If you are considering getting a pet, a dumbo rat is a great option. These animals are low-maintenance pets, but are almost as loyal and friendly as dogs. This PetPonder article will provide you with a comprehensive dumbo rat care guide to help this wonderful pet have a long and happy life.
Dumbo rats are named for their resemblance to the Disney character ‘Dumbo the Elephant’, due to their extra-large droopy ears which, unlike other rats, are placed much lower on their heads. This gives them a unique but extremely cute appearance.
- Reddish discharge coming from the eyes and nose
- Heavy and noisy breathing
- Cloudy or dull eyes
- Pooping in liquid form
- Laziness or excessive shyness
- Wounds on the body
If you do buy dumbo rats of different genders, make sure that they are neutered or spayed, unless you intend to breed them yourself.
- If a rat is really happy and satisfied, it might show its pleasure by chipping or grinding its teeth together, sometimes doing this may cause the eyes to pop out a little, but you need not worry, as this behavior is quite natural in healthy rats.
- While training, use more of praise and gentle petting instead of treats, otherwise your rat will start associating the training with food and will not perform without a treat.
- Always pick your dumbo rat by the body and never by its tail, as pulling the tail causes a lot of pain and discomfort to the rat.
- Female rats are more active and love to explore their surroundings as compared to males, so if you want your pet to sit with you for longer periods, choose male rats.
- Dumbo rats like to keep their bodies cool, so keep a large bowl of water for them to splash around in the summer, otherwise a glazed tile is a great cool surface for the rat to lay on.
The above information will make caring for your dumbo rat a fun experience for you and your rat. So, look after this adorable pet well, and it will give you years of joy and affection in return.