Should i be worried about my rat?

Question

ok so ive heard about the foot infection bumblefoot in rats. and i dont know if my rat could be developing it. she is about 1.5 years which is getting kinda old for a rat. and for the last about two weeks now she is losing a lot of her balance. a lot of times when she walks, no matter what she is walking on, she will tip over and fall on her side but get right back up and tip over agian. she repeats that all of the time. the cage she has has a solid floor, no wire at the bottom. and her feet look completely fine. im worried that it might be bumblefoot but i also think its just cuz of her age. can anyone help explain this?

Answer 1

I really do not think your rat is suffering from Bumblefoot. Once a rat develops bumblefoot, you would be able to tell fairly easily as the feet swell and are very painful. If her feet look normal, this is not the problem.

With her losing her balance and falling over frequently, it actually sounds to me like either an inner ear infection or neurological problems.

It is imperative to take your rat to the vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment. If you or your parents are unable to pay for the visit, you can always talk to the vet's office to see if they can work out a payment plan for you.

Answer 2

sry let me research it a bit!

Answer 3

allwright it happend to my rats bonnie and clyde i went to this website and studied what to do cause im a vet but ive never dealed with i cant remember the website but you need to find a website and find a way to heal it

Answer 4

Like Courtney said, it could be an ear infection.  Rats normally live three to five years.  So I don't think she's that old.  :P  

Ear infections are really common and highly treatable at that!!  If you take her to a vet, they'll give her a low dose shot of steroids which help clear it up right away.  Though sometimes more than one shot is necessary, it's not uncommon.  The sooner you get her in, the better.

Expect your bill to cost over $100 though.  Exotic vets (which is what she needs) normally cost around $40 for an office visit and a lot for medicine.  It could only be $20 for a shot or it could be $80.  I have no idea, you'd have to take her in.

Also like she said, it could be a brain tumor or disorder.  These can also sometimes cause a rat to circle.  Which is basically like her going in circles, all the time.  Still in all, a lot of really common things in a rat can be treated with a low dose of steroids.  So that should be a relief.  

Just get her to a vet soon!!  The sooner, the better;  the easier it'll be to cure her!!

Answer 5

This could be an ear infection. That's the first thing that came to my mind.

It may also be a tumor, but I think ear infection more likely.

You should bring her to a vet to get a diagnosis. 1 & a half is getting up there, but she's not elderly quite yet. ;P

Answer 6

she could have a tumor in her belly or by one of her legs u just cant see it yet.....thats what happened to my 2 rats the last one just passed away aftr 2.5 yrs

Answer 7

It doesn't sound like bumblefoot. Can you see any visible injuries or inflamed areas on her feet? Without a wire cage, it's unlikely. As others have said, an ear infection is possible. Does she tilt her head at all? This is a common sign. It's also possible that she may just be getting old, possibly even arthritic. You really ought to take her to a vet as she may be in pain.

Answer 8

her foot might be broken or take it to the vet