Teaching Rats

Question
Hi Sandra.

Just booking the second appointment at the vets. They havent stopped scratching. Ive emailed the National Fancy Rats Society to see if they can recommend a decent rat vet in the UK where i live. I dont want one that just keeps injecting medicine!!

I was wondering..how have you trained your rats to the command of yes and no? Fudge is constanly chewing my furniture and now Toffee has started trying to chew the bottom of the door to explore the rest of my appartment!!!!
I love them both to bits and love getting them out but they are ruining everything.
Ive brought rice puffs for training as they arent too bad for them. Also they dont make Yoghurt Cheerios in the UK!!!!

Thanks

V

Answer
Ahhhhhhhh your allowing them to free range unattended? Lucky little Vermin!!

I don't usually suggest that mainly because, well, they are rats after all.

You will need to keep them in the cage when your not around because it is pretty trying to get them to understand no and yes.

I use a squirter bottle when they are getting into trouble. They HATE having a shot of water near them (never squirt directly at them) and although I should not laugh its pretty funny when my 2 pound bucks are fighting or should I say "rough housing" and I squirt the area next to them and they both jump a foot in the air like WHAAAAT THE HECK?!!  

LOL

They stop on the spot and of course I say NO along with the spray bottle. You can try that and also take them away from whatever it is they are doing.

I wouldn't expect miracles though because they will chew on things when your not there so you may need to block off areas you don't want them to get in while your not home or keep them in the cage. If they have a large cage its fine to keep them in and safer for them too actually.

About the itching....we did talk about mites and high protein in their diets and so far, no luck, right?

Lets suggest perhaps to the Vet that they may be dealing with Dermatitis / Eczema that is non specific.  Although it often is related to the diet, it can be non specific.
If this is the route to take, I would suggest an anti-histimine such as diphenhydramine/Benedryl, and Corticosteroids such as prednisone or dexamethasone.

You can try rubbing them with a benedryl ointment as well.

However, since your going to the vets, I would let him know what has been done so far (ivermectin shots and you have toned down the protein in their diet) and suggest perhaps what I just said.  Its worth a shot!
Also, keep with the low protein diet regardless...no more than 18 percent because this contributes to kidney disease in elderly rats which is just one more thing you sure dont want to deal with!

Thanks for writing and keep me posted. This will also help me too in the long run since so far it has not been diagnosed properly.

Good luck!

Sandy