Rat Enema - constipated

Question
QUESTION: Hi there - My pet rat splinter is two years old, when we cleaned his cage out we noticed there were no stools from him and that his tummy was swollen.
When I got home from work yesterday there was a bit of hard stool stuck to him, so i helped remove this, but there was still not much at all.
We took him to the vets and he had an enema at about five o clock yesterday - a tiny bit came out, followed by a gush of water, but since then he still does not appear to have passed a stool yet - which means its been a week and a day now :-( How long should it take for the enema to work? Am so worried about him - he is normally fine with going to the toilet - he had a spell of diarrhea about six months ago but no other problems.
any advice on anything else we can do, how long it should take or what could be causing this is extremely appreciated.
Thank you so much.
Emma xx

ANSWER: An enema, in a tiny rat?   Hmmm.....sounds a bit like a bad idea to me.

Instead, you can give your rat Senekot tablets,
using 1/8th tablet per pound once per day.  Just grind up in some baby food vegetables such as carrots or peas.  


Also, what does his daily diet consist of?


I would refrain from enemas.  Is your vet board certified in exotics or just a vet that sees exotics as an interest?  There is a huge huge difference.

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

QUESTION: Thank you for your quick response.
Where can I get the senekot tablets from please? Do i have to get these from a vet?
He normally eats normal dry rat mix, and also likes olives and chocolate drops as a treat - and the odd bit of ham.
is there any way the blockage could be something worse? Like a tumor? am just really worried with it being so long since we have seen him go to the toilet - looks like he is trying but cant get anything out

Answer
You need to change his diet badly.  He needs roughage to his diet, vegetables, some fruits. Absolutely no ham, olives or chocolate.  Reserve chocolate as a bribe or for help with respiratory infection (It contains an ingredient/chemical that helps to open airways during respiratory distress)   The dry rat mix are seed mixes and these are just so terrible for rats full of proteins and fats and nothing good for the rat at all.  Not only do they cause problems with their intestines, but some of the stuff in these mixes are linked to tumors and cancerous tumors too.  Please see my website for info on proper rat food to use.  Its simply and inexpensive and much more worth the effort than buying that garbage see mixes from the shelves.  Rats fed homemade diets that you will find on my website live longer, healthier lives with fewer health problems than those on pet store seed mixes.  My boys are 3 and 4 respectively.  Here is the URL:

http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/ratsandahealthydiet.htm

Also, the senokot can be purchased from any drug store. Its over the counter.   I am also worried that he is blocked/impacted. This is worse than constipation. This can be deadly and I am not sure I am real keen on the vet you saw that gave him an enema unless I am not understanding something.  Did he take xrays to see if he was impacted or had anything wrong inside of him, including tumors?    Please let me know your city and state and I can give you some names of good exotic vets that can help him.   I am very concerned this is serious as well.  If his belly is really bloated, this is a bad sign.