Review: Dot & Dot Small Packing Cubes

I received these Dot & Dot packing cubes free to test and review at home. They were shipped very fast and came in a thick, sturdy resealable plastic bag for easy storage of all 4 of the packing cubes.  

This is what they look like when I took them out of the plastic resealable bag. I opted for the purple packing cubes because I love the color. These packing cubes are very sturdy, very easy to open and close and hold quite a bit of stuff. They come in a set of 4 so the whole family can use them. 

I put a few of the full size bottles of hair straightener, toner and deodorant as well as a couple of smaller products in the bag and there's still room for a lot more! These packing cubes are cute, sizable and durable and hold items securely so they are easy to find in a suitcase, drawer, cabinet, dresser or larger bag for storage. 

My husband does some traveling and he said that this is big enough to hold all of his medication bottles that he usually puts into zip lock baggies in his suitcase. These packing cubes would be great for storing any number of products as well as craft items and baby care items in a diaper bag. 

It has a see through mesh panel so you can easily see what's in the bag and find what you're looking for. if you're planning on using these in a suitcase when flying, they are very lightweight which is great since you don't want anything to weight down your suitcase. There's also a handle on each one so you can carry them very easily. 

If you would like to buy these you can find them on Amazon. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Freebie Friday!

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a 'Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to samples like these at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.

This week I received:

Dark Blood by Christine Feehan * listed this as a freebie because I used my Swagbucks and turned them into Amazon gift cards and got this book for free!*

Always Pads
Lipton K Cups
$2 off coupon for a bag of cat food
Garnier Blackhead Scrub

I also turned in my points and got a $5 Amazon gift card from Bing.

And cashed in my points on Swagbucks and got a $5 gift card to Amazon.

I also won this Vox Box from Influenster. It had a full size box of Playtex Sport Tampons and a cute little cosmetic bag for holding them. 

Did you receive any free samples this week?

Kia Hamster Commercial

Have you seen this one? I think it might be the cutest one yet. I love the Kia Hamsters.

What Are Cecotropes and Why Do Rabbits Need to Eat It

*Thumper, the bunny we found alone in an alley and took him in until we could find him a forever home*

Having a rabbit can be a wonderful experience for you and your family. They are wonderfully intelligent and playful pets. In order to have a healthy rabbit there are things you should know.

Why do rabbits eat their poop?

Small animals like rabbits have a unique digestion system that allows them to get more nutrition from the foods that they eat. Rabbits produce two types of droppings, fecal pellets and cecotropes.

Rabbits won't normally eat the fecal pellets but they will eat the cecotropes. Cecotropes are produced in a part of the rabbit's digestive system called the cecum. You can tell the difference between fecal pellets and cecotropes because fecal pellets will be small dry individual pellets while cecotropes will look like soft clustered pellets.

Cecotropes are not feces, they are nutrient packed foods that your rabbit should eat to maintain their health. Most of the nutrients are not absorbed the first time a rabbit eats his food, therefore the cecotropes are produces so the rabbit can eat the foods again and get more of the nutrition from them. Cecotropes look different from fecal pellets, you can distinguish them from the feces because they look like a small cluster of dark grapes. At least they did to me.

What to do if your rabbit stops eating their cecotropes

Since the cecotropes are beneficial and really important to their overall health, should your bunny stop eating theirs, you should take him to a veterinarian's office.

If your bunny starts showing any other signs that he may be getting sick such as not eating, not drinking or lethargy, you should take him to an animal hospital.

Rabbits can become seriously ill very quickly and one of the first signs of that happening is lethargy and not eating or drinking water. Bunny's can go down hill fast so you should have a veterinarian picked out that will see exotics like rabbits before something should happen where you need one in an emergency.

When are cecotropes passed?

Rabbits will pass the cecotropes at different times, but the bunny I had would pass them mostly at night. Some rabbits may pass them during the day or early in the morning, it just depends on the rabbit.

How to Train a Rabbit to Come when Called

* The bunny that we found in an alley and found a forever home for*

Rabbits are very friendly, social and intelligent animals. They like to play, cuddle and they can be trained to come when called.

