Homeopathy for Your Pet Rat

Homeopathic Treatments for Rat Illnesses

When your rat is ill, the most important thing to do is to consult a vet. Your rat’s health and happiness should be a very high priority for you. However there are times when you can try homeopathy, to accompany a veterinary treatment. I have listed suitable treatments below. The substance names may sound like gooble-de-gook, but a homeopath will be able to find them for you in their shop and give you some more advice. You can also research the various treatments and buy them online.

So what is homeopathy?

Homeopathy is an alternative therapy. It is a system of complementary medicine in which disease is treated by minute doses of natural substances that in large quantities would produce symptoms of the disease. There are no side effects with homeopathy. As odd as it may sound the more a substance is diluted, the more potent it is.

First you need to look at your rat and decide what symptoms he has. Homeopathy looks at the body as a whole, rather than just the illness.

Once you have defined the symptoms you can use the information below to find out what treatments you can use. It is best to find a veterinarian that also practices homeopathy to advise you.

You can buy homeopathic treatments online and the websites or product customer service will often be able to give you advice as to what potency you should use and how frequently you should use it for best results. It is best to use 30c potency for most treatments. You generally give them 3 times a day, for 3 days a week. You then stop the treatment and let it work. Give it time. It may take up to 3 weeks to see an improvement. You may see a slight aggravation of the symptoms. This is because homeopathy uses the “like proves like” way of thinking. If the condition of your ratty improves or worsens before the 3 days treatment is up, it means it is working. Stop the treatment and let it work. You can get the treatments in liquid form or tablet form, liquid is easier to administer to rats.

You should give your rat the remedy when they haven’t eaten for 15 minutes. You should then ensure that they don’t eat for another 15 minutes, after the treatment has been taken.

Respiratory Infections

Use Pulsatilla 30c for mucous coughs and Antimonium Tartaricum 30c for rattling, wheezing coughs.

Aconite 6c can be used in the early stages of respiratory disease.

Spongia Tosta can be used for harsh, dry sounding coughs.

Allium Cepa can be used to treat discharge from the eyes and nose.

Bleeding from Wounds

Use Ferrum Phosphoricum 6c. Crush it and sprinkle it onto the wound.

Bumble Foot

Calendula, Echinacea used with Hypericum cream twice a day will help greatly.

Burns

Urtica Urens Tincture – Use 1 part to 4 parts water. Soak the gauze in this formula and apply to burn as soon as possible.

Use Carthans 30c every 2 hours to relieve rawness.

Use Kali Bichromium 6c every 2 hours if the burns are deep.

Bladder and Bowel Infection

Contharsis helps painful urination.

Phosphorus relieves constipation.

Arsenicum Album will help diarrhea caused by eating too much of a certain food.

Chamomilia helps to relieve watery, slimy stools.

Ringtail

Ringtail in rats is usually caused by temperature and in particular humidity. The optimal temperature range for all pet rodents is between 65°to 80°F with a relative humidity of 40 to 70%. Ringtail effects the rats blood circulation and annular constrictions and can make the tail fall off. You will notice constrictive bands along the tail.

You should make sure to feed you rat a very low fat, healthy diet and check the humidity, but you can also use the homeopathic remedy secale to help the healing process.

Eye Injury

Ruta Graveolens will help an eye injury or painful irritation.

Hypericum will also help.

Skin Itching

Rats love a good scratch, so don’t worry if you see your rat itching away. However, if during your daily health checks you notice anything strange on the skin, or your rat is itching a lot, you could try any of these treatments:

Alumen, Alumina, Bacillium or Pulsatilla

Tumors

Unfortunately rats, especially females, are very susceptible to tumors. You can try the following treatments for any tumor:

Arsen alb, Viscum alb

If the tumor is ulcerated and inflamed use Asterias

If the tumor has suppuration (pus and discharge) use Phosphorus.

Abdominal tumor

Use Hydrastis

Mammary tumor

This is probably the most common tumor you will have to deal with. My rat Ginger had a mammary tumor behind her left front leg. Until then I didn’t realize rats have nipples in such odd places.

Try any of the following:

Arsen alb, Asterias, Calc. fluor, Calc.iod, Conium, Hydrastis, Phosphorus, Scgirrinhum, Scrophularia, Thuja.

Heart Weakness

If your ratty has a weak heart use Crataegus to treat.

Shock

Arnica 200c

Aconite 30c

You can also try using Bach’s Rescue Remedy (available in most health food shops.)

To Ease Suffering Prior to Death or Euthanasia

When this time comes use the following to make your rat more comfortable:

Arsen, Tarent

For General Injury and Illness and to Relieve Pain

Use Arnica to make your rat feel better. It will reduce pain, reduce inflammation and help control bleeding.

Use Hypericum to relieve pain from nerve areas like fingers, toes, claws and tongue.

Natural Antibiotics

Rats have fast metabolisms, so you should see a difference quite quickly if you use these treatments.

Tea Tree Oil – Mild antiseptic. Add a couple of drops to your rat’s bath water and bathe them gently to help treat parasites.

Echinacea – This can treat viruses, fungi and is a great immune system booster. Add 10 drops to your rat’s water. It can also help with respiratory diseases. It is best to give it for 2 weeks on and 1 week off, as continued use can make your rat lethargic. You can add some honey or sugar if your rat doesn’t like the taste.

Goldenseal – Use this with Echinacea to combat congestion and sooth inflammation.

Garlic – This is antiviral, anti fungal and helps to open up the lungs. Use a little garlic oil over your rattie’s food.

Propolis - This can be used to sterilize and disinfect. It can also speed the healing of wounds and can soothe skin irritations. Mix it with a little warm water and dab it on the affected area. It won’t hurt your rat if he licks it off.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin Supplement – Use to treat arthritis. You can buy it in the health food shop. Give your rat about a quarter of a tablet, once a day and you should see a difference in a few days.

Remember…Always consult your vet if your rat is ill!

It is a good idea to keep some basic homeopathic remedies such as Arsen, Arnica and Echinacea, so you can treat your rat as soon as possible.

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