You might have noticed one of your rats getting on in years. He or she is no longer the bouncy, playful rat they were in their prime, but rather are now more cuddly and slow. You might even notice some back leg degeneration. Here’s a brief article on caring for older rats, since they deserve it!
If your rat shows signs of degeneration of the hind legs, check out the article on Hind Leg Paralysis (Degenerative Osteoarthritis) for more information. Rats adapt pretty well and can actually get around ok even though they may have this condition. Just keep your rat comfortable on soft bedding, with everything in reach so he/she doesnt have to climb very much. You may also have to trim their nails, because they’ll grow quite long otherwise.
Just changing around their surroundings can help them in a great way. Keep in mind some of the following to change:
• Move food and water closer to the ground level of the cage, so its easily accessable. Avoid making them stand up for their food/water bottle. You may have to change food bowls to a shallow, low bowl instead.
• If there are levels, try bring them closer together, so if the rat takes a tumble they wont fall as far as normal.
• Add some cloth or similar to the ladders, to make sure there is ample grip. Lower levels also help ladders not be too steep.
• Cover any exposed wire. Weaker rats are more likely to get their feet or claws caught in the wire.
• Try new beds that are lower to the ground, like boxed filled with tissue/toilet paper instead of hammocks. Climbing in and out of a hammock could add extra strain.
• Keep an eye on the temperature around the cage. Older rats have weakened immune systems and draughts are not good.
• You’ll need to clean the cage more regularly, as older rats may not be able to move away to the loo, and their nesting area will get dirty.
Older rats will need extra care with feeding. Keep the following in mind:
• Extra high calorie treats are good to help keep muscle condition.
• Extra vitamins are helpful to be added into the diet.
• Provide soft foods that don’t require being held to eat. Also keep an eye that your older rat’s food is not being stolen/eaten by other cage-mates. If necessary, take him/her out to eat separately, so you can monitor daily intake. Foods like baby food, soft cooked noodles/pasta, pureed vegetables and fruits, rat blocks soaked in soy milk, porridge, yogurt, etc are all good to give.
You’ll also need to give extra attention to grooming, but don’t despair, this is a great time for bonding with your old rat.
• A daily wipe down with a damp cloth or wet soft bristled brush can help keep his coat groomed. If you use a damp cloth, make sure the fur is not wet, which could lead to a cold!
• Rats use their feet to clean their ears, so you may need to remove built-up wax. You can roll up a bit of toilet paper and gently wipe inside and around the ear, but do not go too deep as you can damage delicate ear drums.
• Sometimes, a simple thing like holding your rat upright in your lap can allow them to groom using both hands, something which is difficult with hind leg weakness. Although you might find when you try to assist, they think you’re offering them something or doing something interesting and they forget all about grooming to inspect what you’re doing.
• Regular clipping of his back claws will be necessary as they won’t be worn down normally. Do not cut too close to the quick, and if it bleeds, have a look at our Toenail Injuries article on how to handle the situation.
• Old rats may start having bladder control problems. If this happens, keep their belly clean after they urinate, as the urine can burn and irritate the skin.
• Moving his limbs around with gentle range of motion exercises will help keep his joints flexible.
All this should help your old rat live out a happy retirement life, and will also help you bond with him/her. There is nothing more rewarding than hearing the brux of a happy rat after you’ve helped them groom their face.
Do be prepared for saying goodbye, and try keep their best interests in mind. As much as it pains you to have to say goodbye, and believe me we know just how sad it is, there may have to be a time for you to make The Decision for your rat. Please don’t let your rat suffer, rather cherish the memories you made and let him/her have a peaceful sendoff.
My rat is almost 3 years old and sometimes she falls over (I mean on her back, that’s how bad!) but she can right herself and get back up again… Is this normal or should I be getting ready to say my last goodbyes?
