Hello again all, I am looking for your advice please I adopted 2 rats a few weeks ago from my local shelter. They are 1 year old males and they have seizures, which I was told about. Sure enough they have had a few each. I found that with extensive free range time they had much less seizures. However, las night I was staying overnight with family. I made sure they had 2 hours free range time before I left. I got back today and something has changed.

Monkey was in his bed and Stripe was on his back legs, hair raised and baring his teeth into the bed. They normally get on brilliantly and look after each other during seizures. They then started fighting. We stopped them and one went into the bed and Stripe sat on top of the bed. I went to take him out, he is usually very friendly, and he went crazy. Really scared and struggling so much. I put my hand to him and he bit me. He doesn't bite usually, just test bites. But this was a big bite.

His personality has completely changed. I put his brother on top of the bed with him and he treated him like a rat he didn't know and went for him again. I have put Monkey in with my lone rat Bear for the moment so he doesn't get hurt. Bear isn't too happy because they have only met a few times but they are sleeping together now. Stripe is resting by himself.

Any ideas? I figured he might snap out of it after a rest. Anyone dealt with this before?

Are they being treated for their seizures? Seizures can be different and don't have to be full on grand mal fits. My uncle has epilepsy but his seizures are periods of blackouts where he acts very strangely and sometimes aggressively.

Perhaps this is something you should discuss with your vet

That's interesting, perhaps he is having a less physically violent seizure but it's still violent in his mind. I don't have any medication for their seizures, the shelter has taken them to a good vet for a full investigation but I was told that there wouldn't me medication for them, it's just something they live with. Certainly their seizures have been reduced by their extensive free range time, just not cured.

Was it determined as to what was causing the seizures?

I have a thought on this but would like feedback before expressing my thoughts.

I haven't been told what caused them unfortunately. All I know is that the owner gave them to the shelter because she was moving to Australia. They seemed very sweet so I didn't think they had been badly treated or anything. I wondered if it was genetic because they both have seizures.

maybe it would be best to see your own vet if you trust they are experienced with rats (or find one that is) because there are medications that can help with the seizures... I can't agree with a conclusion that nothing should be offered & that this is just something they will have to live with

there are a variety of test that can be preformed

there are various phases of the seizure... some prior to seizure, some that linger after they have had a seizure. If they are suffering some effects pre or post a seizure you will experience a wide range of behaviors that differ from when they are not going into a seizure of coming out of one... this may be why you were bitten (possibly)

often injury can cause seizures but since this is a case of siblings it is most likely something within their genetics... the blood tests could narrow it down. It would also remove the need to do some of the more expensive tests that would determine fractures or possible swelling within the cranium

observation will be your best tool at this point. Read up on some of the documented case studies found on resources like Rat Guide or even on the various boards. You might be able to better determine their state of being by watching their mannerisms or posturing so that you can avoid over-stimulating them. This could help gain control of them seizing if caught at the right times.

good luck with the boys

A rat that is seizing can be violent and aggressive without even knowing it. You have to be very careful to not get bitten as they will bite down and even not let go, during seizures. Its best to either not handle them or to be very careful, use towels etc. Its not them its the seizures, they are very unaware of their actions as they have "gone away".

Can you tell us what the seizures look like when they do have them?

Hi there, I took him to the vet and they said they can't identify exactly what is causing the seizures but they have given me a steroid and that seems to be perking him up a bit and he was a bit more like his old self, running about with the others.

The seizures are very violent, basically bashing off the sides of the cage for a few seconds and then coiling onto the ground and shaking, clenched fists, drooling. Then they will just lie there for about 5 minutes and come back again kind of dazed.

An update: this personality change happens every 3-4 days. He will suddenly not know who anyone is, raise his fur at both me and his brother and other cagemate. I take him to a familiar area of my house where I take him and all his friends out to play in the evenings, and let him smell me and run over me. He seems to calm down about 4 hours later. I think it may indeed be his way of seizuring.