neurological issue since birth

Question
QUESTION: I got two females when I started out with the whole rat thing...both were pregnant...so I soon had 21 rats within a few weeks of being a first time rat owner. I went nuts and spent hours researching every thing you can imagine about rats in all stages of their life. I became very knowledgeable very fast. Mozie, the rat I took home first, had a litter of 9. Within days I knew that one of them was having trouble and working twice as hard as the others. I know that rats will eat their baby immediately if they suspect a problem -but Mozie actually showed extra attention to her. As the other 8 were learning to walk and beginning to lift their heads I noticed that Mini's (named on a whim and bc she was a runt) head was as big as her body and she kinda had to drag it to get around. With that exception she developed totally normally and grew into her head. By the time she was about 6 weeks I had a friend watch the girls while I was gone. That was when she had her first "seizure". We got to calling these episodes seizures but Im not sure if that's really whats going on. Out of my 4 rats, she has the strongest immune system and is otherwise healthy. she is 16mths old and isnt showing any sign of age. I've always thought of it as a seizure, but here is what they are like: She will suddenly freeze for a second and than BAM she shots around that cage/tank with force as if someone was throwing her. At first she screamed but after her second seizure she didn't scream or anything. It often pauses and she runs to the nearest 'bed' or goes down into her tissue box. and it happens again. She has been partially paralyzed twice now to my knowledge. The first time we were about to put her down because she was entirely paralyzed when she kicked me. within half an hour she was back as if nothing happened. Her movements are often very spasm like. She lives with her mom who has become jaded by them. At times she is like any rat and will gently take a treat from me and wrestle around with Mozie. I keep reading everywhere that rats with seizures died within a couple months etc. That's the farthest from reality here. Everyone is in agreement that she will outlive all my other rats if she doesnt die from impact on the tank walls. Are these actually seizures? They are not entirely random. they seem to be triggered most of the time. They happen on a nightly basis. Do seizures act this way?

ANSWER:
Sounds like little Mini may have had a mild          form of hydrocephalus. If this is the case, eventually, the swelling goes away slowly and the rat is believe to "grow" into their body as they age, often not realizing the rat has a mild form of hydrocephalus. They can survive this condition if it is mild, but there are possible complications that may be seen due to this condition as the rat ages. One of these complications would indeed be seizures.


One thing though, little Minis episodes dont really seem to fit the bill when it comes to typical seizures that rats have. I am one NOT to go by classic text book as I have found over the many years working with these furballs that they can go right off the charts with alot of their illnesses etc....often beating the odds when they were thought to be doomed for life due to illness or else showing odd signs that were unheard of in some diseases etc...  

That said, here are the "typical" signs of seizures in rats:


1.  The rat may stand on on her hind legs and begin to sniff real hard. **This is seen in humans sometimes before they have seizures and is linked sensory disturbances. Some people claim they smell something sweet or else very bad right before having a seizure.

2. She may wave her paws or swat/bat at the air with her paws.

3. Her muscles may become very stiff and she may fall over, clenching her teeth.

4. They may flail their body violently, often displaying uncontrollable jerking or types of spasms of the entire body or parts of the body.

5. They may fall asleep right after or being very exhausted from the episode.  They may also act very thirsty too.

That said, again, although your rats actions do not really describe "eactly" what a typical seizure acts like in rats, it is never the less, some sort of "episode" that has a pattern of repeating itself on a daily basis and if I am correct with my diagnosis about her having a mild case of hydrocephalus, this would easily explain her behavior now as she enters her later adult years. This does kind of explain her temp paralysis though, at least to me it does.

Do you have a decent vet?  When I say decent (I should learn how to choose my words better huh) I mean, a vet that is an exotic vet that has experience with rats, not just a regular vet that will see rats and guess his way through an exam, often resulting in treating the rat like a dog or cat, which means, the rat is not getting the proper care he deserves.    If you need a vet, let me know and I will gladly give you some names of vets that treat rats.  I just need to know your location.

Her episodes, which I will also refer to them as a type of seizure that is not classic text book, liquid Diazepam (valium) may help considerably.  There is no need to worry that valium would put the rat in a coma.  Remember, rats have a super fast metabolic rate and can take most any medication humans can take, and tolerate it very well too.  They can actually take 1mg per pound of valium safely to control seizures.  This does NOT make them all loopy and clumsy since it is burned up by the super fast metabolic rate rats have. A vet that knows how to treat rats  and all of their many ailments that they may get, will know all about how to properly treat this and will not flinch at the suggestion of valium being use.  If the vet fusses, you can bet your bottom dollar he is clueless about rat care and that means move on!  

I feel that little Mini may benefit from a good exam, starting with blood work done such to as to check for disturbances or an imbalance.
with electrolytes and to check the blood sugar as well. Even a CT scan may be helpful, although costly, and at this stage of her life, it may not be that important since she has lived to be as old as she is already.  Sounds like for the most part, she is a real trooper and has fought a good fight to get where she is in her life.  

What is her diet, by the way?




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

QUESTION: She eats Beneful -the dog food along with the rest of the rats. she's picky too, she won't touch the left over Iam's. All four rats get fresh fruits and veggies to compensate for what might be lacking in their staple food.
As far as a vet is concerned I see Dr. Gregory Mertz (aka the Odd Pet Vet) in South Weymouth MA. He has had rats of his own and really specializes in them as well as all other exotic pets. He has mentioned that there is a diet I can give her that will stop the "seizures" for lack of a better word. But this means separating the two girls entirely and we agreed that might do more harm psychologically than good. I really don't have the money to do any serious testing but I was told I could give her some valium when she was young and visited Angel Memorial. Her "seizures" are not nearly as bad as they used to be with an exception maybe monthly. My mother who also observes her agrees that it appears she is actually getting better. She has also become more social with me than ever, making me believe that she has gained control over her brain to an extent. Back to the valium. I obviously can't go get valium exactly. I however am perscribed clonazepam for myself. Would this be an acceptable substitute? My only concern is getting my rat addicted to Rx drugs. you can understand how that might come across. There is now way to administer any treatment during her episodes. In order to give her something she has to be extremely calmed and want it. -I'm tricky and could get it into her in the late evening when they seem to happen.
This girl HAS beaten all odds. Her mother has also been extremely tolerant -she, I believe, might have been bitten by Mini immediately before an episode when her brain was not rational. What stumps me is that she shows no sign of deterioration which you would expect with seizure causing diseases or disorders. If clonazepam is an acceptable substitute, how much should I administer, I am Rx'ed .5 mg tablets but can crush them down to nothing if necessary. Also, at the onset of her episodes, she actually crouches down and freezes rather than standing up and flailing her limbs.

Answer
Dont worry about addiction.  Even if she did become dependent on them, if it helps, who cares?  This would be something you would use for life anyhow if it works.  However rats have a super fast metabolic rate so they burn the majority of it.
Once long ago I had a 4 year old wild rat that was finally nearing the end of her life. She had a stroke and my vet, who is a top notch exotic vet and diplomat for the board of veterinarians told me to go ahead and give her more valium than normal to put her into a deep sleep. We were hoping she would let go.  That little stinker kept waking up for me while in my arms and she had been given a total of 7 mg yes SEVEN mgs. and it just made her rest, nothing else. She was frail and thin and just weighed about 188 grams (very tiny in the first place) but she fought that valium tooth and nail

I will look up the dose your rat needs of the clonazepam (Klonopin) and if its ok to use.  I wont be able to find a dose if its not rat approved of course.  I would ask the vet about using valium though...or even phenobarb?