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Should I only take my rats or Gerbils to the vet if they are sick2007-11-24 22:15:03

I have 2 Gerbils and 2 Rats. I havent taken either one of them to the vets yet, since I have seen no health problems. I wanted to know if they should be seen for check-ups or just taken when there is a problem?

Answers:

I've only ever taken a rat to the vet once, and it was a few months ago. Rats are generally healthy critters, but they're extremely prone to tumors and cysts. The tough part about this is that they need anestisia to have them removed, which can be deadly in itself in such small creatures. Check out the rat guide below. It has excellent rat health info and its how I identified the type of cyst Brisby had on her neck. (http://ratguide.com/health/figures/kerat... warning, graphic).

Usually one of the first indications that your rat isn't feeling well, stressed, or depressed is the red mucuous that appears in their eyes and/or nose. If this happens, eliminate the depression/stress quotient by lots of gentle play. My Brisby gets this if she doesn't get to play with me for even a day!

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They don't need check-ups, or shots. : ) So you only need to take them if you think they are ill, or if there's some kind of problem with them.

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I have a rat too, and ive only taken him to the vet once in his 2 year life, and that when I thought he had mites. so no, as long as they are all happy and healthy, you wont have to make that expensive trip to the vets!

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you should ask your vet how often

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To echo 1st 2 answers, they only need a vet if they are ill. :)

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I would say take them in once a year just to make sure there arn't any problems. What if one has cancer and because you took them to the vet, they were able to catch it early and remove it or what not? I think the once a year rule is good for most animals.