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Emergency Rat Help! by Rotsuoy
If anyone knows how to perform the rat fling please tell me in the most descriptive way possible.
I've looked it up online, but I have never done it, and I can't find any videos or pictures.
My rat is gagging and frothing, so that's good, but he's been doing it for about 30 minutes now and getting tired.
I'm afraid that if he gets too tired to keep gagging and frothing, he'll lay down and the food will obstruct his air way.
If that happens, idk, I'm going to have to do something. I'm freaking out and trying really hard not to let him know I'm as concerned as I am. I had to put a towel over his cage so he wouldn't see me pacing and jumping up repeatedly.
I think it was a piece of bread. He loves bread and biscuits, but I realized that he has never had any bread or biscuits that weren't hard or stale. I had suspected that he was 'not quite his self' and when I tried to pick him up to see if he was alright I think that's what caused him to start gagging. It's a VERY productive gag, and he's folding his ears back and pulling his neck up. However, I really need to know how to do the rat fling if I need to. I think he's going to be alright, but I feel like I really need to know how to do it correctly. Please help me, or help me contact someone who knows!
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He's no longer gagging, but his mouth is still wet from the drooling/frothing. He's still breathing kind of hard like he can't quite catch his breath or he's scared. Now his sides looking kind of 'sunk in,' and he has an exhausted/defeated look. He started moving around more, but only like moving to a new spot to lay, like he can't quite get comfortable, and he hasn't tried laying on his side or back, which is his most comfortable sleeping/laying position. I keep reaching in to pet him, and even though he thankfully welcomes the affection, he still feels kind of tense. I'm so scared...
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YES! He just jumped up on his house to lay down. He likes to 'Snoopy'. When I reached in to pet him and talk to him he so quietly started bruxing at me. His breathing is still kinda hard, and he still looks really defeated, but I think he's feeling better.
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I'm miserable. I can't get any replies anywhere I post or ask questions. His breathing is still quick and his sides are still sunk in in pain. He acts like he doesn't want me touching him, but when I do, he half closes his eyes and leans into my hand. His movements are strange... like, he'll struggle if I hold him in a weird way, but when I hold him comfortably he just lays there... when I wiped the drool off of his mouth he just let me. He didn't struggle or pull away and his mouth was kind of half open.
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I'm happy everything turned out okay hon.
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I passed out. @.@
I was so freaked out when I woke up I nearly slipped on the floor running to check on him.
He's feeling so much better. There's an exhausted look to him, but he's bruxing and purring at me when I hold him.
I think he's just so happy it's all over.
No more doughy white bread! I don't want to go through this again. Watching a rat gag is the most terrifying part of having a pet rat. ;_;
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Rotsuoy
He's still frothing and gagging, but at least it's there are long pauses between the gags now. He's breathing heavy and it's kind of rattly some times- like he's gagging a little in the back of his throat but not a full gag. Like... when you're breathing really hard randomly to loosen phlegm but not coughing or straightening your throat...?
I also found a really clear (and much safer sounding) way to do the rat fling. If anyone knows a better way, or a way to give me pointers let me know.
Near the bottom of this page: http://spazrats.tripod.com/emergencies.html
"The Ratty Fling:
This procedure should only be used if the rat is not breathing and/or the rat is unconscious.
• Hold the upper torso of the rat, on it's side, in one hand. Make sure the head is cradled by your fingers.
• Use the other hand to hold the rat's hind end against the inside of your forearm.
• Holding the rat firmly in that position, raise it above your head. Make sure there are no obstacles in the way of your arc. Swing downward in a rapid arc. The rat's head will be facing the ground between your legs.
• Do this 3 or 4 times and then check to see if the food has been dislodged and/or the rat is breathing."