[CrWoodyspets]

I got my new girlies (Marlie and Lola) on Sunday. They were sneezing, but as I heard that was normal. Today is Wednesday and they were only getting worse and wheezing. Marlie had been lethargic and not even moving when I tryed to touch her or pet her. Lola would sit in the corner wrapped in a fleece blanket.

When I first brought them home, my little brother stuck his fingers in the cage and Lola bit him. I didn't think much of it, because they were really scared and of course they don't have good eyesight. I tried to pick her up yesterday and she jumped across the cage and lunged at my hand! I still didn't really think about it because they were really scared, but....

Today my mom called the petstore and they said they would take them to the vet free of charge so we brought Marlie in and it took us about 20 minutes to catch her but she never tried to bite or anything like that. We brought her to the store and the lady said that she needed help because you could hear her breathing. When she tried to pick her up though, Marlie squeaked and yelped and FREAKED out. She said that rats shouldn't act like that and it is hopefully because she is sick. We said that Lola was doing the same thing and the told us to bring her in. My mom put on gloves and tried to catch her to put her in a carrying cage but she was leaping and flying and attacking her hand! We brought the whole cage to the store and the worker got her out and put her in the back so the vet can see them tomorrow. She came back out to talk to us and said that most rats are not aggressive like Lola and that she thinks we should trade her for a different rat.

My parents are starting to think the same thing too. They asked me if I should give those back to the pet store and get some babies from a breeder. NO WAY! I do not want to do that and feel like I gave up on them and know that my baby girls will most likely be snake food. I haven't held them yet, but I am already very attached to them. The pet store lady said that we could give them up and get different ones or we could wait. I said we need to wait for them to get better. So now my baby girls are at the vet where they will get medicine and treatment for 2 weeks! (unless the vet finds nothing wrong and we can take them back) The worker told us that if Lola is not sick then she doesn't think we should take her back, that not very many rats are aggressive but some are occasionally. I REALLLY hope she is sick because I don't want to give up on her, but I don't want a rat that I am scared of and that I can never hold.

Sorry about the longness and the sort of rant...I hope it makes sense. I am just so upset about the whole thing right now. I wish I had nice healthy rats right now and was playing with them :gaah: I will give and update as soon as I hear from the vet tomorrow.

 

[Diamond01]

Rats like any animal and people react in diffrent ways when in pain. You did good by sticking with them and not giving up. The way they were acting becuase of a new place was what was though to be the problem. And granted this still proably is. they are gonna be jumpy becuase they still dont know you to well and are sick.
Picking them up could have caused them discomfert if they have a URI Uper respatory infection. which by picking them up as bad as you described them proably cuased them some discomfert, but dont blam your self you nore us here new. They were acting as all newbies do. Point is you are a good mommy rat becuase you watched and stuck by them. Your instincks are good in reading them becuase you knew even though they acted normal that something was not right you just could not put your finger on it. Granted we all blessed you and told you it was normal and we were right but you are there with them 24/7 your 1st insticks were right that there could be something worng. Dont ever lose that.
To make it short last year I had a kidney and blater infection on top of one another. Oh that sucked. About 3 months later my cat DC started staying in the litter box more and meowed at times. I though it was the run or time to reworm becuase he gets that way at worming time. So they all got wormed as in the cats and dogs. Well he seemed aright for a got 3 or 4 days but something told me that even though ever one told me it was normal that their was something eals their (like you senced about your rats) and shure enough I relized after he peed in the tub he either had a kidney or blater infection. And I was right when I got his tested on the blater infection. Thanks to me being sick I was able to pin point the illness but with out me being sick it would have still alerted me becuase its what is called mothers intuishion. Which is what you have.
You did right by takign them to the vet and most pet stores after perches dont take the animal back to vet check at all. you said they were weizing which is sighns of URI and then they would lunge at you or bit. Its proably 1 they are scared and dont relize you are trying to help them and 2 their could be more wrong with them. But they are in and vets hands now. I hope your girls make it and are not to bad and have to be put down but if they are which is something you may have to consider that you gave them a loving home and they were not snake food. granted you may not have been able to really hold them or play with them but for the short time you had them they new a safe home and not one were they would be food.
I do hope that they get better and you can bring them home and play with them and that they get better really soon. That lady that said they are not ushally agressive like that is right but if you hurt and couldnt talk to tell anyone how eals would you react. I'm proud of you for sticking by them when they need you the most. A little love goes a long way. I think her agression is becuase she is sick and not a mean rat. They were nice when you got them and you held them they were just a little shy. Granted one bit your brother but that could have been normal like we all said or a warning to you that they didnt feel good. Sometimes it takes us humends a while to get what an animal is trying to tell us.
You need to try and relax now and know that they are in the vets hands and we will be all here praying with you for the best. who ever told you to trade them in should have though before she spoke. I understand what she ment and were she was coming from but she has to relize they are scares and sick their gonna act acgressive, now if you had them for a while maybe not. I know it will be hard to relax worrying about them but you have to be strong for them know.
Take care and let us know what is going on. Wishing you all the best.
Diamond

 

[lilspaz68]

She sounds scared, sick and unsocialized...its hard for petstore rats to be socialized, and its almost typical at times, it does NOT mean she's aggressive. Sick rats are frightened, in new environments, not being able to breathe and will defend themselves. I don't think Lola is aggressive she just needs more time than Marlie.

