http://ratguide.com/breeding/ The Layman's Guide to Breeding Pet Rats en Copyright 2008 Karen Grant RN,C. Bella Hodges, Kristin J. Johnson, and many others Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:40:04 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/reference/glossary_of_terms.php Glossary of Terms (571 words, 52 links) http://ratguide.com/breeding/reference/glossary_of_terms.php Reference Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:40:04 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/birth_trauma_figure_4.php History The litter consisted of 3 pups: two stillborns and one survivor whom the owner named "Sisu." Birth Injury The survivingpup was injured by his mother shortly following his birth. During cleaning the dam bit off all the toes on his back feet as well as part of the feet.... (259 words, 1 link, 3 images) http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/birth_trauma_figure_4.php Figures Thu, 27 Apr 2006 17:49:39 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/postpartum/maternal_behaviors.php Post partum (after birth) maternal behaviors in the female rat are primarily brought on by hormonal changes in estrogen, progesterone, oxytocin, and prolactin. Environmental factors, individual line issues, and physiological factors can alter, disrupt, or inhibit these normal behaviors. Exposure to babies will maintain maternal behaviors and the removal of... (1780 words, 2 links) http://ratguide.com/breeding/postpartum/maternal_behaviors.php Postpartum Fri, 21 Apr 2006 11:44:14 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/determining_pregnancy_figure_3.php Pregnancy Weight Chart DAYFemale "A"weight in ouncesFemale "B"weight in ouncesFemale "C"weight in ounces 112 3/410 1/211 1/8 212 3/410 5/811 1/4 312 3/410 3/411 3/4 41311 1/811 7/8 513 1/810 3/411 7/8 613 1/21111 3/4 713 3/41111 7/8 813 3/410 7/812 3/8 913 7/811 1/812 1/8 1013 5/811 3/812 1/4... (200 words) http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/determining_pregnancy_figure_3.php Figures Mon, 17 Apr 2006 20:30:59 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/birth_to_weaning_figure_4.php Pup Development- Week Four This is the last week that the babies need to be with their mother. Even if you see occasional nursing after day 28, the babies are weaned. By 5 weeks of age the male and female babies will need to be separated. Rats can become sexually... (469 words, 7 images) http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/birth_to_weaning_figure_4.php Figures Thu, 13 Apr 2006 21:19:07 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/birth_to_weaning_figure_3.php Pup Development- Week three Interaction with the babies in the form of playing and nurturing by the breeder/owner will ensure that the litter is well socialized. During this week the babies’ ability to get around increases. Safety is now a major issue. When removing the babies from their cage for... (637 words, 7 images) http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/birth_to_weaning_figure_3.php Figures Thu, 13 Apr 2006 21:11:59 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/birth_to_weaning_figure_2.php Pup Development- Week Two Days 8-14 By day 8 the babies are covered with light fuzz. The eyeballs that you could once see through the sealed eyelids are now hidden by thicker and more opaque skin. They are still moving by squirming rather than actually crawling. They have limited use... (446 words, 7 images) http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/birth_to_weaning_figure_2.php Figures Thu, 13 Apr 2006 21:11:16 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/birth_to_weaning_figure_1.php Pup Development- Week One Shortly after the birth you should check the litter. Count the babies and remove any stillborns. Make sure that any cloth used for nesting does not have strings or holes that could cause injury to the neonate rat. Some mother rats are very protective and may... (595 words, 7 images) http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/birth_to_weaning_figure_1.php Figures Thu, 13 Apr 2006 20:53:41 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/labor_and_birth_figure_3.php Fig. 3: Long Labor "Tango" Labor The Doe, Tango, went into labor 3 days later than her due date. The vet did not recommend oxytocin for labor induction. The labor lasted 3.5 hours and was bloodier than usual. Birth Only 2 babies survived out of a litter of 10. One... (123 words, 2 images) http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/labor_and_birth_figure_3.php Figures Tue, 11 Apr 2006 18:27:03 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/baby_development/birth_to_weaning.php The First Four Weeks of Life The first four weeks of a rat's life are filled with dramatic changes. At birth thepup is naked, blind, and completely dependant upon its mother for everything. At appoximately two weeks of age thepup's eyes are opening and it is beginning to eat bits... (142 words, 4 links) http://ratguide.com/breeding/baby_development/birth_to_weaning.php Baby Development Mon, 10 Apr 2006 20:06:57 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/labor_emergencies_figure_1.php Pup Stuck in Birth Canal After giving birth to 2 babies, the thirdpup became lodged and the mother could not expel it. The mother tried to pull thepup out with no success. The owner tried to softly manipulate thepup. Finally, after it was determined thepup had died, the owner attempted... (127 words, 1 image) http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/labor_emergencies_figure_1.php Figures Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:26:47 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/labor_and_birth_figure_2.php Normal Birth "Olga" As Olga is giving birth she cleans the birth sac from eachpup between contractions. In the above shot Olga has just given birth to apup. In the photo on the right you can see her hunching down to assist with the birth of the next one. Her... (118 words, 4 images) http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/labor_and_birth_figure_2.php Figures Mon, 10 Apr 2006 09:46:10 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/labor_and_birth_figure_1.php Pre-labor Spotting In the above photo Lyrical has left small spots of blood and bloody fluid on the aspen bedding. A closer examination shows that the spotting is coming from her vagina. . In the above photo a very relaxed Evee shows pre-birth spotting.... (62 words, 2 images) http://ratguide.com/breeding/figures/labor_and_birth_figure_1.php Figures Mon, 10 Apr 2006 09:02:37 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/reference/consultants.php We would like to thank the following consultants for taking time to assist us with making the Rat Guide as accurate as possible: Dr. Craig L. Franklin, DVM, Ph.D., ACLAM University of Missouri Research Animal Diagnostic and Investigative Laboratory (RADIL) Dr. Richard Mckinniss, DVM South Seminole Animal Hospital Fern Park,... (51 words) http://ratguide.com/breeding/reference/consultants.php Reference Wed, 05 Apr 2006 02:06:43 -0800 http://ratguide.com/breeding/birth/labor_emergencies.php Once labor has begun it is often wise to leave the mom in a quiet dark place for the first one to two hours. Constant attention and interruptions in a lit room may cause undue stress for the rat and interfere with her labor. You can look in periodically to... (1535 words, 3 links) http://ratguide.com/breeding/birth/labor_emergencies.php Birth Wed, 05 Apr 2006 01:27:59 -0800