My pet rat is dragging her leg. What should I do if my rat's leg is lame?

This could be commonly due to a spinal cord problem (slipped disc with nerve compression, or spinal cord stroke). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs) may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I'm worried about Biggens. Two years old is actually pretty old for a rat. I would be worried about a blood clot or tumor causing damage. Unfortunately there's not likely many treatment options for him. If he is not improving within 12- 24 hours, take him into the veterinarian for an exam and to find out what the next steps are. You definitely want to make sure he's not in pain. Best of luck with Biggens.

It sounds like the rathas suffered some sort of traumatic damage to the foot. It could just be a sprain, but likewise could be a fracture etc. If the rat is in pain it warrants veterinary attention. I would attend a local clinic where they can ascertain the extent of the damage and provide appropriate treatment.

Thanks for reaching out about Luna. Sounds as if she needs to be seen by a veterinarian to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Back injuries respond better to earlier intervention, than later. Remove all platforms, or anything else she could fall from to lessen chance of re-injury. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out. Mice can get degenerative hind limbs or muscle atrophy. It is more common in rats and usually associated with lower spinal disease. Back injuries are also common. If the problem continues or progresses, a visit to the veterinarian could provide some treatments to slow the progression. Good luck

I am sorry to hear that Hammy is painful. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian. I am worried that he may have injured it. Possibly a fracture or an infection. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello, and thanks for your question. Poor little Lilith! This is something that needs to be addressed by a vet immediately. Lilith could have an abscess, or an injury that she's worsening by licking/chewing if it's causing her discomfort. This is not something you will be able to treat with home remedies from your description, so she should be seen as soon as possible to minimize her suffering.