Poor little sick girlies...did they tell you what the treatment would be? Did they say they would be AT the vets or be seen by the vet? A lot of times these sick returnees are shoved out back into a small room. The vet comes by and sees them, leaves meds for the employees to give to these little animals.

Are you allowed updates on your girls? Or just the "call back in 2 weeks" crap?

 

[Dustette]

aww, it's gonna get better!
if I were you I would keep them even if they are not sick, they need time to come around!
I mean louna was sweet from the beginning but it took a few months of a lot of handling for her to trust me 100% and now I can do whatever I want with her! When they're better, take the time each day to talk to them, sit next to the cage so they get used to you and your smell and all that good stuff, and i'm sure it'll get better

 

[mtmaughan]

Why can't you treat them at home? This situation sounds odd to me, I would take them to a vet who is not associated with a pet store. You should be able to give them the meds at home, plus a lot of times a 2 week course in antibiotics is not long enough to really clear up an infection. See if you can get the meds and treat them at home for 3 to 4 weeks.

 

[VanillaRat]

I am sorry your dealing with this,especially with your first rats.
The "flying around" is exactly what my Armin was doing and you have read my threads about that,he is/was scared and is calming down now.Your girls should with time.I know it is stressful,I have recently been there with Armin (except he is not sick).

As for the vet thing,I would not trust a pet store vet and leaving them there for two weeks? I dunno,thats suspicious to me.I had sick rats and never had to leave them with a vet for that long.They always came home with me and I was given meds to give them myself.I never heard of keeping rats at the vet for that long and pet store vets I wouldn't trust anyway.

I hope everything turns out well.

 

[CrWoodyspets]

She sounds scared, sick and unsocialized...its hard for petstore rats to be socialized, and its almost typical at times, it does NOT mean she's aggressive. Sick rats are frightened, in new environments, not being able to breathe and will defend themselves. I don't think Lola is aggressive she just needs more time than Marlie.

Poor little sick girlies...did they tell you what the treatment would be? Did they say they would be AT the vets or be seen by the vet? A lot of times these sick returnees are shoved out back into a small room. The vet comes by and sees them, leaves meds for the employees to give to these little animals.

Are you allowed updates on your girls? Or just the "call back in 2 weeks" crap?

They are going to be seen by the vet and given the proper meds and then we are going to get a call today one they are seen by the vet and go from there. We are allowed to go see them whenever we want and the worker assured me that they will get played with while they are there, although I am not so sure...

Why can't you treat them at home? This situation sounds odd to me, I would take them to a vet who is not associated with a pet store. You should be able to give them the meds at home, plus a lot of times a 2 week course in antibiotics is not long enough to really clear up an infection. See if you can get the meds and treat them at home for 3 to 4 weeks.

The only reason they are going to be there is because it is free for them to be there. They gave us back our money for the rats and they will be staying there and getting treated and once they are better than we will just buy them back. Maybe once I know what the sickness is I can go from there.

 

[CrWoodyspets]

I am sorry your dealing with this,especially with your first rats.
The "flying around" is exactly what my Armin was doing and you have read my threads about that,he is/was scared and is calming down now.Your girls should with time.I know it is stressful,I have recently been there with Armin (except he is not sick).

As for the vet thing,I would not trust a pet store vet and leaving them there for two weeks? I dunno,thats suspicious to me.I had sick rats and never had to leave them with a vet for that long.They always came home with me and I was given meds to give them myself.I never heard of keeping rats at the vet for that long and pet store vets I wouldn't trust anyway.

I hope everything turns out well.

I want to keep Lola with me too because I know that she is really scared. Plus the vet is not someone from the pet store, a real vet who is coming to look at them...but I will see how it goes.

 

[FlickeringHope]

Why can't you treat them at home? This situation sounds odd to me, I would take them to a vet who is not associated with a pet store. You should be able to give them the meds at home, plus a lot of times a 2 week course in antibiotics is not long enough to really clear up an infection. See if you can get the meds and treat them at home for 3 to 4 weeks.

Agreed, agreed!!! I think the last thing they'd neat - heck, the last thing ANY newly adopted pet needs, is to be kept someplace unfamiliar without the comforts of a home.

And I also agree. You did the right thing by refusing to give them up.

 

[Jennicat]

They are going to be seen by the vet and given the proper meds and then we are going to get a call today one they are seen by the vet and go from there. We are allowed to go see them whenever we want and the worker assured me that they will get played with while they are there, although I am not so sure...

The only reason they are going to be there is because it is free for them to be there. They gave us back our money for the rats and they will be staying there and getting treated and once they are better than we will just buy them back. Maybe once I know what the sickness is I can go from there.

