|
|
Post by adoptaratcanada on Jun 5, 2009 10:19:39 GMT -4
These new rat boyz are making me feel like a new mom!  I know that foods with strong colours like blueberries can temporarily discolour rats' pee. Can the dye from wooden toys do the same (bird toy)? Also, I get the feeling that one or two of them seem to be EATING paper towel...I see them chew it but don't seen anything drop out. Anyone had that before? These new boys are full of surprises. Also, if they eat it, how dangerous is it? I've removed the toys that are red or purple. If that's discolouring the urine, how long before it clears up? I'm hoping it's not a Urinary Tract Infection. They are still on antibiotics for their resp. condition so I would hope to not be seeing a UTI. Thanks!!! |
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jun 5, 2009 13:25:58 GMT -4
I never put paper towels in rodent cages - only soft toilet tissue, which is apparently more water soluble. I doubt if it is dangerous for (bigger) rats, but I sure would never put it in for gerbils or dwarfs. Just to be safe. I never see rat urine, except on bedding sometimes. Yours must be a bright color to notice it so easy. I assume wooden blocks are all food color, and safe. Same with wooden chew things. I question whether they could eat so much as to change the color of their pee. It should clear up in less than a day, I would think. I had mice with bright green poops once - not on St Patrick's Day but after a load of broccoli. Never seen that with blueberries; maybe I did not look closely enough. Blueberries are very healthy, of course. My father once freaked out after he had red poops - after eating beets! He thought he was hemorrhaging!  >> I'm hoping it's not a Urinary Tract Infection. They are still on antibiotics for their resp. condition so I would hope to not be seeing a UTI. << Maybe the antibiotics color it? I never thought of myself as a "dad" to all the critters here, just a good friend and fellow creature privileged to care for them.  Anyone check out that Kent County vet? Best. |
|
|
|
Post by adoptaratcanada on Jun 5, 2009 18:55:34 GMT -4
Maybe the antibiotics color it? I never thought of myself as a "dad" to all the critters here, just a good friend and fellow creature privileged to care for them. Anyone check out that Kent County vet? Best. I had sent the owner in question a gazillion listings. She had just gone out of town for a few days and was going to look into all of them when she got back. That latest one you sent was Kent County DE, not MD, which I didn't notice when I forwarded it. However, she said she's actually close to that one! I wondered about the antibiotics...I'm trying to find info on side effects. The baytril IS in a pink strawberry flavoured suspension. As for mom/dad/parent, I kind of feel the same in my capacity as caregiver, at the same time when the pets are sick or die, it feels like losing a kid!  My godmother (who had no kids) is everyone's "auntie", including her pets! lol I kinda feel more comfortable with *that* designation. |
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jun 5, 2009 19:15:57 GMT -4
DE and MD are adjacent, and they are small states. When I asked where in MD Kent was you did not tell me, and I did not care enough to look! ;D
When I used Baytril on Princess the hamster it was clear, as I recall. *shrugs*
So you prefer "aunt"? Okie doke.
|
|
|
|
Post by adoptaratcanada on Jun 6, 2009 1:25:37 GMT -4
DE and MD are adjacent, and they are small states. When I asked where in MD Kent was you did not tell me, and I did not care enough to look! ;D When I used Baytril on Princess the hamster it was clear, as I recall. *shrugs* So you prefer "aunt"? Okie doke. LOL I didn't know where it was, either! Well, actually I prefer "that dame who brings us the food", but auntie would be better than mommy! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by adoptaratcanada on Jun 6, 2009 1:26:38 GMT -4
I never put paper towels in rodent cages - only soft toilet tissue, which is apparently more water soluble. I doubt if it is dangerous for (bigger) rats, but I sure would never put it in for gerbils or dwarfs. Just to be safe. You know, I've never about that - either of them. I thought (?) I had read way back that paper towel is ok for nesting. Yikes. |
|
|
|
Post by pinky on Jun 6, 2009 16:10:45 GMT -4
DE and MD are adjacent, and they are small states. When I asked where in MD Kent was you did not tell me, and I did not care enough to look! ;D When I used Baytril on Princess the hamster it was clear, as I recall. *shrugs* So you prefer "aunt"? Okie doke. Both DE and MD have a Kent County, and they are adjacent--great for confusing lifetime Brooklynites and Canadians! Small states, yes, but long in one case and L-shaped in the other, so the distance between points could translate into many hours of travel! Baytril--colorless in my experience. (Note, DF, the use of the word colorless here--"clear" refers to clarity--ability to see through it. Just the chemist talking. . .) And I myself am fine with the title "mommy." ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jun 6, 2009 17:53:25 GMT -4
