Rumors about the African Giant Pouched Rat

Rat & Mouse Gazette: African Giant Pouched Rats...as Pets: "You may have heard rumors about the African Giant Pouched rat, or maybe you've seen a picture and thought how great it would be to have one of these majestic giants as a pet. Well, before you base your decision to obtain an African rat on what you already know about rats as pets, read on and learn about the lifetime commitment you are about to make - their lifetime, not yours.

The lifespan of the African Giant Pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) can be more than seven years in captivity. That is quite a difference from the two to three year lifespan of our domesticated pet rats and, in itself, demands a much closer look at the responsibility aspects of keeping one as a pet. Add to that the fact that they are approximately 28 inches from nose to tail tip with an average weight of 3-1/2 to 4 pounds of solid muscle, and you may be getting into more than you bargained for."

Rumours or truth? you be the judge...

Thinking of neutering your male rat?

Spaying:

Please read further:

Benefits:
The benefits of neutering your male rat include reduced risk of aggression, improved temperament, softer and less oily coat, less territorial marking, less odor. Greater benefits are achieved when the rat is neutered at an early age (10 – 16 weeks).

Risks:
The risks of general anesthesia should be considered carefully.

Cost:
The cost of neutering a male rat can run from $50.00 to $120.00, depending on your vet. This is not a simple surgery and we strongly recommend that you seek out a very experienced vet for this procedure.

Views:
Many rat owners feel that the cost of neutering their males is minimal compared to the benefits. The normally mellower temperament of males is greatly enhanced by this procedure. In cases where males have shown aggression toward other rats neutering will greatly reduce, if not eliminate, this behavior.

A Word of Caution:
We have seen many poorly performed neuters; this can be very traumatic for the pet and his owner and may lead to infection or further surgery. We strongly recommend that you seek out a referral from a local Rat & Mouse organization before having your pet neutered."

To neuter or not to neuter...that is the question?

Thinking of spaying your female fat?

Spaying:

Please read further:

Benefits:
Aside from eliminating her ability to reproduce, studies show that spaying your female rat will greatly reduce her risk of developing certain types of tumors, will eliminate the risk of uterine cancer, and may increase her life span.

Risks:
Spaying is a major surgical procedure that requires entering the body cavity, and general anesthesia can be considered a risk in itself.

Cost:
Cost of spaying a female rat can run from $50.00 to $120.00, depending on your vet. We strongly recommend that you seek out an experienced vet for this procedure.

Views:
Many rat owners do not consider the benefits of spaying to be worth the risk to their pets, and the expense can be prohibitive. The tumors that are typically reduced by spaying are normally benign and can be easily removed. This tends to be a less risky surgery than spaying if the tumor is removed when it is small.

We recommend that owners of females be aware of the different types of tumors that their pets may develop and examine their pets regularly."

Amazon Women have Amazon Pet Rats...

Rat & Mouse Gazette: Q & A: African Giant Pouched Rat Photo by Grove Pashley
"African Giant Pouched rats (Cricetomys gambianus) are not usual in the pet world. They are not domesticated animals and are illegal to keep in many places in North America, although they are becoming more popular due to increased exposure.

Wild caught rats imported here are not normally easy to handle, are high strung, and may bite, or threaten to bite, but captive bred rats are usually much more docile. It is said that these rats can be taken from the wild and completely domesticated in five generations, which is unheard of for any species. I do not know of anyone who has been successful in breeding five generations, yet. First generation offspring can be handled, but do not like to be held. They will tolerate it for about a minute at a time, if you're lucky. Second generation offspring are a bit more relaxed, but still do not like to be held. Beyond that I have no firsthand knowledge.

These rats prefer to run and play and are indeed friendly and even frisky, exhibiting some very endearing traits. One of those traits is licking. They will give you a bath with their tongue if you let them! They are also very vocal which can be very cute when they 'talk back' to you. Despite the cuteness of their chirping, in the middle of the night when they're screaming at each other it is not endearing!

It is difficult to compare them to our regular rats, because they aren't domesticated and most often must be approached with care, but they have many of the same mannerisms as our domesticated rattus norvegicus pets. They can frequently be found curled up in a ball sleeping like our rats and they grind their teeth and pop their eyes in contentment just like our rats do, too. They also love to run on a wheel, although they need a rather large one to be able to do so (15 to 17 inches in diameter!).

All in all, a captive bred African Giant Pouched rat can be just as loving and wonderful as our usual pet rats, and have a much longer lifespan of approximately seven years."

If they're lickers then do they have really,really bad Rat breathe?

To neuter or not to neuter...that is the question

Rat & Mouse Gazette: Q & A
What is the earliest age you can neuter a male rat?

"Eight to ten weeks is the earliest recommended age to safely neuter a rat. In fact, the procedure is easier to perform while the rat is young.