Falling over usually means an inner ear infection or a brain tumor. Best to have her checked out by a rat knowledgeable vet. 3 is a good age for a rat to live to, they don’t usually live that long or much long after 3 I’m afraid 🙁
My one rat, Squiggle is aging on and her sister just died yesterday due to a lung disease, the vet has checked Squiggle out and says she might be in the early stages of that disease as well :'(. She is living by herself and I cannot get some more rats for her in case the disease is contagious (the vet says he is not sure and there would be no way of knowing if it is contagious or not), I’m sad to say she will have to live the rest of her life alone… Does anyone have any ideas of what I can do for her???
I’m not sure lung disease is contagious. You can probably safely get her two girl friends to keep her company 🙂
My rat’s sister just passed away 2 days ago from a lung disease. Though Squiggle (my current rat) seems to have it too, we took her to the vet and he said that there is no way of knowing if she has it or not… Her breathing is quite heavy but after a quarterzone injection her breathing is a lot better!!! We asked the vet if it was contagious and if we could get new rats so Squiggle wouldn’t seem so alone but he said the disease/infection might be contagious… so basically new little ratties are a no-no… Squiggle will have to spend the rest of her life alone 🙁
Anyone have any ideas of how i can make her life more comfy and enjoyable by herself?
My George has a large hard cyst on his shoulder. It has grown very large in just months. I went to a vet who told me it was small and the risks of surgery. I waited as the risk of death was not a good choice. Yesterday I went to a second vet who does the surgery who said (THANK God) he isnt in any pain and he seems happy and in good health even if he limps a bit. He also said he has seen worse as people wait too long. The cyst is the size of a small hamster. Surgery may involve leg removal and its risky during and after. Cost
1500. Was told at nearly two years…. I get it.They dont live long. I bought a new cage that he loves its bunny sized and all one level. I will be doing my best to make him happy and when the day comes was told weeks or with hope longer I will do right by him. People may say its just a twenty dollar rat but we rat lovers know that its not about cost. We are so lucky to have had these amazing loves in our lives for however long it may be for. Please send good thoughts my way for George. Any thoughts on older rat care welcome. Thanks.
I’m sorry to hear about your George. Sending him goodvibes. 🙂
I’m a new rat mom and my girl Ruby is around 1.5 years old and is slowing down quite a bit, ive never cared for an older rat before because her first cage mate passed away out of nowhere one night after only having her a few weeks. I later rescued a pair of sister and Ruby is ok around them, but she’s always been very shy around people and hates being handled. I’ve tried to give her space and only pick her up when necessary but she’s just always been difficult. We’ve had to treat her for reoccurring bumble foot, and giving her medicine daily stressed her out very much. I love her so much and I want to do the best for her in this time I have left with her, I know she needs more hands on care now that she’s aging though. I just need some advice on what to do, is there some way I can calm her down better? I’m always afraid of her squirming out of my hands and running and hiding like she has before. It took forever to get her back and i think it was very stressful and scary for both of us. I just want her to be happy, I’d appreciate any tips or advice very much. Thank you.
My sweet old Mitzi is almost 3 years old and has hind leg paralysis, she LOVES getting a warm bath in the sink and being rubbed dry with a towel, then falling asleep in it/ on my lap! and she normally washes me back 🙂 I agree its great for bonding, she is so dependant on me now and is so trusting and affectionate. She lives permanently free-range now in a little granny annex I build for her by my sofa with cushions, blankets and water in low bowl…also feeding her baby food and soft stuff like pasta with cheese sauce. She is too weak to manage in the cage with her sisters now (I have 6 including her) as two of the younger ones are very playful and too boisterous with her. They visit her during play time though when I can supervise them and she definitely seems happier on her own for the most part with peace and quiet. Its worth a mention that her same-age sister Gretel is STILL climbing, running and jumping like a youngster so who knows how long she’ll go on for…Thanks for the info regarding claws…hers are massively long and I wasn’t sure what to do about them since their paws are so delicate.
Happy that this website has helped 🙂 Scritches to your old Mitzi xxx