Your pet rat may live longer!

[~Ruby~Eyes~]

Hey this drug company made these genetically alatered rats that have human anti-bodies that supposedely help cure cancer. If they have these anti-bodies there is a possiblity that they are immune to cancer. I am not sure aobut this, cuz it was recently discovered, but we can hope that these rats are immune to cancer so if you got these rats as pets they would live much longer All of my pet rats have died due to cancer, so I assume this may double there life span LONG LIVE RATTIES!

[krazy4birds]

That does sound very promising to everyone who has rats as their pets. I have never had a rat as apet or anything that looked remotely like one. I have heard people just rave about how good they are and how smart etc....I just have never been interested in having one personally.

here's hoping this will lessen their tendency towards cancer. they ARE very good pets, but just like birds aren't for everyone, rats arent for everyone either =)

[Easlethistle]

I have two rats, and have had two before- Charm and Zoi. Charm died of a cold/flu sort of thing that was just to strong for a little rat like her. Zoi died on Valentines day, of old age (she was two years old). I've heard from other rat owners in the USA, Europe and New Zealand that rats live longer (three to four years) where they are. I've never lost a rat to cancer, though I'm always scared I will, after I lost Pepper, my mouse, to a mysterious lump on her tail

[~Ruby~Eyes~]

Originally Posted by Easlethistle

I have two rats, and have had two before- Charm and Zoi. Charm died of a cold/flu sort of thing that was just to strong for a little rat like her. Zoi died on Valentines day, of old age (she was two years old). I've heard from other rat owners in the USA, Europe and New Zealand that rats live longer (three to four years) where they are. I've never lost a rat to cancer, though I'm always scared I will, after I lost Pepper, my mouse, to a mysterious lump on her tail

Didn't you take your rat to the vet for anti-biotics for it's cold. My rats usually have respiatory problems and if you put them on baterol (spelling?) they usually get over it I have lost 2 rats to cancer and I have another rattie who has a beignine tumor that is saddly growing. Soon she will probably have to be put to sleep becuz she won't be able to move around with the large tumor. I could have it removed, but that is a rough surgery on a rat and she is about 3 years old. I hope the labs will give some of them away to breeders who will begain to breed them as pets and then no more rattie deaths to cancer! I hope it works out! Rats are the best pets!

[7trainrat]

The effectiveness of antibiotics depends on the severity of the case - treating a respitory illness is tricky... Baytril is only so helpful and it is actually more effective if gived in conjunction with another antibiotic, such as doxy...

It would be great if rat breeders could get some of those strains from the lab in their lines. Although I don't know how the genetics works out for passing it on...