Pet rat not acting or looking like herself

Question
Hi Sandra,
On sunday we came home from a Thanksgiving dinner to find one of our pet rats (Lily) dead in the cage, she was all curled up like she had been sleeping. There was no indictaion that there was anything worng with her, just that morning we had all four out for playtime before we left. Anyways Yesterday (monday) I noticed our rat Lucky was acting really sleepy, she has lost weight, cannot use her right paw and is walking with her head tilted to the side, also when she eats (I have to feed her)she uses only the left side of her mouth. She holds onto my finger with her left paw (for support) while I give her soft foods...eggs, grapes, yogurt etc... Is it possible she had a stroke or did the other rat possibly have something that was passed onto Lucky. I should add that Lily wasn't even a year old...she was pregnant when we got her (unknown to us)she gave birth to six babies but they died all within 3 days....Lucky on the other hand is going on two this november and has always been our little "Fatty Ratty" but now she is smaller with a lot of fur loss.....I am really worried! Thanks!

Answer
I am so sorry for your loss.  Its hard to say what the rat died from. It could be anything from heart disease to a brain aneurysm, which is not uncommon in rats at any age.

As for the one with the head tilt...I am a bit worried and fear that she may have a pituitary tumor.  Please review the info on my site, sandyscrittercity.com about pituitary tumors,

http://www.sandyscrittercity.com/pituitarytumors.htm

which signs include head tilt, walking in circles, inability to hold food with their front paws and eventually may be unable to chew, losing the use of their hind legs or notice weakness in their hind legs etc...  Let me know once you review this info and compare signs and symptoms etc... you can also reach me at Sandyscrittercity@yahoo. com which is my personal email.