RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:07 am

My rats have recently started having very soft and smelly poops...their diet has changed from just lab blocks to suebees, lab blocks and fresh fruits and vegetables. I try to give them fresh fruits or vegetables or both every night...lately its just been vegetables because I ran out of fruit. I think I read in another thread that too many vegetables can cause soft poo...is this right? They also get yogurt every other day. I also thought I read that yogurt is good for soft poop...but I think I also read that soy yogurt could help more? And that in some rats the dairy in yogurt could be causing the problem of soft poop? I'd just like to know what I should change about their diet because I'm scared to let them roam around...yesterday they pooped on the table I was doing my homework on and I didnt notice and it got all over my laptop and it smelled horrible. I was so worried they were going to get it all over my school books. And when I have them out they usually hate leaving my shoulders, so I'm scared now to get smelly poop all over my clothes (which I already have now in one of my hoodies Yuck

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This has to be fixed!

Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:27 am

How long has the squishiness been going on? And when did you introduce the diet changes? Are all of them affected?

Usually it's going to be either due to a sudden diet change - particularly introducing a lot of veg and fruit. Dairy intolerance isn't that big a problem for most rats usually - the good bacteria in yoghurt can be very good for diarrhoea, particularly during and after taking antibiotics. But - as with all animals - tolerances are more individual. Some rats will get dodgy tummies very easily, some will eat everything and be fine.

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Tue Feb 07, 2006 6:30 pm

The diet change was about a week and a half ago. And the squishiness has been about a week now...Its been affecting all of them as far as I can tell...Pete and Ricky for sure, and I think Repeat, but he doesnt like coming out of his cage very much so I havent been dealing with his poo as much as the others.
Should they be getting fresh fruit and veggies every night, or should it maybe only be every other night? And they get yogurt every other day or so, maybe I should be giving it to them more often?

I just re-read my original post, and I think it sounded a little mean...I'm not going to banish them to their cage or anything just because of all the squishiness, I'm just paranoid now when they're out...I wouldnt mind so much if they werent constantly in my shirt or hood when theyre out, or around my computer and school books...I mean, no one wants everything to be covered in squishy poo!

I just want it to go back to normal so I'm not lifting their tails every five seconds, checking to see if any presents are coming my way

Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:53 pm

You might want to lay off of the veggies and things for a few days and see if that helps everything return to normal. If it clears up, then it is a good bet that the fruits and veggies are causing the problem. If that is the case, you might want to limit their intake of these to every other day or every two days to help them stay regular.

_________________
Lydelia and the Critters
... and now they are five Mr. Green

Kitties: Miss Kitty, Catbot
Ratties: Eugenuis, Ralph and Elliott
RIP Oliver -- We love you and we'll miss you!!! Cry

Tue Feb 07, 2006 11:42 pm

I'd recommend cutting down a little on the veg and fruit - sometimes the extra fibre will just make things softer. Often in time, they'll adjust, but sometimes they just need to have a bit less. Some rats will also eat veg and fruit to the exclusion of their regular food, so you may need to make sure they're not pigging out on loads of fruit/veg and nothing or little else.

If that doesn't work you can try cutting back the yoghurt - sometimes a large amouint can give them a gippy tummy, whereas for others it's fine.

_________________
Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:01 am

They definately dont exclude their other food! The only food they exlude is dried fruit, but I figure thats no big deal considering they eat the fresh stuff. I didnt give them any fruit or vegetables last night or the night before, so I'll see what happens tonight. Thanks for all your help!