curled up paws

Question
My daughter's pet rat is sick and I'm afraid won't live much longer.  He is unable to move hardly at all and his front paws are curled into tight little fists.  She is currently handfeeding him which he readily accepts but is unable to move anywhere in his cage.  He did have some poryphrin staining around his nose and a funny clicking sound coming from him but both of these symptoms have decreased.  Any thoughts?

Answer
Sounds like either a stroke or a pituitary tumor.  Did it come on suddenly?

Poor little thing.  How old is he?  

Do you have a vet?  The vet can give him steroids which often helps when it is a stroke.  Continue to hand feed him. I prefer baby food so they can get the extra water that it in the baby food.

Is he able to go to the bathroom at all?

If you feel his quality of life is no good and he is miserable, the kindest action is to have him humanely and gently euthanized by a vet that knows how to euthanize small rodents.

If you need a vet let me know your location and I will find names for you.