Give your bunny a name.

The very first thing you have to do is give your bunny a name so she knows when she is being called. Endless are the possibilities when it comes to rabbit names. We named the one we rescued, thumper because he was always thumping his back feet when he wanted attention.

How to get your rabbit used to his name.

Get a little Timothy Hay to entice him to you as you call his name. When he comes to you, pet him on the head and say something like, "Good Thumper." Do this several times a day for a week and if it looks like he understands his name you can decrease the times you give him food to every other time.

Give him a special treat like a piece of an apple every once in a while and praise him as well. This is called positive reinforcement and will work much better than yelling or punishment ever will.

Do that for at least 2 weeks then start calling his name without treats and see if he comes to you. If he does then you can limit the treats or rewards to just sometimes.

Can you train a rabbit to jump into your lap?

Yes, especially if you've had the rabbit since he or she was little and you have bonded well with the bunny. The bunny my family rescued and found a forever home for would follow us around like a puppy and jump right into our laps and want to be petted and cuddled.

This rabbit acted more like a puppy than what I thought a rabbit would but I found out that a lot of rabbits will become very affectionate if they spend a lot of time out of their cage with people in the home.

The best way to get your bunny to jump up in your lap when called is to entice the bunny into your lap with a treat or some hay while patting your leg. This is very important; you must start with treats and patting your leg in the beginning for it to work later on without treats or food.

Do this several times a day and offer hay each time. Pat your leg and let your bunny see the food or treats. When your bunny jumps up on your leg, give him praise and pet him while giving him the food.

After a week or so, you should be able to pat your leg and have your bunny jump in your lap without having to give a treat. But you should give treats or food a few times a day when you call him to your lap for at least another week and slowly stop the food.

After a few weeks you should just be able to pay you leg and have bunny come and jump right into your lap to be petted.

How to Care for Your New Pet Rabbit

*The bunny we found in an alley and found a forever home for*

Having a new pet rabbit in your home can be a rewarding experience as long as you know what to expect and have all the necessary supplies to take care of him properly.

It's important to have all the necessary supplies on hand before bringing a new pet home, no matter what kind of pet it is. For a rabbit you'll want to have a large wire cage, Timothy hay, water bottle, fresh vegetables, leash or harness, nail clippers, brush, rabbit pellet food, salt wheel, wood chew block and a litter box.

Feeding

Bunnies will over eat if given the chance. They may give you the sad eyes and look down at their food bowl like they are starving but they do not need to eat all day long. You should only give them food according to their weight. So if you have a 6 LB bunny, you should give them approximately ½ cup of rabbit pellet food per day. Do not feed rabbits the mixed foods that have pellets mixed with dried fruits, seeds or beans. This is not good for your rabbit.

You may leave unlimited amounts of Timothy Hay or Grass in their cage for them to eat. They need this for good digestion. Treats are to be given sparingly and only certain foods can be given as treats. You should avoid iceberg lettuce, onions, tomatoes or potatoes. These foods can give them diarrhea and cause a bunny to become dehydrated.

Good treats would be apple pieces, carrots, strawberries, bananas, pineapple and raspberries.

Exercise

Your bunny needs exercise everyday. You must take your bunny out of his cage and let him run or as it may be, hop around. This is where that leash or harness would come in. You can buy a bunny leash or harness and take him for a walk. Bunny harnesses can be found at most pet stores.

Bunny proofing your home.

You will have to make sure that your home is safe for your rabbit to hop around in. Using a baby gate to keep your bunny in one room is essential if you only bunny proof one room. This will make it easier for you and safer for your bunny.

Bunnies like to chew on things, everything. Electrical wires, important papers, remote controls, and everything else you don't want chewed up should be put up out of the bunnies reach while he is out running free.

Health Concerns

While most bunnies don't need vaccines like a dog or cat would. There are things every rabbit owner needs to be aware of. If your rabbit stops eating and drinking and is lethargic, you should seek immediate medical attention with a veterinarian that specializes in either rabbits or exotics.

