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Does your rat need the attention
of a veterinarian?
Read Finding
a Vet and How
to Find a Good Rat Vet.
Know of a vet in Canada that treats pet rats? Click here: Add
a Canadian Rat Vet
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Some facts to know before you go to the vet:
1. Rats cannot vomit. Therefore there is usually no reason to make them fast before surgery. Indeed, rats need all the energy they can get before surgery because there can be a lot of heat loss during an operation, increasing the risk of hypothermia. If a rat has not eaten, he or she cannot produce as much body heat and is at higher risk.
2. Injection alone is not a humane way to euthanize a rat. Vets usually euthanize dogs and cats by giving an injection of a drug directly into a vein. However, mice and rats are too small for this to be possible so an injection for the rat is given either straight into the heart or into the belly. Both of these injections are extremely painful therefore insist that your rat is given an inhalant anesthesia (gas) before being given any fatal injections.
3. Take this with you. The RMCA Drug chart is a valuable reference to have on hand when a vet is prescribing medication for your rat. Some medications such as Baytril (Enrofloxacin) often aren't prescribed at proper dosages. This reference will tell you the correct dosage. For further information about these drugs and for a wealth of information on rat health care consult this link: Online Rat Health Guide.