I never put paper towels in rodent cages - only soft toilet tissue, which is apparently more water soluble. I doubt if it is dangerous for (bigger) rats, but I sure would never put it in for gerbils or dwarfs. Just to be safe. You know, I've never about that - either of them. I thought (?) I had read way back that paper towel is ok for nesting. Yikes. It probably is. I would not worry about that. But then again I never see mine eating it. Maybe yours just CHEW it a little? |
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jun 6, 2009 18:00:32 GMT -4
DE and MD are adjacent, and they are small states. When I asked where in MD Kent was you did not tell me, and I did not care enough to look! ;D When I used Baytril on Princess the hamster it was clear, as I recall. *shrugs* So you prefer "aunt"? Okie doke. Both DE and MD have a Kent County, and they are adjacent--great for confusing lifetime Brooklynites and Canadians! Small states, yes, but long in one case and L-shaped in the other, so the distance between points could translate into many hours of travel! Baytril--colorless in my experience. (Note, DF, the use of the word colorless here--"clear" refers to clarity--ability to see through it. Just the chemist talking. . .) And I myself am fine with the title "mommy." ;D That is what I assumed colorless meant. I did not assume it meant the liquid was invisible like some magic solution. Colorless = clear. I know the shape of Maryland well. That is why I asked. But I also know that very few people live in that western corner. Nobody thought my father's beet experience was funny? Well, I thought it hilarious - but I was nine at the time! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by adoptaratcanada on Jun 6, 2009 19:34:19 GMT -4
It probably is. I would not worry about that. But then again I never see mine eating it. Maybe yours just CHEW it a little? That's what I"m hoping..they chew it and spit it out. I'd just like to SEE it!  I remember years ago when I had gerbils, it was easy to see how they were chewing their paper to make a nest. My old guys tended to shred, rather than chew..never saw any of them do anything close to eating it. From what I can find online, a tiny bit won't hurt, and they really are probably not swallowing it, and I'm just not noticing. |
|
|
|
Post by adoptaratcanada on Jun 6, 2009 19:39:42 GMT -4
I find that vaguely insulting. . . to rats. I always talk to my critters, but in real words. Many of them know some things, such as "get out", "get off", and endearing comments.  I assume your rats like kisses. |
|
|
|
Post by adoptaratcanada on Jun 6, 2009 19:41:27 GMT -4
DE and MD are adjacent, and they are small states. When I asked where in MD Kent was you did not tell me, and I did not care enough to look! ;D=  I had actually asked her at the outset if she's near a state line, but she never got back to me on that point until the DE came up. |
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jun 6, 2009 20:04:30 GMT -4
I find that vaguely insulting. . . to rats. I always talk to my critters, but in real words. Many of them know some things, such as "get out", "get off", and endearing comments. I assume your rats like kisses.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hamsters82 on Jun 7, 2009 6:59:34 GMT -4
If hamsters aren't allowed colored objects, I wouldn't put it in a rat's or any rodent's cage for that matter, for a just in case you know. As for the paper towel, if you don't see it anywhere in the cage I'd take it out. Again it's better safe than sorry as that kind of stuff can get lodged in their bodies and might require surgery if it doesn't pass. So I'd take those two out just to be sure. I bet your rats are fine though. |
|
|
|
Post by adoptaratcanada on Jun 7, 2009 20:54:29 GMT -4
Thanks for the info, Hams! I didn't know hamsters aren't allowed colour toys. I'll see what else I can find.
I feel like I'm starting from square one.
I'll post further (more specific) questions in another thread about bedding again.
Thanks!
|
|
My godmother (who had no kids) is everyone's "auntie", including her pets! lol I kinda feel more comfortable with *that* designation.
I remember years ago when I had gerbils, it was easy to see how they were chewing their paper to make a nest. My old guys tended to shred, rather than chew..never saw any of them do anything close to eating it.
I had actually asked her at the outset if she's near a state line, but she never got back to me on that point until the DE came up.