Many rats can lose the use of their hind legs, often during old age and caused by different factors. If you have a rat who begins dragging his hind legs, please see a vet as soon as possible. If it's determined that the ailment is degenerative, this can mean the rat will totally lose the use of his hind legs, but he may still be able to drag himself around with the use of his front legs and handpaws. However, doing so will be stressful. You can help lower the stress level by offering your rat ways to function more like a normal rat. This can include walking, eating, self-cleaning, and enrichment activities such as chasing feathers. This gallery has examples of ways to help a rat with hind-leg difficulty.
Elevenee Rat is propped up so that he can eat like a proper rat. He is helped to sit on his back legs, balance his elbows on the human fingers, reach to pick up food, and then eat using his handpaws. He's able to clean himself as well. All of these tasks are impossible for a rat to do on his own once he has lost the use of his hind legs. Helping the rat accomplish these tasks gives him a feeling of normalcy, thereby reducing his stress level. Hind-end paralysis worses over time, yet the rat can want to do normal rat activities. We can help him 'til the very end.
Elevenee Rat is propped up so that he can eat like a proper rat. He is helped to sit on his back legs, balance his elbows on the human fingers, reach to pick up food, and then eat using his handpaws. He's able to clean himself as well. All of these tasks are impossible for a rat to do on his own once he has lost the use of his hind legs. Helping the rat accomplish these tasks gives him a feeling of normalcy, thereby reducing his stress level. Hind-end paralysis worses over time, yet the rat can want to do normal rat activities. We can help him 'til the very end.
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