Orphan Rat Behavior

Question
QUESTION: Hello Sandra,
I am hand raising 2 baby male rats since they were ~5 days old when their mother was killed by a cat. These were my neighbor's but they will not feed them every 2-3 hrs and the local pet stores will not either.    
They are now ~16 days old--their eyes opened a couple of days ago.  Overall they seem very healthy, and love to eat and be held.  They run to my hand, chirp, and snuggle against my cheek. Their ears are open and their fur is starting to fluff up.  [btw I feed them human baby soy replacement milk]  These babies are a delight and I adore them.

There are 2 things that seem odd to me tho.  One is that sometimes after they have their first sip of formula [from an eyedropper], they will open their mouth wide and stretch their front legs and stand there totally stiff for a few seconds.  Then they literally jump out of it and grab for the formula [which is neither too hot nor too cold] and drink away fine.  Any ideas?

Second [and more concerning] odd thing is that one baby, who drinks nicely [so nothing went down his lungs], after a feeding will sometimes start quietly breathing through his mouth, lightly opening and closing it, and I hear a light "clicking" sound.  He will do this for about 15 minutes and then behave fine and breathe quietly.  After a nap, he will be hungry and normal again. This does not happen every time or every day.  Just maybe 3 times in the ~10 days I've had him.  Any guess on this too?

By the way, I would really like to know if there is a vet who specializes in rats near me.  I am in the immediate northern suburbs of Philadelphia [zip 19046].  Do you know of any in my area??
Many thanks,
Emmy

ANSWER: This is amazing that you were able to get the pups to survive. Do you know that it is almost rare to get pups to survive before they open their eyes??? GOOD JOB TO YOU!

Next up, I am not sure if I understand what the rats are doing that concerns you with your first question, but the one where one of the pups is open mouth breathing does concern me a great deal. He needs seen by a vet.  

A word of wisdom: DO NOT tell the vet these are wild hybrid rats or there is a chance they will not see them, considering them wild life.  I raised a wild rat from 11 weeks old and did not tell my vet but he had an idea just by her appearance. He had no problem with it. You cannot release these rats into the wild now anyhow as they have the human imprint on them now. I know many people that have kept wild rats as pets and all was fine, there are no disease that they carry etc... nothing different than the fancy rat. They are just as susceptible to the same things the fancy rats are, including mycoplasmosis that can cause respiratory infection.

I do think that this pup may have a problem with his lungs, but its impossible for me to say without seeing him and listening to him breathe etc... he can be treated with medication but this of course means a really good vet for him, which is what I believe I have found for you.

Here is what I have  for vets in your area:    This is by far the best facility ever for

Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania    
3900 Delancey Street
Philadelphia PA 19104-6010
Phone:    215-898-7862
Website:    www.vet.upenn.edu/ryan/

please keep me  posted!

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

QUESTION: Hello again Sandra,
First off, thank you for your kind words about my luck with raising them since 5 days old.  I am very lucky and blessed.  Secondly, apologies if my msg was unclear--these are pet not wild rats.  My neighbor had the mother and it was killed unfortunately.  She was not willing to try to raise the babies so I offered as I couldn't imagine not trying.  They may be just 2 little lives but they are the only lives they get.

Thank you for responding so fast!  And for suggesting Penn.  I got your message yesterday morning and called their clinic.  Since it is intermittent and the babies are fine otherwise [both breath quietly], and since the babies were not in distress and eating and drinking fine, they wouldn't see them until next week.  They told me to take them to the ER if this changed.  I spoke with someone there for quite awhile about all the symptoms and he thought it might be due to eating out of the eye dropper [gulping and maybe swallowing funny].  Since they are 2 days shy of about 3 weeks, I have been giving them some Gerber baby cereal mixed up with formula in a tiny bowl.  He suggested I do this exclusively and just keep it extra runny to see if this stops the funny breathing after the one would eat.  So far, they are eating/slurping away and no mouth breathing.  So, I am going to keep an eye on them and see what the next few days bring.  What do you think?  By the way, if you know any other rat vet in my area, that would be great, as walking in Penn costs about $120 before any meds or tests.

Many thanks again for your FAST and helpful reply.  I'll keep you posted.  I'll tell you this much--these babies are very very friendly and love people due to this hand raising!  All fluffy and seeing better each day!  Very cute.  I've never had rats before and I have heard great things about them.  Do you thinkg they'll stay attached to me if I keep them?

Cheers,
Emmy

Answer
HI

I am so happy you called and they talked to you. Not many vets are willing to do that without an established client-doctor relationship.   It makes sense that the baby is swallowing air etc...but better it come from a professional rather than from me.  I have alot of experience with rats, but not as much experience with rat pups since they usually dont come into the clinics often and I have only had the pleasure of raising two litters but the two momma rats did all the work.

As for bonding, you have made friends for life. RATs bond with their owner and the bond goes deep. THEY WILL want to run and play more than cuddle at first but by the time they are around 7 months old that all changes. Males become lap rats and would rather lay on you and watch a movie with you. Females are cuddly but remain full of energy most of their lives.  I prefer males not only for that reason but also because unless you spay female rats before 6 months of age, they are very prone to developing mammary tumors after estrus cycle ends around 14 to 18 months.

Please check out my website for all the info you need on raising pet rats, from proper diet (Once they are around 4.5 weeks old they should be eating regular food) and bedding etc...

Here is the URL

http://sandyscrittercity.com/

AS FOR vets....although the place I gave you is probably the best around that is pretty steep. I wish these places would remember we are having a bit of an economic CRISIS Here? HELLO VET CLINICS??   LOL   Sheesh!  People are willing to treat their pets but its making it more difficult with the economy in the state it is in and it doesnt seem that these places are working to meet us even a fourth of the way.  That High fee is probably for the first visit and after that it is lower, but that is still crazy expensive, more than a human physician charges for their first visit.

Here is another Vet to try but I cant promise they are as good as They Ryan Clinic, but this place does have experience of course, so I would give them a call.

Dr. Esteban Baeza
Street Road Animal Hospital    
4869 Street Road
Trevose PA 19053
Phone:    215-396-4747
Website: www.stroadanimalhospital.com