loopy pet.

Question
hello, my pet fancy rat, rocketship, has been acting funny.
she is almost 2, and has calmed down a lot lately.  now, however, when she is
running around its like she's always leaning to the right.  this is to such a
degree that she'll sometimes spin clockwise 4 times, when called, before
coming to me.  upon arrival, she'll flop down on her right-hand side.
there are no discharges, bulging eyes, thinning hair, bumps, etc. but this is
by no means normal behavior.  none of my internet research has listed
anything like this.  have you encountered this sort of behavior before?

Answer
Hi Matt

Sorry if this took so long to answer. It did not come to anyone specifically and was floating around in "no mans land" so I took the question and will help the best I can help.

Sounds like one of two things, and to get to the second diagnosis my suggestion is process of elimination so to speak.

Inner ear infection will cause this exact type of behavior. Inflammation and excessive fluid in the semicircular canals located above the cochlea cause loss of balance and also spinning and walking in circles. The rat may also take on what is called a head tilt.  The culprit is usually bacterial and the origin in pet rats is most commonly found to be mycoplasmosis.  Treatment consists of baytril given orally and it wouldn't hurt to give eardrops with baytril in them as well. Steroids are often used but since they are known to compromise the immune system and should be used as a back up to an NSAID such as metacam.  The spinning and circling should subside in a few days after antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medications start to work.
If she has a head tilt it may take longer to go away and sometimes it is never 100 resolved.  Problems with head tilt consist of not being able to drink from the nipple of the water bottle or eat good and if this is the case you will need to assist her.  You can offer baby foods and allow her to lick them from your finger if that is how she wants it...and offer water from a syringe.

Now the bad news:

If after aggressive treatment the rat continues to decline and more neurological symptoms start to creep in such as loss of the use of front paws or weakness when you notice she cannot grip her paws on her food or around your finger etc...that is the first sign that it is NOT an inner ear infection. She may be unable to move her jaws to chew. She may become more unstable and begin to fall over and roll and is unable to get up. This, unfortunately, is a result of something that is very common in elderly intact female rats, which is a pituitary tumor.  Sadly, prognosis is poor and the only thing you can do is keep her comfortable and if she gets worse and has no quality of life, a decision needs to be made to have her put to sleep humanely.
I am not saying this is what she has mind you, and am hoping it is indeed inner ear infection and not the second option.

If you feel better you can check what I have told you by going to various websites that are accurate such and looking up pituitary tumors in rats or otitis media and head tilt in rats.

You little girl no doubt needs a vet and she needs to see one that is qualified in treating pet rats. I am amazed since I have been here answering questions how many people do NOT have the right vet for their rats and some are given terribly bad advice, such as to put a rat to sleep and not try to treat them for ailments that can easily be treated.
If you do not have a vet that is experienced with rats please let me know your city, state and other big cities within a 50 mile radius so I can help locate someone for her.
Hopefully she will be back to normal with proper treatment after a week or so.

good luck!

Regards

Sandy