My female rats are losing weight but eating. Do they need vitamins?

If she will allow, check her teeth. Rats need to chew to keep their teeth from becoming overgrown. If necessary, have your veterinarian trim the teeth then provide plenty of chew toys to prevent recurrence. Feed a commercial pelleted or block diet supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables. You can also offer food such as pasta, beans and boiled egg in small amounts. Take her out of her cage for some playtime several times daily. This will give her a break from a small cage as well as provide a bonding experience for the both of you.

Thanks for reaching out about Dambo and including a photo. In the picture, the eyes are squinty, ears dropped and appears to having difficulty. A respiratory infection such as mycoplasmosis, is possible. A veterinary visit is highly recommended as she appears to be very ill and in needed of systemic antibiotics. More is needed than vitamin supplementation. Good luck.

A few things you can try are using a smaller dish for your rat and make sure to wash it weekly, daily if need be. One just big enough to hold one feeding block is plenty. And feed fortified food. These foods can be found in either “block” or “seed” type forms, and a mixture of both is recommended. If you’re trying to help your rat lose weight, feed it no more than 3 tablespoons per day. Rat blocks contain a complete supply of vitamins and minerals. And avoid the generic “rodent formula” foods available at pet stores, as these often don’t provide an adequate amount of protein for your rat. Limit treats. One tablespoon of chopped fruit or vegetable is the best treat for your rat. Including apples, strawberries, bananas, and squash as treats rather than regular part of your rat’s diet will help support its weight loss. Feed treats in a separate dish from your rat's regular food and make sure to clean the treat bowl daily. Feed her at night, when she is most active, and if you notice her s

Hello. The majority of the diet ( 80% ) should be a rodent chow like Oxbow. The chow should be around 16% protein & 4-5% fat. Fruits & veggies can be offered at about 1 teaspoon per day. You can also offer a reasonable amount of nuts & seeds, also about 1 teaspoon per day. Vary the treats each day & Pika will be a happy, healthy girl. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.

Rats have a gestation period of 21-23 days. Have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating pocket pets. He or she may be able to confirm pregnancy or diagnose illness or injury. Check her teeth to rule out overgrowth or malocclusion. Either could cause her to go off her food. The antibiotic (Baytril?) may also cause some GI upset.

Thanks for reaching out about Oreo. Are you sure they are both males? Some animals grow at different rates. Is the smaller one skinny? Diseases such as bacterial/parasitic enteritis, metabolic disorders, dental disease, can all prevent weight gain. Weight can be controlled by offering a balanced diet which is pellets, versus seed which is high in fat. If the problem persists, a veterinary visit should be scheduled. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Regi and including pictures. By the pictures, she doesn't seem that unusual in size. But individuals can range in size just like people. If you have other rats, are they're any intact males? Widening in the abdomen could be the storage of fat, but also something medical. If you continue to be concerned, seek an examination with a veterinarian. Good luck.

Hello, thank you for asking your question on Boop by Petco. It is not as critical to provide an additional chewing substrate for rats as it might be for other rodents, so if Roux does not seem to enjoy the sticks, you do not have to provide them. You might offer her another type of rat food made by Mazuri. This comes in a biscuit form that she might enjoy gnawing on. In addition, a treat such as yogurt or dried fruit treats manufactured specifically for rodents should be provided 2-3 times a week. If Roux has normal dentition, then the teeth will naturally keep in alignment. Hope this helps. Take care.

Hello. Thank you for using Boop by Petco. This food is the best for pregnant/breeding/nursing rats: ( https://www.animates.co.nz/vetafarm-origins-rodent-food-350g.html ) You can offer small amounts of fruit and vegetables (such as: apples, bananas, peas, broccoli, sprouts and carrots). Cooked egg, cooked chicken and cooked pasta are also fine to give. If she is being a good mother you should not have to do anything to feed the pups. By about 3 weeks of age they are fully developed and will start eating solid food, though they are still being fed by their mother for about another week. Remember, after 4 to 4.5 weeks, the males should be separated from the rest of the pups and mom since they could impregnate their mother. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

These symptoms really concern me. Heart disease, respiratory infections, cancer, and neurological problems are all possible causes of his symptoms. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by a veterinarian soon as these problems have the potential of being life threatening. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.