Rat and Mouse Gazette: Nursing Care (1996)
2 days ago
- Special nursing care is needed for very ill or elderly rats, including medication, warmth, and hand-feeding.
- Moderately sick rats should stay with cage mates; severely ill rats need isolation in a 10-gallon aquarium with towel bedding changed frequently.
- Keep sick rats warm by placing a heating pad under one side of the aquarium and draping a towel over half the top.
- Clean the rat with a damp rag, avoiding running water or hairdryers to reduce stress.
- Provide high-fat, nutritious foods like avocado, peanut butter, oatmeal, eggs, baby food, bananas, and cooked pasta.
- Hand-feed very sick rats using syringes (3cc, 6cc, 12cc) with various flavors; also hand-feed sugared water.
- Medications can be given orally via small syringe or subcutaneously in the scruff; avoid pills due to dosage inaccuracy.
- Fluids are critical; check dehydration by skin elasticity and weight, and administer Ringer's Lactate under the skin if needed.
- For surgery, use inhalant anesthesia, stainless steel sutures, and possibly an Elizabethan collar; do not fast rats before surgery.
- Do not administer pain medication yourself; let the vet manage pain with opioids if severe.
- Provide love and attention but allow rest for recovery.