Background
Hind leg degeneration (HLD) in rats, also known as spinal nerve root degeneration (SNRD), is a condition where rats lose strength and function in their hind legs. It is most common in senior rats and especially senior males. Rats with HLD will initially show a mild shuffling walk and a tendency to walk flat-footed. You'll notice a loss of muscle tone around the hindquarters and a visible boney spine. The tail may become very floppy, starting at the tip and progressing backwards. In advanced stages, the rat may lose the ability to use its hind legs entirely. It is not typically painful or life-threatening but we must be cognizant of the effects of paralyzation and know when it’s time to see a vet.
Causes
-B vitamin deficiency (especially B12)
-pituitary tumors
-spinal tumors
-arthritis of the spine
-nutritional deficiencies due to poor diet
-inflammation from eating grain and food products that are sprayed with pesticides
-genetics, particularly obese-prone lines
-lack of exercise
At-Home Treatment
Supplement that I use to help with HLD is “Vegan Joint Support by Sherwood Pet Health” on Amazon. I crushed it up and mixed some baby food daily helped my boy with mobility. If not available in your area supplement turmeric in other forms such as sprinkled on food or mixed into Oxbow Omnivore Critical Care in a low dish if they are struggling to use their front paws to hold hard food. Some rat owners report that B12 supplements have helped slow the progression of HLD in their rats. B vitamins are important for nerve function, and some studies suggest that vitamin B12 may help restore peripheral nerve function. Glucosamine supplements have also been suggested as a potential aid for HLD.
Exercise helps prolong degeneration. You can setup a large playpen to keep him in most or all of the day for lots of horizontal space to walk around as jumping and climbing become difficult with HLD. Climbing bars vertically and ramps is unnatural and can lead to injuries at this stage so a long area or long cage is best. You will need to move them from a tall cage to one of these setups or a long flat “hospital” cage with a buddy for comfort. I recommend Prevue 528 or Prevue 5524 for senior rats as they are longer and limit climbing.
Watch their weight, eating habits, and check daily for penis plugs if they are males. Reduced mobility means he won’t be able to clean himself and a penis plug will develop and waste will backup inside him making him ill. If progressed enough, you may need to bath them if they have urine caked on their fur. Switching to fleece bedding that’s washed every 1-3 days will prevent sores from developing from dragging.
Further Treatment
The best thing you can do for rats with HLD is speak to a vet and get a course of treatment and management. Pain medications, steroids, and anti-inflammatory medications may help them feel more comfortable and can only be accessed from a vet. Know of a vet who can perform humane euthanasia if quality of life is greatly impacted as you may need to help end suffering at some point (some normal vets who don’t normally care for rats can still do rodent euthanasia, call to ask if you don’t have a local exotics vet).
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