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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 21, 2006 12:25:57 GMT -4
Oh that cheeky monkey!! yes, I was admiring their colouring/markings. And I'm sure they ARE kissable, too! L.
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 20, 2006 22:40:24 GMT -4
Have I been hacked?? I didn't write that reply!!
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 20, 2006 14:04:56 GMT -4
They are also fun to kiss!
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 19, 2006 19:16:29 GMT -4
I just came across these 2 contrasting answers. Maybe someone here with more experience can comment:
Linda
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 19, 2006 17:48:39 GMT -4
They do. I never washed my last rats, but just the occasional "wipe down", and Lennier's little bottom when he was having some soft poop.
I think the first link (sorry I forgot to make them hyperlinks) gives a list of times you may want/need to bath your ratties.
Linda
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 19, 2006 0:26:36 GMT -4
Here are a couple of good links. I like the first one for information, the second one because it's step-by-step and has pictures, and the third one cuz it's kind of fun to read! http://ratguide. com/care/ grooming/ bathing.php www.rattyrat .com/guidebook/ bathing.html www.ratsrule .com/bath. html Linda
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 13, 2006 15:24:49 GMT -4
I'm sitting here typing, and out the corner of my eye I can see this repetitive action. I look, and I thought Hugh had Locutus by the foot and was tugging on it, causing L. to keep yanking back his foot. No! It's Locutus, stuffing his face at the food dish, and casually and repeatedly pushing back with one hind leg into Hugh, keeping him trapped in the hut so he can't come out and eat, too!! Little brat!! Time for a second dish!! Linda
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 11, 2006 2:26:42 GMT -4
Not sure why this just occurred to me, but I thought I'd post just in case you haven't come across it yet, New Papa 'Maus...
I'm sure you've read that ratties have sensitive respiratory systems and are in fact prone to respiratory problems. Scents in the air can also affect them negatively. In particular, things like air fresheners and cleaning products. In fact, I know of someone online whose mice all died because she had one of those automatic spray air fresheners in the same room as them!!
Lavendar is apparently highly toxic to ratties, so you don't want any such scent in the home (not even soaps), and hopefully no one coming in with lavendar cologne or hand lotion.
Of course, kicking up alot of dust should be avoided. I always move the rats out of a room I'm cleaning. If I'm moving things around or emptying closets I make sure that there's time for any dust to settle before they go near there.
In the mornings, I don't go back in the rat room after putting on any perfumes. Also, if I've used hairspray, I don't go back into the rat room till well after it's had a chance to dry and the smell can dissipate some.
Scented products bother me, too, so it's not so much a problem of exposure for the rats since I use so little.
linda
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 9, 2006 23:32:01 GMT -4
So how's it been going, RatDad? L.
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 6, 2006 23:52:09 GMT -4
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 6, 2006 14:57:04 GMT -4
Since I've never had females nor babies I don't have any first hand knowledge. The only things I've seen come up a few times in YahooGroups discussions are to check for a "milk band"....apparently the little tummies will show the milk through them, after a feeding, so you may want to check to make sure they are getting enough.
I don't believe that the info Jen put together on my site includes baby care, but I can check.
linda
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 6, 2006 2:10:21 GMT -4
Holy smokes, now you have ton MORE reading to do!!! How to supervise the nursery. Are you going to keep 'em all?
L.
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 3, 2006 22:07:09 GMT -4
Oh, what pretty things!!! Congrats!!
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 2, 2006 23:54:34 GMT -4
THanks, Andrea. The vet had suggested that when I called a couple of days ago, and advised taking him off the antibi, which I did. I started to think it couldn't be that, because he was on it not long ago without these problems. I THOUGHT! By a fluke I was searching for a message on a yahoogroup, and found a post that I'd sent saying Chopin had had a funny spell. That was at the end of his previous course of antibiotics! That spell lasted only a day, but maybe being put on it again now has kind of set him back! Also, the vet couldn't really find anything she could lay her finger on. However, he sure lost alot of weight! He still looks like a plump little thing but the scales say he's way down. We wanted him to lose weight, but not THAT way, and not that fast!!! The only other thing we could think of is *perhaps* a reaction to a new detergent I'm using on the fabric. Both were baby formulas and hypo-allergenic, but the new one has an odour in the clean laundry whereas the other one didn't. The new one almost smells like softener sheets
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Nov 2, 2006 17:27:40 GMT -4
Well his urine cleared up really fast once he started the antibiotics.
However, I've noticed other stuff going on...
I'm not sure how much water he's drinking since I haven't actually seen him drink in a few days. He's not eating any "hard" foods such as seeds (which he gets as a treat) nor his kibbles. I switched him from the Innova to NutroLite, and he ate a few of those, but none since yesterday.
His teeth look ok, but I think he's having trouble holding his food. From what I've read, does this sound like it might be a pituitary tumour? He'd been showing some hind-end weakness for a while now.
He's also been quite lethargic and I'd say his eyes almost seem a tad squinty. When I open the cage, he's interested in coming out, and when take him out of the cage, he's quite keen to clamber around on the couch. He manages, but is pretty wobbly.
I've started giving him some Ensure, yogurt and baby foods.
I have a vet appointment for later today.
Thanks!!
Linda
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