Diarrhea can be a very serious condition in rabbits and should be dealt with by a veterinarian. Also if you notice mucous or other liquid substances coming from the bunny's nose or eyes, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Rabbits are labeled exotic like most other small animals. Other exotic animals are rats, hamsters, mice, and gerbils.

Spend time with your bunny and let him get to know you as you get to know him. Before you know it he will be hopping up in your lap waiting to be cuddled and petted.

Happy Raturday!

Welcome to a new weekly blog post I'm calling, Raturday! I've seen Caturday and while that's really cute, I think the rats needs some photo time so everyone can see how cute these little animals are. I've gotten permission from Rat Logic's fb page to share their pictures on my blog. So get ready to smile because these are cute. 

*click pictures to enlarge*

Blog Ahead Challenge

I signed up for the Blog Ahead Challenge hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup.

What is it?

A bloggery version of NaNoWriMo!

November 1-30th, 2014

The basic goal is to get "ahead" in your blog posts.

At the end of the month of Nov you'll have 30 additional pre-scheduled posts than when you started the month. I already have a few posts scheduled but I'm hoping to get at least 30 more done by the end of this challenge. 

It's nice to get a few blog posts pre-scheduled and have a little breathing room to work on other blog posts so why not join us? Any types of blog posts are welcome.

You can sign up Here.

Review: Dark Blood by Christine Feehan

Book Description

At long last you are truly back with us...

Zev Hunter was an elite warrior, a dark-blood dealer of death to rogue Lycans who preyed on mankind. He was a loner, never given to personal attachments, and damned fierce at his job. But Zev begins to question his past and his purpose when he awakens in the darkness of the sacred cave of warriors—and is soothed back to consciousness by the sensuously familiar voice of one woman, the woman who has haunted his fantasies for centuries. She was Branislava, member of the Dragonseeker clan…

Mother Earth called the ancients to witness your rebirth… 

For this half-mage, half-Carpathian temptress, the ritual of awakening Zev to the council of warriors was the only way to save him. Locked away for his own protection, the time has now come for his rebirth, for his blood to stir with that of the ancient warriors before him. He has been assured by Branislava that their fates are entwined, that their spirits are woven together for eternity and that his new purpose in life is beyond imagining.

Now, with a blood-sworn vow of honor, mercy and endurance, and under the influence of a siren as bewitching as Branislava, Zev begins to wonder what his purpose is, what it means for the future of the Carpathians and what it is about his rebirth that he has to fear…

My Review

This is the 3rd book in the Dark Series Trilogy, which is also a part of the bigger Dark Series of books that now spans 26 books. I've been reading this series for many years and have all of the books. This is actually the first series that I ever started reading, ever. 

With that said, I have to say that this is not my favorite book in the series. Most of the books have been very easy to read, easy to become enthralled in and kept my attention the entire book but this one did not. It's not a bad book, it's just not as good as some of the first few books in the series. Not everyone is going to like every book in a series and this is that book for me. But that doesn't mean I am giving up on the series. This is also a trilogy inside a series and the trilogy revolves around the Dragonseeker bloodline as well as the Lycans. While it was interesting to find out what happened to Branislava and her sister in the ice caves and learn about the Lycans, half bloods and Dark Bloods..there was also a lot going on in this trilogy and in this last book in the trilogy. 

It felt like the author was trying to make sure anything that was left out in the first two book was covered in this one and the story wasn't as cohesive because of this. On top of that the relationship between Zev and Branislava felt rushed and pushed on us. They already had feelings for each other and because the life mate thing is there I can understand them having an instant connection to one another but it still felt rushed to me. Zev is very alpha and dominant so there is a slight curve into BDSM but I thought it was well done. He definitely likes being in charge but it was consensual since she didn't seem to mind even when he was a bit rough and wild. 

