Comments on: How to Double Your Pet Rat’s Life Span

By: RatsRatsRats

RatsRatsRats — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:45:40 +0000

Hello Edith,

Thank you for your lovely comment. I am glad that you have found the tips useful. I wish our ratties lived longer. It is so sad when they pass away, but at least we know we have given them the best life possible.

3 – 3.5 years is a great age for your rat. You should be proud.

By: Edith

Edith — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:30:37 +0000

I just stumbled upon this and i really appreciate it! The way you were writing about rats, i.e when you mentioned how hard it was to see ‘our little darlings poorly’ is exactly how i would talk about them! They are amazing animals and get a bad reputation, when really they make the most wonderful pets!
I have one rat currently, and he is my 6th as i always got them in groups of two. His name is Fred (his late brother was George!)
Unfortunately i think it is too late for me to try and extend the life of my current ratty, although he is about 3/3 and a half years old, which is getting close! However, i wish i had known this when i first got my rats, as my current rat’s brother died a while ago as he got two internal tumours. It was so so so awful watching him be ill, and my healthy rat trying to comfort him, but eventually his heart gave out and he died in my arms…very sad i know, haha! Even if it is too late for the rats i have had in the past i will DEFINITELY be noting this information down for rats i will have in the future, Thanks a lot!!

By: RatsRatsRats

RatsRatsRats — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:43:03 +0000

Michelle,

I disagree with you re: pine shavings. They have been proven to worsen mycoplasma pulmonis and are terrible for the respiratory system. Your tips on keeping rats healthy may be useful, although I think everything a feeder rat breeder says about rat care should be taken with a pinch of salt. .

To be honest I am incensed that you would even comment on this site, since you breed feeder rats and kill them. You are not someone whose opinion we value as rat lovers. Since you have ‘hundreds of rats’ how can you possibly provide them with quality of life? Rats need time out of the cage. They are intelligent, mischevious and a lot of fun when given a chance to be more than snake food. Just because your rats may live long lives (if given the chance) does not mean they are happy or have good quality of life.

By: michelle r

michelle r — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:56:19 +0000

I breed feeder rats and have for almost a decade. The thing about pine shavings being toxic is false. I have 5-6 year old rats raised on them. One thing I DO find that helps them is mixing up electrolyte/ vitamin c water fresh daily for them. I mix the following in 16 ounces of water (for every 5 adult rats and babies): 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 tsp sugar, 1000mg vit c.

I feed meat daily (meat, bones organs), a balanced livestock feed, veggies, seeds, a small bit of fruit, insects and table scraps. It costs me next to nothing to keep hundreds of rats healthy and thriving. It works too considering I have 5-6 year old rats having back to back litters their whole lives. Rarely, do i have breeders die before 4 years of age (unless I kill them).

Processed, dry rat food should make up a very small part of the diet, if any. The bulk of the diet should be whole foods, not kibble.

By: RatsRatsRats

RatsRatsRats — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 01:40:07 +0000

Thank you for the tip Sandy. I am sorry to hear about your recent ratty loss. It is so sad to lose a beloved pet. I am so glad you adopted some friends for Aimee. I hope they are getting along well.

By: Sandy Vaccaro

Sandy Vaccaro — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 01:33:08 +0000

Hi, everyone. I am new to finding this site, and it is wonderful so far, thank you for putting all these resources together in one spot I just lost 2 of my 3 ratties due to age complications (one just age from what I can tell, the other mammary tumor at 2+ years) I am looking forward to adding the food varieties to their diet to see if it helps their life span! I have just added two more ratties to be companions for Aimee, the last of the original three. Whew, long story to let you all know that I have found rat blocks at my local feed store (if you have one near you), it was an unexpected place for me to find it, but it is good quality rodent blocks for a great price, much lower than the pet stores. Just thought maybe this might help someone.

By: RatsRatsRats

RatsRatsRats — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 05:07:08 +0000

Thanks for the advice. My rats are similar in that they hide their more ‘boring’ food and devour the more exciting human food leftovers etc.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:12:59 +0000

Indeed, Seren’s diet seems great.

My rats were my eating companions, and enjoyed a fish supplemented vegetarian diet as well.

