recent rattie news

[adoptaratcanada]

I thought I'd post this, just in case my experiences are useful to anyone else. Copied from another post...

part 1

I had a question...maybe I'm being premature and
it will pass...

I notice tonight that Hugh is really, really
feisty.

He's definitely been the shyer of the two, but
had really come a long way and had become quite
outgoing. I moved them into a new, bigger cage
yesterday, and I'm hoping it's only due to a bit
of stress until he gets used to it. After I put
them in there, they did seem a bit scrappier than
usual. However, last night they were interested
in my being around, and comfortable being taken
out of the cage.

So, they woke up not all that long ago this
evening and I gave them their dinner and when I
wanted to take them out, Locutus was ok, but Hugh
was having none of it. Well actually I did get
him out (not as easily as yesterday) after
putting Locutus back, and wanted to take him (H)
out again but no way was he going to let me
handle him (he did a tiny squeek when I first put
him back but I *think* it was a cranky squeek,
rather than pain, but you never know, I guess).

He mostly ran from my hand and was nippier than
usual...they often feel my hand with their teeth
which is normal but this was a teensy bit more
aggressive (I thought I'd cleaned any food smell
off my hand), and when I would touch him while
he was in the cage or try to pick him up again,
he would turn really fast, almost defensively,
grabbing my fingers...not enough to hurt but
certainly enough to shock me. He did it a few
times, and I've left him alone now.

Any suggestions on what this might be about, and
how to handle it?

After my bad experience with the awful bite
Chopin gave me early on, I find this set-back
really depressing...it makes me wanna cry :/

THANKS!
Linda



Part 2, the update:


I was able to get Hugh out for a moment after I wrote that email last night although he did seem a bit crabby again after I put him back.

This morning I was able to get him out for a quick cuddle and he wasn't as defensive. I also moved the new cage back to the computer room from the rat room. I think maybe there were a few too many changes in a short period, so I'll leave them here till they get used to the cage. I've had a few emails back from people saying that it's just them maybe a bit stressed, but definitely re-establishing territorial dominance again because of the new cage...so they should sort it out before long. I'm VERY happy to hear that!

The boyz went in for their initial check-up at the vet a couple of hours ago. Fortunately got them out of the cage no problem. They travelled very well (Locutus got a dab of Rescue Remedy on his ears, and Hugh licked a dab off my finger). They weren't so keen at coming out of the carrier, but once they did, they were fine. Everything's in good order!

Now they're back home for an afternoon snooze!

linda

[Die Fledermaus]

What did the vet do??

Tell us about Chopin's bite.

I stick my hand in and rub my crew's noses; the are very sweet, although a mom gave me a slight nip when I tried to grab a baby. But that was my fault.

I kiss mine on their noses every day.

[adoptaratcanada]

What did the vet do??

I had them in for just a basic introductory checkup. I also like her to see the rats when I get them to check them over and confirm everything's ok, and in particular so she can see what they are like to compare them with down the road of need be.

She weighed them, checked their heart and lungs, gave them a good feel to see if there were any lumps or bumps, inspected their coat/skin and checked their teeth.

Tell us about Chopin's bite.

Well let me first say alot of the problem with my reaction was a) shock and b) betrayal.

I didn't 'get it' for a long time, but eventually my mind cleared and I pieced it all together. A bit part of my distress is that I can't have my beloved pets of all "people" injuring my hands when I depend on them for my work (and being self employed I don't get luxuries like paid time off). Bite me anywhere else, that's fine. I spent a looong time freaking out in case it happened again. I was horrified that it would come to giving up an adopted pet which is unacceptable imo, and UTTERLY heartbreaking. "A pet is for life" and all that...

Anyway, what happened was...

I came home and they had managed to chew between the bars to the water bottle, which flooded the bottom of the cage (good arguement for several SMALL bottles, rather than a couple of big ones, I suppose).