I've come to think of this series as paranormal romance but this book felt more like erotic horror than romance. While there are paranormal aspects to this book, we also get a lot of fight scenes, violence, bad guys and hell hounds. At one point I felt like I was reading an episode of Supernatural when I saw hell hounds. There's a plot twist that I didn't see coming but that I thought was contrite and really made me shake my head at where this story went. If you have been reading this series from the beginning you will undoubtedly shake your head as well because it really was ridiculous. 

These books are supposed to make sense on their own if you haven't read the series but I think if I hadn't read the other books first I would have been lost as to who the other characters were, why they were there and how they fit into this story line.

I can only hope that Ms. Feehan gets back to the roots of this series and gives us what we loved when we started reading it to begin with. 

I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars. 

Review: Hyaluronic Acid Age Delaying Serum With Vitamin C + Green

I like finding new products that are good for my skin. My mom always told me to take care of my skin while I'm young because as we get older and the fine lines start to appear it's too late at that point. So I've always taken her advice and I still like finding new and great skin care products that keep my skin looking healthy. So I was happy to get this product for free to try at home. 

This serum comes in s small bottle and has an airless pump which makes it easy to get the colorless gel like serum out of the bottle. It does have a nice consistency and a pleasant light scent. It has aloe and witch hazel in the ingredient list which are two of my favorite ingredients to use on my face. 

I did not experience any greasy or tacky feeling on my skin after applying it, the serum absorbs into the skin very quickly upon drying. I didn't experience any redness or irritation to my skin while using this serum and was pleased at how well it made my face feel smoother and softer.

I applied this serum after I cleaned my face at night and used it in place of the moisturizer I usually use after cleaning my face. 

I really liked that this product stated that it was cruelty free. Made in the U.S.A. and they have a 100% money back guarantee if you're not completely satisfied. That's a huge plus for me. 

If you're interested in this product, you can get it on Amazon for just $14.99. 

If you have any questions or comments please leave them below.

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review.

Things You Should Know Before Buying a Pet Hamster or Rat

While having a rat or hamster as a pet can be a rewarding experience, there are things you should know before buying one for your family. If you are squeamish about certain things like flinging poop and incontinence, you might want to skip getting a small animal as a pet.

Let's say your small child wants a rat or hamster and after getting one and having it in your home for a week, you suddenly find you are the one taking care of the little critter. You may see your little hairball doing things that turn your stomach but they are perfectly normal in the rodent world.

If you have a rat, the first thing you will notice when you bring whiskers out to play is that they are incontinent. That is to say...they pee all over everything including you, your clothes, your furniture, the floor as well as anybody else that may hold them. They are not potty trainable and you will end up pulling all your hair out trying before it happens.

If you have two young male rats, you may notice they hump each other like they are having sex. Don't worry, they can't get pregnant if they are male, but you might not want to let them get to close to the dog, or your leg. Your dog may not like it and well your leg will just end up getting urinated on.

Hamsters on the other hand are quite cute but not as affectionate as rats. They also have some bad habits. Most hamsters are nocturnal, this means they will sleep all day and only get up at night to play. Not the best pet for a child that is up all day and sleeps all night. You may also notice you hamster has a long cleaning routine after he wakes up and bothering him will only upset him. As you watch your little hamster cleaning you might notice him picking up the poo pellets in his mouth and flinging them out of his bed as he goes looking for more bedding to stuff in his nesting area. This is all quite natural.

Hamster will on occasion also eat their own poop. This is also very natural and will aid in the natural digestive process, it's called Coprophagia and if you have a dog, rabbit or cat you may have seen them doing it as well. Some animals like rabbits, do this in order to digest all the nutrients found in their foods.

Both hamsters and rats like a variety of foods but giving them a store bought mix may not be enough as they will only pick out the foods they like and leave the rest for you to throw away during the weekly cleaning.

Freebie Friday!

*click picture to enlarge* 

Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a 'Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.

A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.

  You can find links to samples like these at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.

This week I received:

2 ELF make up boxes that I won in a blog contest.
Hair She Goes Hair Removal Kit- Free to test at home in exchange for an honest review.
Andovia Extensive Anti Wrinkle Cream- Free to test at home in exchange for an honest review.
Hail Merry Macaroons- Free sample from Swaggable.
Free Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Meta Health bar.