RMCA member, Dr. Daryl Mabley, D.V.M., who has been working on perfecting neutering, feels that the main reason rats are experiencing abscesses after being neutered is because some of the fat which normally surrounds the testicles is being left in the scrotal sac which then becomes necrotic, causing an abscess. Older males have much more fat surrounding their testicles than young rats do, thereby making the older rats surgery more difficult and time consuming which also makes the procedure harder on the poor fellow.

As a general rule, neutering can be performed at any age, providing the rat is in good enough health not to be considered a major risk for general anesthesia. There are always exceptions to every rule, however, so please don't make the decision to have any elective surgery done lightly.

In addition, no matter what the age of the rat, always request post surgical antibiotics to fight off any possible infection. I realize that many people do not like to use antibiotics as a precautionary measure, but considering the fact that your rat will not be going through surgery every month or even every six months, the risk of having an organism become immune to the antibiotic is extremely low and it may just save your rats life. "

What is the earliest age you can neuter a male rat?...and the answer is...

Things you should know before scheduling your rat for surgery

the Rat Report: "Surgery in Rats

By Debbie “The Rat Lady” Ducommun

There are several things you should discuss with your vet before scheduling your rat for surgery. Fasting overnight before surgery is standard for cats and dogs to prevent vomiting while under anesthesia. Rats have a flap in their stomach that covers the esophagus and prevents both vomiting and burping, so fasting before surgery isn’t necessary for them. Rats do most of their eating at night and an overnight fast will deplete their energy reserves. Fasting can cause hypoglycemia and dehydration, which, along with hypothermia, can cause anesthetic complications and death. However, you can withhold food for 2 hours before the surgery.

When taking your rat to the hospital for surgery, make sure the cage has food and water. It may be a while before the surgery. Food and water should also be offered to the surgical patient at the hospital as soon the rat awakens from the anesthetic, so also discuss this with your vet and the veterinary assistants or technicians.

If the rat is going to have surgery on the intestines, a vet might request a fast to reduce the intestinal contents. Discuss this carefully with your vet. Perhaps a liquid fast might be possible. Fasting longer than 2 hours is definitely not necessary for routine surgeries such as spays, neuters, and tumor removals, so if the vet or receptionist still asks you to fast your rat overnight, ignore it.

It’s very important that rats be kept warm during surgery. General anesthesia prevents normal temperature regulation of the body and it can take several hours for normal temperature regulation to be restored. Rats are so small they lose body heat rapidly and if heat is not supplied, for instance by a heating pad, they can easily die from hypothermia. Not all vets realize this need for rats. Heat is not always supplied for cats and dogs undergoing surgery, although it probably should be; a study found that when heat was supplied for human surgical patients, they recovered more quickly and had fewer infections.

Antibiotics to prevent infection are recommended, especially for neuters, major surgeries, for older rats, or if a rat has other health problems. If a rat who has previously had respiratory symptoms needs surgery, she should be put on antibiotics suitable for mycoplasma several days before the surgery to help protect her against a relapse during the stress of surgery. Continue giving the antibiotics until after the incision has healed.

Unless there are complications, you should be able to take your rat home the same day as the surgery. I do not recommend a rat spend the night at the hospital, and especially not if there will be no one to check on her. In fact, it’s best to schedule the surgery on a day when you will be home afterwards so you can keep an eye on the patient in case of bleeding or other problems. A rat may be sleepy from the anesthesia and analgesia that day, but should be back to normal the next day.

Now its time to nurse your rat back to health...

Fancy a Rat?

Domestic vs. Commensal Rodents - FAQ:
"What is a 'fancy' rat or mouse?

A fancy rat or mouse is a domestic rat or mouse. Domestic animals are defined as 'those that are kept for clear purposes, their breeding is controlled, their survival depends on humans, and they have acquired traits not found in the wild'. The breeding of rats or mice is known as a 'fancy', and rat and mouse breeders and keepers are known as 'fanciers'."

Yes I fancy a rat...a fancy rat

FIREFIGHTERS rescued 12 pet rats

Bexley Express: "Pet Rats Rescued from Major Blaze

27 July 2005
FIREFIGHTERS rescued 12 pet rats from a fiery grave when called to a garden centre blaze last week.

Flames burst through the Wyevale Garden Centre in Oakley Road, Keston, at around 1.20pm last Wednesday after the blaze spread from an adjacent field.

The rodents were 'rescued unharmed' in their cages.

The garden centre suffered 30 per cent damage.

A huge cloud of smoke was thrown across the area. Nearby residents were advised to stay indoors with their windows closed.

Hamesh Patel, 13, saw the drama unfold from his classroom window at nearby Ravensborne School.

He said: 'We saw clouds of black smoke from the edge of the school coming over the fences and I caught a glimpse of the fire.'

The school and a church were evacuated amid fears the fire could spread. Also evacuated were houses in Oakley Road, Hastings Road and Croydon Road.

The blaze at the garden centre, which contains chemicals and domestic gas cylinders, was tackled by 60 firefighters.

Wyevale staff were unavailable to comment on the incident.

Officers are investigating the cause of the fire."

very lucky rats...how many lives do they have left?