Please Help! Is my rat sick?

[Lanky]

I have had my albino rat Imogen,for 6 months now, although I do not know how old she is as she is a rescue.She has become rather fat, sleeps all the time and drinks a lot. I have not changed the way I look after her or what I feed her.
Is she ill or just getting old?
Please Help
Laura

Post a reply on the forum or if you would prefer e-mail me at lankylegslass@hotmail.com

[Wendy]

If you're worried about her and it sounds like you are, I'd suggest you pop along to your vet and have her checked over... do you let her out and play... does she have the opportunity to exercise outside her cage? The drinking a lot sounds a bit worrying so yes, I'd pop along to the vet to make sure she's ok and catch anything that maybe serious?

Bets of luck with Imogen... they're only small furries but they do have us worried at times.

Wendy

[sp0ongie]

Depending on how old she is, it could just be old age, the average life span for a rat is 1-3 yrs.... with 2 being the most average.

[undercoverrats]

My older girls are a bit bigger than the young gals. They spend more time napping as well. It could be part of getting old. I agree though, that anytime you are really worried you should see a vet. I have had alot of false alarms...but I think better safe than sorry.
Marianne