How Do You Care For An Aging Rat?
By the time a rat is two years old, it’s old. Rats rarely live beyond two years, although some have been known to live up to four years. Ten days are equivalent to a year for a rat, so when your rat is two years old, it’s 73 in “rat years.” Part of being a responsible pet owner is knowing how to take good care of your aging pet. Be extra careful about keeping the cage clean. An aging rat’s immune system may not work as well as when it was younger. Supervise your rat’s outside-of-the-cage play time even more than you have in the past. Older rats are more likely to slip and fall (just like older people). Be extra gentle when handling the rat. Look for any signs of upper respiratory disease. Old rats are very prone to coming down with pneumonia or other upper respiratory infections. Watch your rat’s sides as it breathes. If it seems to be concentrating on breathing, or if you can see more than just a slight movement of the rib cage, take your rat to the vet, as it might need antibiotics.
