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Pet Rats/Expert Profile

Sandra Todd

U.S.
On Vacation
returns 05/30/2012
Expertise

I am celebrating 5 years as a Rat care advisor here at all experts! Please refer to my website, Sandys Critter city. Click the link below. Should it fail to take you to my website, please just go to sandyscrittercity.com. There may be alot of information for you that may help with your problems so please refer to my site as well as asking me whatever it is you are interested in knowing. I am here to assist you the best that I can in most areas concerning your rats! Critter City As one of the top experts here at allexperts for 2008, I am happy to be able to help advise others on the proper care of pet rats. I am a rat care specialist/advisor for area vets (I am NOT a Veterinarian nor do I imply that I am in any way) and have 20 plus years experience working with rodents. I can advise you on the most current treatments available to your rat for common and also complicated ailments that seem to affect domestic rats during their life time. I do telephone consults and have even had some wonderful Vets call me to compare notes/stories. I also have training in animal behavior with the main focus being the study of rodent behavior. I also have experience with wild rats, raising one myself.

Experience in the area

My expertise Includes the following: 1. Education on prevention of tumors, lung and heart disease and disease of the kidneys too. 2. Up to date treatments for tumors in rats,both benign or malignant tumors. 3. The most current treatments used successfully to treat lung and heart disease 4. Prevention and treatment of the mycoplasma organism that our rats are plagued with since the day they are born, among other common ailments that attack our rats, just to name a few. My job as a rodent consultant is to educate the owner on proper care of the animal but in no way does my advice take the place of seeking professional treatment by a qualified Veterinarian. However, I will contribute to this site by answering your questions about raising pet rats and any problems that may arise regarding their health, diet, husbandry and over all well being of the rat to **the best of my ability.**

Organizations

I maintain my website, Critter City and update it often to keep up with current treatments concerning pet rat health care. Please click the link above to take you there!

Publications

My own website of course, and also I have brochures on rat care that are found in various animal clinics in my area. I have also written an article for a rat and mouse magazine focusing on surgery on rats. The magazine is a UK based magazine.

Education/Credentials

Mentored by highly noted exotic specialists in my area.
I am a member of the ASPCA.

Awards and Honors

Was honored by being chosen to be one of the top 50 experts of 2008

Past/Present Clients

My past clients have been through various animal clinics and I also am mentor to new rat owners that reach me through here and my website too.

What do you like about this subject?

I am happy to be here to help rat owners better understand their pet rat,from behavior to health issues and anything in between.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

Teach others that rats need medical attention from a vet eventually and as nice as that would be, no home remedies really work on rats. The rat may be small and inexpensive to buy, that does not mean they are not worthy of medical attention.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Please understand that I cannot help your rat no matter the advice if the only obvious answer would be to seek medical treatment ASAP.Thisdoesnt mean that the vet can help, either,as there are many vets that are not trained in rat care.Some try and fail miserably at the expense of your rat so please do educate yourself as much as you can so you will know if your vet is on the right track or not!

Average Ratings

Recent Answers from Sandra Todd

2012-05-04 Lupron:

Hi there    The problem with lupron is it is for benign tumors only, not cancerous, so the vet would have to perform a biopsy on the mass first.  As for the cost, when I used it last on my own rats several

2012-05-03 neuters:

Hi Dana    I am going to assume this was a scrotal neuter?  I am really shocked that they were already showing signs of aggression at such a young age when the actual time of true aggression is more apt

2012-05-02 Lung damage from URI:

Everything you are asking for (the abluterol and the steroids) are really the only other way to help your little rat. However, you can give the rat an oral form of a bronchodilator but I have no idea what

2012-03-21 Home trimming and sore care:

I wish I could help but she will need this done by a Vet. She should be put on antibiotics orally and have the vet trim it. One mistake and you can clip her tongue.  Here is a link to the AEMV. There is

2012-03-16 Pet Rat Vaginal Polyp??:

I am surprised it was prolapsed. Without seeing it myself its really hard to say what it could be and if it was a polyp or not. Did the vet send it out to a lab for verification? I would love to know what

 

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