Older female rat help!

Question
QUESTION: Hi I bought a female rat about a year ago, for my daughter.
" Minnie mouse" well I think she have had stroke. She's limp on her left backside. I'm not sure if she's in pain, she has a hard time holding her food, but will not drink out of the water bottle. I don't want her to suffer, What can I do?

ANSWER: I am a bit concerned she may have a pituitary tumor as this is one of the big signs when they cannot use their forelimbs to grasp and hold objects. She is pretty young for a stroke, but its hard to say either way.  I would give her baby food to lick and pamper her, try to keep her well hydrated. Be sure she is in a single story cage also so she is near food and wont risk falling. Wipe her back side good so she doesnt develop urine burn if she is unable to clean herself well.

Where in Washington do you live?  I know a great vet there but need to know your city or the largest city your closest to.  If its a stroke, sometimes steroids can help out and she can continue to live her life despite some handicap.  You will need to keep her comfortable and help her out more than usual however, but if she can lick baby food this will keep her nourished and hydrated until she is seen by a good vet.  Not any vet will do and I am picky about vets since so many think or CLAIM they know what they are doing but they dont. Scary out there thats for sure.  Please let me know so I can help find a vet for your girl even if its to help put her down when the time comes...another thing not any vet knows how to do humanely.

Please see my personal site, sandyscrittercity.com and refer to the page on rat illnesses and check out about tumors and pituitary tumors.  This is a tumor on the base of the brain that is inoperable in rats but sometimes steroid use can help give her more time to live a quality life.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for responding. I appreciate it dearly. I have been giving her oatmeal, that she seems to love but I'm not sure if its enough nutrients. I will get some baby food I'm assuming the vegetable kinds? I am really concerned that she is not drinking out of her bottle, can I give her water a different way?
I live in Marysville, WA.  I do not like her suffering and it might be easier to put her down, but want it down humanely! This is very hard and I am very sad about this as is my daughter, but taking her out of her misery, verses watching her suffer and then finding her one of these days, may be harder on all. She also falls over when she walks.

Answer
I am sorry to hear about her being so bad off. I am hoping for perhaps an answer, and maybe even a treatment if anything, but if not, one vet that would know how to care for her is about 40 mins. from you but well worth the drive for peace of mind to know that you saw one of the best vets in your state, in fact, on the west coast, period. This woman is not only an avian/exotic vet but is also a fantastic small exotic companion mammal vet and knows plenty about rats. Please consider calling this clinic even trying them on Saturday,and taking the little rat in to see Dr. Delaney. She is a diplomat with the ABVP-exotic companion mammal specialty, which is a big deal. If I wasnt across the country this would be my vet hands down.

As for baby food, fruits are better if she isnt drinking. There is alot of water content in stage 1 baby foods.  

The clinic is open Saturdays from 9am to 1pm

Dr. Cathy Johnson-Delaney
Eastside Avian and Exotic Animal Medical Center  
12930 NE 125th Way
Kirkland WA 98034
Phone:    425-821-6165 or 1-888-821-6165
Website: www.avianexoticmedcenter.com

please keep me posted. Also, you can contact me at my personal email at sandyscrittercity. @ yahoo.com and if you need me sooner, my home number is 704 2844853.