My new rat is pregnant. How can I gain her trust after birth?

Question

I've bought two young female rats and one of them is pregnant. I'm having some difficulty gainning their trust and I'm worried she might get aggressive when I'll check on the pups. Can I still gain her trust after the birth of the pups? Pet's info: Small Animal | Unknown - Small Animal | Female | unspayed | 0 lbs

Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM · Accepted Answer

Thank you for your question, and congratulations on your new pets! It is very common for new rats to be shy in an unfamiliar environment, and I am sorry that you are going to have the added challenge of one of them having babies! Things you can do to make them more comfortable are providing lots of places to hide, and bedding/nesting material for Doodle. Bedding should not be made of pine or cedar wood shavings, as these have aromatic oils in them that can irritate the lungs and airways of rats. More ideal choices would include aspen shavings, recycled paper pulp bedding, towels, newspaper, or shredded paper. They should be kept in a more quiet area of the house if possible, as they can be sensitive to noise. You can also try to do some hand feeding of treat items to help them associate you with positive/good things. Examples of healthy treats include green beans, carrot pieces, broccolli, cucumber, tomato, blueberries, raspberries, and bell peppers. These should be cut into small pieces so that they don't get full too quickly. These positive interactions may help them to trust you more. This may help you to be able to have more interaction with the pups without stressing Doodle out as well. I hope that gives you a place to start, and good luck!

My new rat is pregnant. How can I gain her trust after birth?

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