Weight-loss and fitting

Question
QUESTION: Hi Sandra,

My male pet rat Gonzo who is around 18months old has recently lost quite a bit of weight (around 3months ago he was pushing 900g and is now 760g - although we have also had him on a diet as he was 2heavy). I wrote to you before and you suggested that it may be a heart condition as this is what his brother recently died of, however a scan was done on his heart and everything is healthy and working fine. However, we have also noticed that at times he seems to have 'fits' at first we thought it was him having some form on nightmares as it only happened when he seemed to be asleep, and on one occasion he rose onto his hind legs like they do when fighting one another. He has only had around 3 of this fits recently but I was wondering if he could have other health problems such as epilepsy? After the fit he is confused and a little scared of things coming near him (it also doesn't help that he has poor eye-sight) but recovers very quickly which why we also thought it may have been a nightmare.

I've read that it may be epilepsy or a lack of vitamin B? could it be either of these things or something else?

Thank you!

Anderley

ANSWER: Hi

Hmmm....my first thought would be kidney disease if not heart, as these two ailments cause significant weight loss over a short period of time.

Rats can and do have seizures, often not really text book symptoms like we would think. They do stand on their hind legs, sometimes even swatting their forelimbs as if they were swatting flies.
Being a bit confused and even lethargic afterward are also seen after a seizure.

This would not really explain weight loss, though, but the chance he may be diabetic would indeed explain weight loss and when diabetes is not controlled, they can have seizures as well.

This of course is just an educated guess, but something to perhaps ask your vet to check on. I would have blood work done no matter what though. You can find out tons of information from just a few drops of blood.



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

QUESTION: Thanks Sandra,

Can I just check how blood tests on rats are carried out? As the vet told me that he would need to be put under as the blood can only be taken from the heart cavity? This is why he was hesitant to do blood tests and just did a scan before?

Thanks Again

Anderley

Answer
The proper and safe method to obtain to blood samples is from the saphenous vein (found in the rats leg/thigh area) or use the vein in the tail. We dont use the second method as often since we have to warm the rat up first in order to dilate the blood vessels.  

Is your vet a board certified avian/exotic vet or just a vet that sees exotics but is mainly for small animals like dogs and cats?