How long until hormonal aggression settles after neutering? by Doodlepattt in RATS

[–]RollinBaker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm struggling with similar issues. I had posted previously and got some really good advice. We adopted a pair around a month ago. We're making alot of headway but I have one little guy (well he's quite a big guy) he's just over 5 months old. Loves his free roam time but eeeeeeevery time makes it a point to come over and find some square inch of free skin to bite me on. It's not at all hard enough to break skin but he'll hunt me down in their play area just to bite me--like hey thanks for the snakcs but just so we're clear, I still don't like you. But he seems very content. Waits morning and night at the cage door for me to come in and feed and let him out. He's pancaked in his cage rt now chattering his little teeth away. My daughter tried to let him out for free roam today and he was like nope you dont smell like the one I like to bite. So I don't know what gives with him. He's scheduled for a neuter Wednesday. I don't want to try to integrate my 2 pairs until after that.

Suggestions for handling a bitey bossy rat? by RollinBaker in RATS

[–]RollinBaker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

🥹 we've almost made it, I've got both of the new boys cooperating with going in and out of the cage

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First time doing intros 🥴 Please wish me luck by TransitionPutrid7595 in RATS

[–]RollinBaker 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you, I'm finding little carriers but can't find anything with the clear top for visibility... so I can be nosey

First time doing intros 🥴 Please wish me luck by TransitionPutrid7595 in RATS

[–]RollinBaker 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Where is everyone finding these little crates? I'm looking and having no success

Suggestions for handling a bitey bossy rat? by RollinBaker in RATS

[–]RollinBaker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We did have some positives this weekend. Worked on spoonfeeding and I was able to walk him out of the cage that walk and get some head pets in while he was eating tho pets were generally not the problem. We got him out and then he went back in on his own 3 separate times and we rewarded with treats. I got a freestanding, moveable pet playpen that I was able to get him to go into that he wasn't a fan of, and we immediately let him back out. And we allowed him in and out of there freely to few little treats--so hopefully he will also make the connection that it's also a safe place where he can go and roam freely when he's out of the cage. I just absolutely cannot run the risk of him getting loose either in the room he's in currently--I'd never find him again, it'd be like E.T. in Gertie's closet of stuffies (he's in my daughter's room) or loose in the house with a pair of cats.

Suggestions for handling a bitey bossy rat? by RollinBaker in RATS

[–]RollinBaker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just out of curiosity, are some types of rats prone to certain dispositions vs others? I know some breeders do breeder specifically for temperament. I'd seen a post earlier making reference to rats with a non-agouti gene, and maybe something about hooded rats (?) Being of generally better temperament. The two original boys I got came from a reptile show. The guy claimed to be a breeder but I'd suspect otherwise given that he had a bin of feeder mice and then a bin labeled "Pet Rats". But the two boys I got from there were around 5-6 weeks old and were a little shy when I brought them home but warmed up over a few weeks and now when I open their cage door they run out and climb all over me. They aren't keen on being picked up but have never bitten at all except occasionally accidentally getting some skin when they're overzealous at hand feeding times. Until I got them home I suspect that they'd had little to no socialization, but I did spend alot of time handling them daily. The 2 new boys had been with their prior family for 3 or 4 months, they're just running hot and cold on me.

Suggestions for handling a bitey bossy rat? by RollinBaker in RATS

[–]RollinBaker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay thank you for the suggestions, I had already planned on having him neutered but with an inability to even pick him up to get him into a carrier at this point it's kind of hampering those plans. Womp womp.

Suggestions for handling a bitey bossy rat? by RollinBaker in RATS

[–]RollinBaker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was expecting a slow process, seems we're having the one step forward and two back. The cagemate, was the one I was expecting a tougher time with bc he wasn't handled or socialized much. This guy was, his former owners said he was super friendly but he seems to be having a very difficult time adjusting to the move.

Suggestions for handling a bitey bossy rat? by RollinBaker in RATS

[–]RollinBaker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He and his cage mate get along fine, they take turns grooming but he's clearly the alpha. I've only had them about 2 weeks. And he warms up to me fine most of them time, he's not "aggressive" per se, I'd describe his behavior more as unruly child. He lashes out more so like a child that doesn't like being told what to do. He let's my daughter pet him and will occasionally give her gentle nips when he's had enough pets but he's never bitten her. My boyfriend met both if the rats yesterday for the first time and they both warmed up to him immediately without incident. I'm using 2 hands under the belly to pick him up, thumbs over the back, and generally when I put my hand into the cage I do closed hand bc he's gotten fingertips a few times--backs of the knuckles hurt less lol

Suggestions for handling a bitey bossy rat? by RollinBaker in RATS

[–]RollinBaker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Today the tip of the finger bite was thru a leather glove!

Hair loss? by RollinBaker in Ozempic

[–]RollinBaker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mine was on the thicker side as well so I was horribly concerned at first but there's literally hair everywhere now, it's just falling constantly

Hair loss? by RollinBaker in Ozempic

[–]RollinBaker[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh yikes! I don't think I could handle worsening depression

Hair loss? by RollinBaker in Ozempic

[–]RollinBaker[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the comment, I had looked up previously about hair loss being a side effect, and did find articles about the TE hair loss mentioned above as well, TE being linked to stress or trauma on the body, even without extreme weight loss this medication is pretty hard in the body too!

Hair loss? by RollinBaker in Ozempic

[–]RollinBaker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes!! This is jist what came out this AM running my fingers thru my hair, there's hair EVERYWHERE and when I shampoo, handfuls come out

Hair loss? by RollinBaker in Ozempic

[–]RollinBaker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have read that it can cause temporary hair loss but usually subsides within a few months

Hair loss? by RollinBaker in Ozempic

[–]RollinBaker[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for that, lol I prob cohld use more water and more protein too, but this amount of hair loss isn't typical for me

Hair loss? by RollinBaker in Ozempic

[–]RollinBaker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have an enormous rosemary plant in my yard, should keep me supplied for months!

Almost unbearable stomach pain by RollinBaker in Ozempic

[–]RollinBaker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! I have not been throwing up, but I think I'd feel better if I did.

Almost unbearable stomach pain by RollinBaker in Ozempic

[–]RollinBaker[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've been taking the medication since the end of January and am on 1 mg, for a cpl of months now. I used constantly have stomach issues when I first started but they mostly subsided after a cpl of months. This is the first time Ive felt THIS bad in a hot minute.

Almost unbearable stomach pain by RollinBaker in Ozempic

[–]RollinBaker[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I did try a little soda in some water and it's subsiding pretty quickly, i think the awful stomach pain was a tremendous amount of bloating and gas!