I think this is a really bad idea. How are your rats supposed to get better when they're constantly being exposed to other non-quarantined mill rats?

 

[mtmaughan]

They are going to be seen by the vet and given the proper meds and then we are going to get a call today one they are seen by the vet and go from there. We are allowed to go see them whenever we want and the worker assured me that they will get played with while they are there, although I am not so sure...

The only reason they are going to be there is because it is free for them to be there. They gave us back our money for the rats and they will be staying there and getting treated and once they are better than we will just buy them back. Maybe once I know what the sickness is I can go from there.

Stress can exacerbate their respiratory symptoms and putting them in that situation is certain to be stressful. Plus if/when you get them back they will go through the stress of adjusting to your home again. The fact that they are going to let you "buy them back" just proves that they are treated as a commodity and not as animals. They won't get played with, if they were terrified at your home they will be terrified here too. The best situation is for them to be at home with you and if you really want to wipe out the infection it's a good idea to treat them with antibiotics for more than just 2 weeks.

I hope your girls will be ok.

 

[Diamond01]

I have to agree with mtmaughan about buying them back. thats a little strange if they gave you back the money then their not your rats thier theres again thats how its goes here any way. I would call the vet or go to the vet today and see them and take them home. I can see over night for observation and stuff but still strange.
did they say they are giving your money back as in there still yours and you can have them but sorry for the trouble? But then you said all youd have to do is buy them back? that part is confusing me. I have heard of people keeping their pets but getting their money back if the pet is sick or something is wrong with it shortly after they buy it.
I understand over night but not keep them till they are better becuase the way they sound can be treated at home. But we also have to think of other problems that the rattys mayhave to to everyone and why they want them kept. The vet just may do a check on everthing. I would call the vet and if they are at the vets go get them and see if you can bring them home. Then you wont have to buy them back from the petstore. and if they do make you or try to be like no we said we wanted them which you did it was the store who just handed you the money becuase you siad they gave your money back. that was on them not you all that to them ment they have the rats and you dont. Pet store people can be very trincking and make a bad thing seem not that big a deal. and they will be sympathetic to you when you are worried about your pet all for the sake of making a buck, or keeping what reputation they have. although there are some pet store emplyes that are strickly there to care for the pets but there hard to find anymore and tell whos the fake and who is the real deal.
Point go to the vet and get your rats.
Diamond

 

[CrWoodyspets]

Thanks for the advice, but I am not so sure I can get them back now! This situation just seems to be getting worse and worse. I want to do the best for my rats, but I feel like I am doing this all wrong for their health and personality. The rats are still 'mine' and once they are better they aren't going back withe other ones...we just had to give them back for legal purposes.

The vet was seeing them when my mom called to check up on them so an update soon.

 

[ShannonMarie]

Oh gosh, I hope they will be okay! Poor girls... I've kind of forgotten what it is like to have a sick rat, until I read this. Now that I think about it, it's been 6 or 7 years since I've had a rat with a URI, I forgot how horrible and heartbreaking it can be. I do hope they get better, and have the chance to socialize with you and show you how great they can be. I'm sorry that your first experience with having pet rats had to be like this. But, it is typical with a lot of pet store rats to be unsociable and/or sickly, unfortunately.

If, by chance, you were able to bring your girls home and treat their illness yourself, do you think you'd be able to give them their meds? I know you don't have a lot of experience with rats, and that's okay, but giving a friendly, yet unwilling, rattie meds is not always easy... let alone new rats who haven't had the chance to trust you completely yet and are frightened, on top of being sick. It can be very frustrating and hard to handle... :/ So, maybe it is not that bad of a thing that the vet is keeping them for now and giving them their meds for you.

 

[VanillaRat]

What do you mean you can't get them back?

 

[CrWoodyspets]

New update-

The vet called and said they will be on medicine for 14 days and suggested that we don't buy them back because of the way they were acting. I am devastated because I am losing this battle. My parents are already pretty sure we are not going to take them back. They want a 'friendly' rat, not one that will take time. My mom is already looking at ratterys and breeders all over and saying look at this one....grrr we should have just gotten those in the first place so that I am not heartbroken about losing my baby girls. We will have to see how it goes.

 

[CrWoodyspets]

What do you mean you can't get them back?

I could, just my parents don't want to. They gave us our money back so that they could treat them for free to us.

 

[VanillaRat]

I am sorry you have to deal with this!

 

[CrWoodyspets]

I am sorry you have to deal with this!

Thank you. I am sooo sad without them, but my parents keep insisting I look at these rats because I will be able to actually handle them. I don't even feel like looking at other rats because I know that my rats [huh well my old rats ]

 

[clairebee1]

I guess you have had to find out the hard way about the way petshop rats are kept and such. Ive learned just like you, and its hard ive been through something similar, its heartbreaking to go through it hun, thats why now i NEVER go near the pet section in petshops or i just go to product selling stores. I hope them girls are ok, and get treated as humanely as possible "fingers crossed" and i wish you luck hun! x