my dumbo rat is acting extremely odd

Question
Hello, my name is Susan and I have had 2 female dumbo rats since the beginning of October.  They are already a huge part of our home.  Tuesday evening I was getting ready to clean the cage.  I noticed one acting very weird.  She was racing around in circles around the food dish.  I took the other one out and place her in the travel cage I bought for when I am cleaning out the cage and I went to get the other.  I always get her second because she is my cuddler and I always hold her and talk to her for awhile when I get her out for anything.  But she started squealing and chomped down on my finger.  This is really odd.  She has never even acted like he would bite before.  So I figured that I must have accidently picked her up odd or something and tried to get her again, she freaked out and ran all over the cage bit me again 2 more times, hard.  I had to clean as best as I could manage around him while keeping a very close eye on her. She kept racing in circles and would huddle in the corner hyperventilating and kept trying to attack me.  When she ran around the cage she would run lopsided and sometimes fall over.  She swings her head from side to side erratically and sniffs all over really hard.  She hides in his little house a lot and everytime she comes out he starts acting weird again.  

I was cautious to put the other back in with her, but she lays with her and calms her down.  They cuddle most of the day.  When I have put my hand in a few times to stroke her back or give them food the other comes up and sniffs me and has opened its mouth and placed its teeth around my finger.  I think its trying to protect the other one, but still I worry that she is getting sick too.  I can hear they are very active at night, and I wonder if she is racing all over the place again while we sleep.  

I did give them some some sausage Sunday or Monday but they have had meat before.  I wonder if maybe they ate it after it had been in there for too long.  I removed what they had not eaten the next day.  I am so worried.  I hate for there to be something wrong.  This is so out of the ordinary.  She just ran into the side of the cage out of nowhere, I don't think that's normal.  I thought there could be a problem with one of her senses, but I don't know how to tell.  I am in Monroe,  Mi and I have called all the vets in the area unable to find anyone who takes small pets.  So, I am looking for some help.  If anyone has ANY idea the answer is welcome.  Thanks so much!!

Susan

Answer
Hello Susan,

it sounds like your rat could have a lot of things going on. It could be like you said and one of his senses is going. In all honesty I am not really sure what's going on, but the behavior sounds more of a neurological problem going on. With the way she is acting I am not really sure if there is anything that could be done especially if it's a neurological problem.


Have you tried this hopsital? I am not sure if they do small animals or not, but I did a quick search and this one popped up.

Temperance Animal Hospital
(734) 847-6751