I also received a box from House Party that contained coupons to give to family and friends, an apron, a wooden spoon and 2 coupons for a Free Saute Express Product.

Dealing With The Loss Of A Pet

*Marbles*

Losing a pet can be hard since they are a part of the family. The pain of losing a family member can be severe and we all need to know how to deal with loss.

Is The Pain I feel Normal?

Severe pain over the loss of a pet can seem silly to people who don't have pets and won't or don't understand. They may tell you to just get another animal but we know that it's not that easy.

You should know it's absolutely natural to feel so much pain after the loss of a pet. You shouldn't hide your pain that is the worst thing you can do. Feel the love and loss of your pet and grieve for your pet.

I've had several hamsters and rats die after a long happy life and it never gets any easier. I've learned throughout the years that after the loss of a pet you need to let yourself feel the strong emotions from that loss.

If you had to take the animal to the veterinarian's office, you should take the advice my vet gave me when she saw how upset I was. She told me to remember how much happiness my little friend gave me and remember she was very happy with me and I did the right thing by ending her suffering.

When I took my hamster to the vet's office and had her euthanized it was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but it was also the right thing to do since I didn't want her to suffer.

You might feel guilt or anger after a pet's loss. The best thing is to examine what you are feeling instead of denying your pain, only then will you be able to work through your feelings.

What Can I do to help get through the grief of losing a pet?

I found that talking to others who have had to deal with the loss of a pet can help because they understand how you are feeling. There are any number of websites that have message boards and other people who are going through the same loss. For instance the Pet Loss Grief Support website is just one place online that would help others who are dealing with the loss of a pet.

The best way I found to deal with a pet's loss, is to have a small funeral for my pet. Whenever one of my hamsters or rats died I would put them in a small box and my family and I would find a nice place for him, say a few words and bury our little friend.

One time we took a ride out to Red Rock Canyon, here in Las Vegas and took a little walk until we found the right spot for our deceased pet.

Knowing that you have given them a happy life and loved them as much as they loved you and finding the perfect resting place for them helps you deal with their death.

What Accessories and Toys Every Hamster Cage Should Have

*Bubbles*

Caring for a hamster is easy if you have all the right accessories for the cage. This will make your hamster happy and a happy hamster is often a healthier hamster.

Water Bottle

There are several different types of water bottles and I've had some difficulty with the softer plastic water bottle because my hamsters would chew right though the plastic and the water would go all over the inside of the cage. 

Getting either a harder plastic water bottle or a metal bottle holder will keep it from getting chewed and leaking all over the inside of the cage.

Since hamsters drink a lot of water, I have found that an 8 oz. water bottle is the right size for most hamsters. The water will usually last for two days before it needs to be refilled. Always clean the bottle and give your hamster clean fresh water.

Food Bowl

Some people don't think hamsters need a food bowl because a lot of time they will sit in their food bowls and kick the food all over the cage. But I have found while some hamsters will do this others like having their food in one place where they can go and get a nibble several times throughout the day.

Hamsters have pouches on the insides of their cheeks and you will see them stuffing food into their mouths while their cheeks get bigger and bigger, only to deposit the food they have into a corner of the cage or into their nesting box.

Hamsters constantly move their food around, but I like having a food bowl that they can sit in or at when they want to get fresh food.

Wheel

A wheel is very important because hamsters need exercise and will get bored very easily if they have nothing to do while they are in their cages.

Do not get a metal hamster wheel, hamsters can get hurt very easily on these types of wheels. Because they have gaps between the metal wires on the wheel, hamsters can get their feet caught in between the wires and break legs, toes and feet.

I have found that a plastic wheel works better and they don't make as much noise as the metal ones do.

Chew Toys

Hamsters chew, they chew on everything in their cages. They have to in order to keep their teeth from over growing. If you don't have something hard for your hamster to chew on occasionally they will have teeth problems and vet bills are expensive.

