Medication question. What is it?

Also, chocolate will not kill them. They aren't dogs. The ingredient in chocolate doesn't affect them the same way it affects other animals. They actually benefit from small amounts of dark chocolate as we do, as it boosts their immune system and can act as a bronchodilator if they have lung issues.

And peanut butter isn't a problem either, as long as you dilute it with a bit of water first. I have rats with malignant cancer and they are(and were, one has since passed last year) on chemotherapy(tamoxifen and piroxicam), so I had to use EVERYTHING to get them to to take it.

Being a vet tech, I would hope I would know what would kill my fur kids One of my dwarf harley rex rats just recently had emergency surgery to spay her, darned rotten kids(more meanings than one).

Sorry Dr.Alan, I didn't realize you were joking. I thought you were going to come back and say you were a Vet. At least I thought there was one on the boards? An Becky no offense but I've never read choclate can help us. I only heard that dark choclate has caffeine and I've read a FEW books that state no choclate for the Rattie. I understand your a Vet Tech but I still don't trust it. Anybody have an article on Rats and choclate? I'm just saying I've read no, no, no choclate. That subject would just have to be better explained but I am interested on how and why it acts as a bronchodilator. What about the caffiene?

Actually there's truth in both viewpoints. The toxic factor in chocolate is theobromine, which is closely related to caffeine. In high doses it can be toxic for dogs. Rats are certanly much more tolerant of theobromine than are dogs and there is anecdotal evidence that dark chocolate may help stimulate the immune system of many mammals, including rats and people. On the other hand, there is also significant verifiable evidence that theobromine causes cellular degeneration of rat testicles.

Rats. Give 'em chocolate and they wind up needing Viagra.

That's another joke, folks. And I am a veterinarian.

How are Rats more tolerant of theobromine? They are much smaller then Dogs. Also what is theobromine and what does it do?

lol Nevermind its closely related to caffeine but I still don't get how Dogs are affected worse by it then Rats when Rats are smaller. So is a small bitsy dose of dark chocolate good in all standards to give to a Rat when they are having Respiratory issues? I'm interested in whats good to feed or if theres any over the counter medication to give for a Rats respiratory problems. Mine are both female. They are almost two years old and I'm positive this Winter is going to be the Winter their Respiratory problems hit and I might lose one or both. I like to be preventive, thats why this subject is interesting.

Originally Posted by Leighanne

I still don't get how Dogs are affected worse by it then Rats when Rats are smaller.

Not so hard to understand really, and has nothing to do with the size of the animal. Different creatures have different tolerances for toxins. Rats are minimally affected by theobromine (putting aside the testicular thing), but many dogs are very intolerant of it.

You can eat half a pound of chocolate and be fine, albeit maybe bigger around the thighs. If your Lab does it, chances are he will develop bloody diarrhea and seizures. You can eat all the onions you want to. If your dog eats a couple of onions he runs the risk of developing fatal anemia. Garlic is also significantly toxic for some animals, including dogs. You can eat macadamia nuts to your heart's content, but if your dog eats as few as three or four, he is quite likely to develop a fatal neuropathy.

Dang, wow I never knew that. Thank goodness I have no Dogs right now. lol

As for the winter sniffles, getting a humidifier set up in the room helps ALOT. They just can't stand the dry air and it can get them stressed. I try to keep room humidity around 50-60 in the winter and they do much better. I have a rat who is nearing 4 or is already 4 years old, and she's doing well with this regimen(with the exception that she is a hairless and has constantly dry skin, regardless of the Wellness Senior dog food in their mix and using Aveeno lotion on her, LoL). She's a ratty who needs a walker

Their food mix has alot to do with how healthy they are in the long run too. I try to use mostly organic, whole grain foods; cereals, rice mixes(wild rice, split peas, beans), oatmeal, whole grain pasta, dried fruit/veggies, etc. I also put flax seed in their mix, as it's good for their skin and many other organ systems.