My senior rat has limp back legs and a pale tail. What's wrong?

I am sorry to hear about your rat! There are numerous possible causes for this issue, including trauma resulting in skeletal injury or injury to a nerve or the spine. Degenerative disease as well as some tumors can also cause paralysis of the limbs. I would recommend having Falicity examined by a veterinarian to ensure she isn't in pain and to see if something may be done to help (for example, some tumors may be surgically removed). Best of luck to you and Falicity!

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.

Rats, particularly as they grow older, are prone to getting tumors in their brain. In an older rat, this would definitely be my top differential. Other causes include an infectious disease or lack of sugar. In order diagnose a brain tumor, diagnostic imaging would be required. Hope this helps. He should be seen by a vet right away if the seizure activity is continuing and is violent in nature.

Hi Natalie, i have a feeling she might have injured her tail, try checking for a wound or a cut on the tail. if this is not it, it might be a urinary infection. in both cases she will need to be seen by a vet and she will need a course of antibiotics.

Your rat could be suffering from either an internal ear infection or a brain tumor, the later is more common in rats over 1.5 years of age. You need to take your rat to the vet ASAP in order to get it treated, if it is an ear infection, then a course of antibiotics should resolve it.

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.

I am sorry to hear about Remy. Unfortunately without a vet I don't think there is much to do for Remy besides being sure he is provided with a nice soft/comfortable area to sleep and being sure there aren't areas in his cage he could fall (such as a tall shelf or box) and monitoring to be sure he is eating and drinking. If he is having trouble getting around then be sure he has easy access to food and water. If he isn't moving on his own you may need to offer him water via a syringe and place his food right in front of him. If he isn't improving you may need to travel to wherever a vet is located closest to you. Best of luck.