There are wood blocks, honey sticks, fruit flavored wood shapes, as well as cardboard tubes you can use to hide treats in and use as chew toys.

I had one hamster who would not chew on anything I gave him. But he would continuously chew on the bars of the cage. Even after I had him out and was playing with him for more than an hour.

I finally bought some small dog biscuits and gave him one. He loved it and chewed the whole thing right down to the last little morsel. If your hamster doesn't want to chew on the wood toys you buy him, dog biscuits are a really great and cheap alternative and hamsters really seem to love them.

Nesting Box

Hamsters are nocturnal and will sleep most of the day, so they need a small box or plastic shelter in their cage where they can sleep. Most pet stores have an ample supply if plastic igloos and dens your hamster can use as a nesting box.

If your hamster likes to chew on wood, there are small wooden houses you can buy to use as a nesting box that are made so your hamster can chew on them.

Homemade nesting boxes can also be used. Anything from a tissue box to an old shoe box with a small hole cut in the sides so the hamster can get in and out can be used as a nesting box. Cardboard boxes will have to be replaced often as they will get smelly and are almost impossible to clean after a hamster has urinated on it.

I'm A Guest Reviewer at I Smell Sheep!

Hey guys, I'm a guest reviewer over at I Smell Sheep today and would love it if you popped in to read my review of this book. :) 

Book Description

This novella is a companion piece to the Solsti series and can be read as a stand-alone.

Kidnapped as a teen and forced into a life of sexual slavery, Garnet vowed long ago to do whatever she could to spare others her fate. When karma comes full circle with an offer of freedom for her and her young son, she jumps at the chance.

Masquerading as a village innkeeper, Aden keeps his espionage work secret from the gentle pixies he lives among. Using his skills to prevent a group of vicious demons from attacking the innocent, his world is draped in mist, shadow, and danger.

Steeped in shame, Garnet is loath to share her past with Aden. But Aden senses a sweet, loyal strength in her that no amount of horror can erase. His dangerous work is the opposite of the stability Garnet craves. Yet Aden’s patience and strength make him the hero she never had. When the enemy targets them, Garnet and Aden realize that honesty is the truest form of courage.

My Rattie Halloween

So I set up a few Halloween props and let my rats run around with them to see if I could get a few good shots and here's what I got. 

Lucky just wanted a treat. he sat wherever I put him as long as he had something to eat. lol 

Lucky is so laid back, he didn't even try to eat the props.

But some of the looks he gave me were pretty funny.

And I love the pictures I got with him in them.

Lucky is fun to work with in taking pictures.

Scribbles just wanted to chew on everything. He tore some of the feathers off of my orange spider and started chewing on everything else. 

Scribbles was going to chew on the mummy ball next but decided to drag off the spider again.

After he was done taking a test bite from all the props he finally picked up his treat to eat.

Scribbles wouldn't stay in any pose I put him in..lol 

Trying to chew on the pumpkin now. Scribbles is like a 2 year old toddler getting into everything. lol

Then came Flower's turn and she was even worst than Scribbles. She picked up the orange spider several times and took him over in the corner to chew on him. She would scoot the pumpkin over in the corner too but she was running all over the place so fast it was hard to get pictures of her. 

This girl has so much energy, I wish I could bottle it and sell it. I was able to get a couple of pictures of her before she knocked anything over though. lol 

I took about 100 pictures and can only use a few of them. She's a blur in most of them, zipping here and there and everywhere.

Happy Raturday!

Welcome to a new weekly blog post I'm calling, Raturday! I've seen Caturday and while that's really cute, I think the rats needs some photo time so everyone can see how cute these little animals are. I've gotten permission from Rat Logic's fb page to share their pictures on my blog. So get ready to smile because these are cute. 

*click pictures to enlarge*

*Yes, that's Scribbles. I made my own meme*

*Yes, this is a picture of Lucky that I took and a friend CoveRats by Nikki made it into a cover photo*

Interview With A Rat Enthusiast: What Do I Do When My Rat Has Diabetes?

