rat to snuggle up in.
If your rat has a respiratory illness, it can be quite cold, so be sure to take steps to keep it warm. Place a heating pad under the cage, covered with a towel. Don’t put it inside the cage, or your rat will chew the wires. You can also get a microwavable heating pad. Keep the pad on one side of the cage so the rat can walk away if it gets too hot.
Be sure to change the bedding in the rat cage frequently. If it gets dirty, your rat’s illness could worsen. Clean the cage with a germicidal cleaner, such as Parvasol, a mild bleach solution.
Lay a towel over the middle of the cage, so your rat can retreat to a dark place to hide. Make sure your rat doesn’t get too hot and that it stays hydrated.
Remember that your rat may not be able to clean itself when it is sick. Use a damp cloth to wipe away urine or debris. Whatever you do, don’t rinse it under the tap. It will be too stressful. Make sure to dry it thoroughly and gently with a towel.
food
Your rat may not eat much or may not be able to eat the same foods when it is sick. Try soft foods like avocado, thinly spread peanut butter, eggs, baby food, and bananas.
Vanilla mixed with banana will be very rich.
You may have to hand feed your rat. Use a syringe if you don’t want to eat. 3cc, 6cc or 12cc are best.
Give your rat a pea-sized drop of a vitamin supplement such as Nutrigel, along with its other food.
You may also need to give him water by hand. Mix the water with a teaspoon of sugar and feed it via syringe to your rat.
Use a damp tissue to gently wipe any food off of your rat after each meal.
You can also use a syringe to administer the medication to your rat, or if he is eating, you can add the medication to his favorite liquid food (yogurt or soy milk).
If your rat is very sick, you may need to give it injectable medication. Gently pinch the skin at the scruff of your mouse’s neck and slide the needle under the skin. Massage the area before doing this. If possible, try not to get antibiotics in pill form, as they are difficult to administer.
Check that your rat is not dehydrated by gently pulling on your rat’s skin and then letting go. It should ping immediately. If it takes time, your rat is not getting enough water and you need to give it water by syringe.
Monitor your rat closely, and if its condition worsens, seek the advice of your veterinarian.