introducing a 3yr old rat to 2 new baby rats

Question
QUESTION: Dear Sandra,

How have you been?  Its been a while since I have asked for your advice, which now if you wouldnt mind I need again!

We have female a rattie who will be 3 yrs of age in a couple of months, she use to have a sis (whom i have messaged you about previously)... she passed away in march this year.  the remaining girl has been alone since.
she has eaten fine, plays around, and interacts great with everyone pefectly.

A week ago we brought home another 2 girls, they are Pink eyed - about 7 weeks.  they are kept in a seperate home than the older girl.  the little ones are fine &have adjusted great, they interact with the older girl nicely, they appear to enjoy eachothers company.

BUT the problem is with the older girl, in one week she seems to have put on weight (and shes never been fat), her movement has gone a bit slower, just seems dazed overall.
Last night she particularly seemed annoyed.  the little girls make ALOT of noise when the lights are off, so i thought maybe that annoys the older girl, so we now keep them seperate rooms, just 1 weeks trial to see if the older girl feels better.

I thought maybe she remembered her sister, and feels lonely because the little girls are playing together. maybe thats made her depressed and hence the weight gain and lack of activity...

is this normal?  is there anything we can do for the older girl? im really worried about her, she was perfect before the little girls came here.  the whole reason we got the new girls was to make the older girl happier... but seems to have backfired!!  The 2 new girls are soo cute, we love them to bits!!!!

thank you for reading
kully

ANSWER: I am doing really good!!
As always, it is nice to hear from you!!

I think the girls all need more time to get used to everything. Have you put the girls in her cage yet?

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

QUESTION: Thanks for replying.

no we haven't put the 2 girls in the older girls cage. when they meet, it is outside both their cages, just so neither feels the other is intruding i guess.

One other thing is that the older girl appears to be having difficulty pooping.  she use to just back up into a corner and lift her tail and be done quick.

but now she takes alot longer to go toilet, is slower at pooing and stretches her body out like in difficulty, and has to adjust herself while doing it.  she might not be having difficulty.... but it looks like she is.

have u any idea what this may be? is it just old age stuff?

I have never seen a girl reach almost 3 years, so this is all new to me.  My other 4 girls passed away just after 2 yrs from tumors and breathing problems.

I dont really know whats associated with old age, and what is a real sympton of a problem, but i am reading about what to expect!  

so do you reckon shes constipated>?  what can we do to help?  i think we should be taking her to the vets next week for a little check up.

Thank you.

kully

ANSWER: I have had two three females live beyond 3 years of age. Charlotte who lived to be 3 years and 3 months, Oreo, Charlottes daughter, lived to be 3 years and 6 months and more recently, my wild girl Holly, who died 2 months shy of her 4th birthday.  As for my males, right now I just lost Templeton, who was 3.5 years old and his brother Bo is still around and he is 7 months past his 3rd birthday.  What I can tell you about old age and rats is this: A rat was not built to survive beyond 2 years old. Their skeletal system just wasnt expecting any of this! LOL! With the help of Veterinary medicine opening their doors to treating our rodents and learning more about their well being and proper care and also the fact that people that own rats are taking steps to educate themselves beyond normal expectations, some knowing even more than the traditional Veterinarian, our rats are living longer as you have found. So things start to slowly fail, starting with their weary skeletal system. Almost like humans in a way, when, although some younger people have arthritis, like myself, I have had, in very unprofessional terms, one hell of a "sucky" lower back since I was 23 years old, now I am 45 and actually used to pain by now, which isnt very fair but so such as life....and so I dont babble off topic I will turn to constipation. If her diet hasnt changed, possibly her fluid intake has. You can check on that for starters. Also, add a bit of olive oil to her diet. Putting some on a cracker three times a day till you notice a change in her bathroom habits. Does she get vegetables and fruit?

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

QUESTION: thanks for that.  so it seems our little girl could be in her last year.

In terms of the constipation, you are right shes drinking alot less water than she used, we noticed this over the last couple of weeks.  I dont know why shes reduced her water intake...

We will start with the olive oil and crackers tomorrow.  she eats some form of veg pretty much everyday, but gets fruit less often.

are there any pointers you can give for what foods are good for elderly rats?

How can i get her to drink more water?  she barely even licks it off my finger now.

also as she has put on weight... funny question.... how can i help her lose weight? is that even possible considering she doesn't like running around anymore?

Thank you
kully

Answer
What is her diet?  Usually the key is to re-evaluate her diet rather than cut back on it. Usually its not how much they eat, its what they eat the packs the pounds on.

Also to get liquids in her, give her baby food...the stage 1 type foods that is more water than anything.