*Boo, Carole's Rat*

*Originally published on Yahoo Contributor Network, June of 2013*

Diabetes can be ones of the scariest diagnosis to get as a human, but what do you do when you find out that your furry friend has diabetes and he just happens to be a rat?

I asked my friend Carole Merando Littlefield if she wouldn't mind answering some questions about her rat Boo, who has diabetes. Here is my interview with her conducted via email.

Mary: What Symptoms did Boo have that made you think something was wrong?

Carole: Well first he started by drinking a lot and being really lazy, at first I thought was due to the heat as we had not turned the AC on at the time. But then I noticed he was peeing excessively and it was leaving a white residue and he was dropping ounces a day. When he lost weight and was sick, if you touched him you could feel his spine and his hips and he peeped because it hurt!

Mary: How was he diagnosed with diabetes?

Carole: I suspected diabetes as I myself have type 2. I consulted 2 rat experts (Amanda Lacy of RAMR Rattery and Debbie Duccomen) and both agreed was probably diabetes also. Of course by this time I already had a vet appointment and was watching what he was eating.

Mary: What have you had to change since getting the diabetes diagnosis?

Carole: Luckily he is very rat aggressive so he's in his own condo, as he has to have a low sugar, lean protein, low carbohydrate diet. Basically similar to my own. He gets a tbsp of Greek yogurt, a meat and veggies or berries 2x a day right before his medicine is given. He also has a mix left out at all times specifically tailored for his diabetic diet so he has stuff to chew on.

Mary: Do you know if diabetes in rats is a growing problem?

Carole: I actually have found 3 other people with diabetic rats, only one has said she's trying to treat hers, not sure on the other 2. My neurologist suggested his bloodline might have originated from lab rats bred for diabetes research and when re-homed it ended up in his pedigree somewhere.

Mary: What causes a rat to get diabetes?

Carole: With pews (pink eyed whites or albinos) more than likely they came from a line that originated with a line of rats bred to study diabetes drugs in the lab. (see above comment) Also some may be due to a diet too high in carbohydrates and sugars, and of course obesity.

Mary: Will a diabetes diagnosis shorten my rats life span?

Carole: It depends on the individual rat, like with anything else diet, weight, and treatment needs to be kept track of religiously to make sure they stay healthy. Also routine vet check ups to make sure he's doing well. My vet is great she said we are breaking new ground with Boo here in her clinic as she's not had one in before. We discussed options of different types of insulins, cat, dog and human. I chose to go with human since in the lab that's what they were bred for.

The dosage was the hard part as it was too small, so I adjusted it a ml at a time until his glucose levels fell to trace to zero. My daily log my vet read cover to cover and suggested if his glucose rose again to just increase by 1ml every couple of days until he was back in the negative-trace zone. This is working wonderfully as you can see by his photos, my big boy is almost back to his original weight. Though I'm trying to keep it down, he's also 12 inches long nose to tail root!

*Boo, Carole's Rat*

Mary: How do you test a rats blood sugar and what medicines do you give a rat with diabetes?

Carole: Boo is a big help with this one, I put him on the scale to weigh him and give him a sugar free chocolate chip and he eats it then pees on the scale. I then take a ketone test strip and soak it and compare to the chart. So far only 1 time was his sugar off the charts, he had been given a snack by my son a while before test time. But I knew so I wasn't worried too much, he had his shot and it returned to normal.

Also due to having to give him a shot every day in his neck/shoulder area we felt the pee test strips would be kinder. Some days he doesn't even flinch, other days he peeps if you get the wrong spot but he's awesome about it. My 14 yo daughter (who's going to be ahead of everyone when she goes to vet tech school in 5 yrs) gives him his shots when I have to be out of the house and he just sits there. We have it on a 9am and 9pm schedule and he's always at his door waiting for his yogurt! When I have enough research I plan on writing it up for my vet and anyone else that may want the information. (6-12 months)

He's my big love bug and I'm so glad we are able to treat it.

Thank you so much Carole, for agreeing to this interview. I'm sure this valuable information will help many other rat parents who have gotten this diagnosis.