|
|
Post by abbyjas on May 21, 2009 13:24:40 GMT 10
Hi Everyone, my son has 2 male rats. I think they must be about5 months old now. Our vet has suggested desexing them. They are just pets and we don't want to breed. What are other peoples thoughts on this?
|
|
dewi
Aussie Rat Owner 
Posts: 12
|
Post by dewi on May 21, 2009 14:50:04 GMT 10
There are no health benefits with neutering, other than to sort out aggression if the males tend towards that. However I personally prefer to de-sex all my rats. With the males the main advantages are largely superficial such as they pee much less, have a softer coat and don't have any "jingly-janglys" which some find unsightly. I also like having mixed gender rat colonies. So by de-sexing them all, I don't have to wait for any new females to be speyed before I start introductions.
|
|
|
|
Post by christie on May 21, 2009 14:59:17 GMT 10
Yeah what dwei said lol. I was just typing the exact same thing when my kitty made me loose the message, i refresh and i was beaten to it lol.
So yeah no real health benefits in males, but getting female rats de-sexed does greatly reduce the risk of mammary tumors.
|
|
dewi
Aussie Rat Owner
Posts: 12
|
Post by dewi on May 21, 2009 18:04:25 GMT 10
Haha, sorry Christine for beating you to it.  |
|
|
|
Post by abbyjas on May 21, 2009 19:53:25 GMT 10
Thanks for that. I think we'll do it. They said it will cost about $130 per rat.
|
|
dewi
Aussie Rat Owner
Posts: 12
|
Post by dewi on May 21, 2009 20:39:54 GMT 10
That's how much it costs my girls to get speyed! Castrating rats costs me about $65. Maybe someone in Melbourne can suggest a cheaper but suitably experienced vet that you can use as an alternative.
|
|
|
|
Post by abbyjas on May 21, 2009 21:40:11 GMT 10
Yes that would be great. We live outer eastern suburbs. If anyone knows a reliable but cheaper vet we would be grateful to know.
|
|
|
|
Post by mariposa0283 on Jul 24, 2009 22:39:29 GMT 10
whoa! 130 dollars for rat desexing? thats a bit pricey imo. i was considering getting it done on my boys but i dont have 500 dollars to desex that many boy rats lol.
|
|
|
|
Post by wulfyskingdom on Jul 25, 2009 14:14:00 GMT 10
Dr Peter Fields at Everton Hills vet surgery is cheaper if you're looking for someone in Brisbane? I think he's around $60-$90 from what I've heard on another group.
|
|
skitch
Aussie Rat Owner
Posts: 42
|
Post by skitch on Aug 9, 2009 23:46:08 GMT 10
There is no real need to neuter pet male rats. I've owned both neutered and intact male rats and the differences are pretty miniscule.. like Dewi said, they pee less and also seem to smell slightly less.. but there are no major health benefits and I didn't notice much difference in their personalities.. they were all lovely and cuddly with or without balls  . Sometimes neuturing can be neccessary to sort out aggression issues with male rats.. but if your rats are still coexisting peacefully together, they will probably continue to do so for the rest of their lives. I've owned rats for over ten years and haven't once had to neuter due to behavioral problems . |
|
.