I did use rat blocks, however. They liked to bury them more than anything, but would occasionally go to town on them. Especially when I didn’t make rice.

It used to be you had to order them online from specialty providers but in the past three months a load of commercial variations have been showing up on the shelves of the local pet stores. I wonder if you guys could check out a some pet retailers’ websites and get them more easily now, or just make a request for stock at local pet shops? The market really has grown recently, at least as I’ve seen it.

But, honestly, my rats didn’t do much besides play with theirs.

By: RatsRatsRats

RatsRatsRats — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:48:11 +0000

It sounds like you are a perfect rat Mum! I am in the same position with lab blocks (I can’t find any!) My rats enjoy a varied diet as well.

It certainly takes some work to sort it all out, but I am sure they love their food more than if they had the same old boring lab block.

Thank you for your comment. I bet every rat wishes they had a human like you!

By: Seren

Seren — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:53:35 +0000

I give my ratties soy milk in the hope that it will be a healthy addition to their diet…the one thing I am very careful about is to NOT give them Genetically Modified Soy
We cannot get a good rat block where I live so I have had to prepare my ratties diets myself as best I can. My ratties get quality human grade food, much of it organic and I try to balance their diet with what I read to be right for them
I am a vegetarian so my ratties do get a goodly proportion of vegetarian protein, but I also feed them sardines, tuna and egg and they have a chicken and vegie organic baby food mixed with organic rice cereal one time per week.
I try to give them a variety of grains and they love their nuts, seeds, fruits and vegies. IN fact some dinners I make for my ratties have more care and are healthier than I can find the time or energy to prepare for myself.
I have 15 ratties (9 girls and 6 boys) and they live in two double Ferret Kingdom cages – Aussie versions of the Critter Nation cage
I wish that I could get my ratties a quality lab block because it would be a lot less work for me and more time then that I could spend playng with my little sweet cuties, cheers

By: RatsRatsRats

RatsRatsRats — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:31:32 +0000

Your rats sound lovely. Could it be that one of the other rats is power grooming Binx? My rat Mingles loves to groom Pea and Pea seems to enjoy it (most of the time), however the hair on her neck is thinner than the rest of her hair, due to the grooming.

Another possibility could be mites. The best idea would be to take Binx to the vets to get her checked out.

By: ILOVERATS

ILOVERATS — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:35:28 +0000

I am on my 4th 5th and 6th rats right now. I like to get them in groups of 3. Binx, Eufer, and Raisin are their names. Love them crazy rats. My family takes all are rats to a vet named AllPets. The owner’s name is Dr. Nancy Harrington. She is one of the best animal care takers ive ever known. When I had my first 3 rats the first time i took them in to see Nancy she also informed about mammary tumors and their potential spawning in female rats. her advice was to spade them. i didnt even know that was possible at the time being tiny little cute rats. anyways i considered it but being my first set of rats i didnt know the trouble to come. about a year and a half later i found out first hand. I wish id got them fixed at a young age because i spent a fortune on surgeries to remove the tumors that would develope.I miss those rats

Today I realized Binx has a bald spot growing on her back. its on her neck right be hand the ears. all the way across and about 1/2 inch down her back. does anyone know why she suddenly started balding back there?

By: RatsRatsRats

RatsRatsRats — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 03:52:23 +0000

Thanks for your comments and resource links Renee. I am sure they will be useful to a lot of rat lovers. Whilst some research suggests soy milk may help lower the risk of tumors, it is certainly not a fool proof prevention method. Mind you my rats adore it (especially chocolate flavored), so I will keep giving it to them.

By: Renee

Renee — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:33:04 +0000

I appreciate the good tips, especially with flaxseed oil and inositol. I’ll be using those. However, soy milk may be a healthy treat, but I don’t totally agree that it helps reduces the occurrence of tumors. If that evidence was true, it certainly did not reflect on my rats.
What I do suggest is spaying female rats to prevent mammary tumors. To avoid a lengthy comment, please read this article to support my statement: http://ratfanclub.org/spay.html

I also highly recommend giving rats a vitamin supplement called chromium that is known for extending rat’s lifespan. Please review this article as well for further evidence: http://www.ratfanclub.org/chromium.html

The rest of the article with prevention of respiratory illnesses is a good start.