Mizzely
Lil Monsters Bird Toys
Super Moderator
Vendor
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Avenue Concierge
Cutest Bird Ever!!!
Parker, my little rat buddy, is about 10 months old. I got him at 4 months, and he has always been my friendliest rat, with people and rats alike. Super outgoing, awesome with my 3 year old son, etc. Except a couple months ago, he bit my son pretty badly. We assumed it was because he was holding him when he didn't want to be held and lashed out.
Well, I am not sure that is what happened anymore. Now every time I get them out, Parker nips me at least a little bit. Usually I can chalk it up to getting too rambunctious with playing (he loves to wrestle) so I have been trying to get him to stop nipping with screeches and putting him back in his cage if he doesn't listen.
Today he was free ranging, asking for pets, being super sweet. Then walked away for a a few minutes, then grabbed my foot and bit me really hard out of nowhere; several gashes and quite a bit of blood. There was no foreplay or warning. Just a vicious, painful, unprovoked attack. If it had been Nikolai whose foot was on the ground I honestly believe I would have had to take him in for stitches. I bled through two bandages and part of a third before it finally stopped for good.
I have been told by many in the rat community that he needs to be neutered; no one so far has given me any behavioral suggestions on how to help him. I am planning on taking him to the vet so that we can at least make sure he is healthy and not lashing out due to a pain or illness, but I don't know what I will do if everything turns out okay in the exam. I have also been told horror stories about post op complications, so I don't know if I really want to do the neuter route.
I am afraid of my once favorite rat. I am afraid of him being around my son, and I am afraid to even let him out of the cage now because of this. I don't know what to do.
I know this isn't the best forum for this and I don't know if I am expecting advice or not, but I just needed to share because I am so frustrated and upset about this. My husband is in FL for the next 2 weeks so I don't even have him around right now to help me sort everything out, and the vet is 1.5 hours away.
Thanks for listening
Well, I am not sure that is what happened anymore. Now every time I get them out, Parker nips me at least a little bit. Usually I can chalk it up to getting too rambunctious with playing (he loves to wrestle) so I have been trying to get him to stop nipping with screeches and putting him back in his cage if he doesn't listen.
Today he was free ranging, asking for pets, being super sweet. Then walked away for a a few minutes, then grabbed my foot and bit me really hard out of nowhere; several gashes and quite a bit of blood. There was no foreplay or warning. Just a vicious, painful, unprovoked attack. If it had been Nikolai whose foot was on the ground I honestly believe I would have had to take him in for stitches. I bled through two bandages and part of a third before it finally stopped for good.
I have been told by many in the rat community that he needs to be neutered; no one so far has given me any behavioral suggestions on how to help him. I am planning on taking him to the vet so that we can at least make sure he is healthy and not lashing out due to a pain or illness, but I don't know what I will do if everything turns out okay in the exam. I have also been told horror stories about post op complications, so I don't know if I really want to do the neuter route.
I am afraid of my once favorite rat. I am afraid of him being around my son, and I am afraid to even let him out of the cage now because of this. I don't know what to do.
I know this isn't the best forum for this and I don't know if I am expecting advice or not, but I just needed to share because I am so frustrated and upset about this. My husband is in FL for the next 2 weeks so I don't even have him around right now to help me sort everything out, and the vet is 1.5 hours away.
Thanks for listening