Rat Terrier Question and Answer
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What is the normal temperature for a rattie?

What is the normal temperature for a Rat Terrier? My sweet boy Spike has terminal bladder cancer and has just received his second dose of chemo. He's not eating, and I'm not sure if he has a temperature or not. Can someone help me?

I have an 11 month old rat terrier and she is in heat for the first time. Is it okay to have her mate at an early age?

My dog has a terrible itching problem, I have tried everything and had him to the vet. The vet prescribed two differnent meds. but doesn't help. He suggested adding fish oil, to his food, that hasn't done anything. I'm and he's desperate for an answer. What can I do?

I know that Rat Terriers don't need much in the grooming area but could you tell me if they shed much ? I'm looking at adopting one and would like to know if they are BIG shedders. It doesn't seem to say anywhere if they are or not.

Our Rattie is one-and-a-half. He sheds very little and we would consider him an excellent choice for anyone who doesn't want to cope with a lot of dog hair all over the place. He sleeps on the furniture and bed as well as on our laps and there is almost no dog hair on anything. Our only concession is that if we are planning on wearing black, we don't dress until just before we must leave home (he's white).

My two rat terriers shed A LOT! But it is easy to identify their hairs and clean them up.

Would a Rat terrier dog make a good Moutain biking tag alone dog on the trail with me?

My rat terrier shakes so bad but stops when she's warm. She loves the sun and to lie in front of our space heater and to sleep under the blankets. She also has a tendency to chew her tail, Why? She seems to have a very sensitive stomach as she heaves sometimes.

I have a 2 yr. old rat terrier. She has a sty on her lower left eye lid. Should I leave it alone?

I have a rat terrier that is 8 years old. He goes after his tail and bites it and it bleeds all over the place. Could it be because it's cut on a nerve because he goes after it constantly.

One of my rat terriors is very skinny, doesn't like to eat no matter what I try, and shakes. He seems scared of everything and the vet has not given me any good answers as to what to do about it. Looking for any ideas.

She or He must feel #1. My suggestion, if you don't already, allow the little rattie to sleep with you, forever bonded...

a new borns tail should be cut to what length?

3rd vertabra---- best to have a vet do it. It's fairly cheap.

how many puppies do they avg

buddy is 8 of 9 puppies, unusual but happens ,his front muscle upper arm area was crushed from others resulting in funcioning 3 legs,this did not stop him from normal routine, in fact he can swim-fist litter had 4 puppies from Buddy all normal so far

just adopted a rat terrier but she is scared of my husband. Will she warm up to him?

Why are Rat Terriers so shaky?

I do not know, but my 10 year old male's back legs shake. It has gotten worse as he has gotten older.

How can I determine the age of my rescued rat terrier?

By judging teeth wear or by counting the number or teeth.

how many puppies does a rat terrier usally have?

I would try to feed the dame beef livers cooked and chopped with some water and dry dog food 3 times a week during her 60 day birth cycle.
Also, give them a daily vitamin chewable. My Dame had 7 pups;
5 male and 2 female. One of the females is the runt of the litter, so I make sure she is getting plenty of nursing alone with mom.
Also, since it's been getting cold I use a heating pad on low to keep them warm and comfortable. It's really important to keep the bedding changed twice a day. Also, try Condensed Goat Milk at warm room temperature and give the puppies a tablespoon 2 or 3 times a day during the third week. My pups are nearly 4 weeks old and the Dame seems to be pleased that I'm helping her feed them.

We have had 3 litters since 2007. The first litter we had 7 & lost 2. The second litter we had only 1 but he made it. We just had a litter 10 days ago and she had 8. 5 boys & 3 girls. We lost 2 in the first 3 days, 1 boy & 1 girl. So it really depends. I think it is different for each litter and depends and the female & male you bred as to the number of puppies you will have and also the care that is provided during pregnancy and after. Just know you really have to watch them in the first few days very closely. It's a good idea to have puppy replacement milk & a puppy nursing bottle on hand just in case.

how come all the rat terriers i see have little tails?

Some Rat Terriers are born bobbed tailed and some are born with long tails, I have one of each, My daughter has a littlermate to my female that was born with just a nub and my female was the only dog in the litter of 8 to have a tail, My Male has had his tail docked, which is done at a couple of days old if the littler owner prefers all his dogs to have a bobbed tail. Ratties can be born either way. Some chose not to clip tails.

We adopted a Rat Terrier at 4 months who did not have her tail docked or ears clipped. I refuse to do it now, her long, fun tail is too much part of her personality. But we had another RT some years back who was adopted with docked/clipped. Its been interesting to see what the new one looks like eau naturale! Very cute. Breed specifications should change to eliminate docking since Rat Terriers no longer are put in rat bait pits anymore.

They usually dock them to prevent the rats and such they catch from having something to bite at. You see, I have a rat terrier of my own and her tail is just a nub.