Are wire cage bottoms bad for my rat's feet? What's the vet's opinion?

Thanks for reaching out about Cookie and including photos. Placing in a small cage would help prevent complications. Rear limb paresis (weakness) is not uncommon in aging rats. Providing soft substrate such as old towels/T-shirts works well. Allowing time out for exercise is still important. Anti-inflammatory medications could prevent progression of paresis, but a veterinary visit is needed to prescribe. Good luck.

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.

To be honest I have seen most of bumblefoot syndromes with wet and and rough floors. Unfortunately anything that can cause damage to the feet can predispose to it. The floor must be as much as possible soft, dry and regular.

The short answer is yes, but....... if there is a wire bottom to the cage then that is not recommended as it will cause sores on the ferret's feet. You can put something down to cover the wire or you can just try to get a cage with a smooth bottom. Hope this helps. If you want to post again with a photo of what specific type of cage you want to get we can maybe help you better. Best wishes.

Hello, I am a little unclear about what you are asking but will try to answer as best I can. If you still need more information please feel free to post another question to ask for more information. Keeping the puppies cage clean is important. It looks like the stool can drop through the mesh under the cage. It is important that the stool be regularly picked up and removed to keep healthy conditions and reduce the risk of illness and disease. It would be more comfortable for the puppies to be on the ground if possible but will require more regular cleaning. I wouldn't want the pup's legs to fall through the bars or get stuck so the ground would be better. Please always ensure they have fresh and clean drinking water. Beautiful puppies!

A better bedding would be Carefresh or Aspen pellets. Rats are very sensitive to dust in the bedding and it can lead to respiratory infections. Minor wounds may not require any human attention. Since rats groom themselves, you can not apply any topical ointments. You can gently wash the area with soap and thoroughly rinse it if needed. If it gets worse, have Percy seen by his veterinarian. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

In most instances a cage is recommended over an aquarium for small mammals because there can be inadequate ventilation with glass aquariums and ammonia from the urine can build up within the cage and cause respiratory problems. A wire cage with small bar spacing is often recommended with a thick layer of paper bedding (such as Carefresh bedding) and plenty of areas to climb and hide.