I guess they must have been more stressed by it than I realized. I took them out to clean the cage, and put Chopin back in and realized there were a few things that needed tweeking that would be difficult to do with them in there, so I went to take him out again and that's when he nailed me. He chomped down on my knuckle (painful enough!) and just when I thought he was going to let go, he suddenly started worrying at my finger!! I think I was just to stunned to react! He hit a nerve or something because I could feel like an electric current go through my finger! Got my hand out of there, blood spurting all over the place.

The vet said it was a good thing he was in the cage because the first reaction is of course to drop them or fling them I realized afterward that my hand probably came from behind the hammock so between being stressed at a flooded home, being taken in and out of the cage then this hand coming out of nowhere, he was either mad or stressed. I'm guessing on all counts, including surprising him, but I had to give him benefit of the doubt. I was also brand new to rats so while I was freaked out, I had to assume this was a baptism by fire.

The skin healed up AMAZINGLY fast, and you couldn't see the wound after a couple of days. However, under the skin there was a painful lump which gradually got better but took 2-3 of months to disappear. I didn't see the doctor at them time because I didn't really see what she could do about it, but she said if it happened again to come in for antibiotics. It was time for a tetanus booster anyway, so I got poked in my bum for all my trouble

Here's something unrelated which made me feel like crap, too: was my birthday!! In particular my 44th birthday. DON'T ASK ME WHY but all my life I thought 44 would be a good age to be. I felt that by that time I'd have my s**t together and living comfortably and making a comfortable income. I'm sure those of you "of a particular age" are chuckling. I have no idea WHY 44. But you can see, I've been looking forward to it for a very long time ! Not to burst anyone's young bubble, but getting older doesn't mean getting it right ;D Sorry! Nope, no s**t together (actually I think that came and has passed! LOL) But it was one more thing to make me feel really betrayed

Honestly I don't talk this much in person!

linda

[Die Fledermaus]

>> I can't have my beloved pets of all "people" injuring my hands when I depend on them for my work (and being self employed I don't get luxuries like paid time off). Bite me anywhere else, that's fine <<

Hmm, hand model? Typist? I see he hit a nerve! Bad luck. The lump may have been a deep bone bruise.

The times Syrians bit me (four) it was always my fault.

One time Chrissie, a favorite and friendly gerbil, was in my palm and just clamped down HARD, and squeezed - hard. I was shocked. Several hours later I came back with washed hands. I asked her "are you going to bite me again, sweetie?". She clamped down again and squeezed, and held. I had to, again, shake her off.

This story, and photo of her, one of my first six, is likely still posted in the Gerbil forum, or Relaxing Rodents. Search if interested.

I never knew why she did that; nothing had changed. I handled her with gloves for a few months, and then only briefly in bare hands.

>> Here's something unrelated which made me feel like crap, too: was my birthday!! In particular my 44th birthday. DON'T ASK ME WHY but all my life I thought 44 would be a good age to be. I felt that by that time I'd have my s**t together and living comfortably and making a comfortable income. I'm sure those of you "of a particular age" are chuckling. I have no idea WHY 44. But you can see, I've been looking forward to it for a very long time ! Not to burst anyone's young bubble, but getting older doesn't mean getting it right ;D Sorry! Nope, no s**t together (actually I think that came and has passed! LOL) But it was one more thing to make me feel really betrayed <<

Happy birthday! If you are in the mood to hear that.

Facing reality is a bitch. What else can I say. I am way too jaded to be especially positive. Suffice it to say in recent years, pets, animals, and the people who care for them, have helped.

To me all "44" means is New York Yankee Reggie Jackson's retired number!

*shrugs*

[adoptaratcanada]

Happy birthday! If you are in the mood to hear that.

hehe well #44 is long gone, lo these many months! Came went, and nope that wasn't the year I'd always imagined it would be

L

[Die Fledermaus]

Actually, when I was 10 I thought at 17 things would be perfect.