The simplest way to restrain a rat is by holding him firmly around the torso with two hands. You can also try wrapping the rat in a towel. If your rat is particularly squirmy, you can use an old sock to create a straight jacket for him. Simply cut off the toe of the sock and place the tube around your rat’s body. Then use some masking tape to tape the sock loosely around your rat’s neck. Be sure to secure the bottom of the sock as well. If your rat is especially cooperative, you can try letting him stand on his hind legs on a table, holding him upright with one hand right under his front legs. Use your free hand hand to open his mouth.
Don’t forget to check the cheek teeth, too, which can overgrow.
This may also cause your rat’s breath to smell very bad.
If your rat appears to be chewing constantly, even when she is not eating, this may also be a sign that her teeth need attention. If you notice messy eating or drooling saliva, your rat’s cheek teeth may be overgrown.
If your rat has abscesses, you will probably notice that he seems reluctant to eat hard foods due to pain.
Keep in mind that if your rat’s teeth need to be trimmed, it will probably have to be done every few weeks. Be sure to take your rat to the vet right away if you think she has abscesses from her overgrown teeth.
This strategy may or may not solve the problem that is causing your rat’s teeth to grow too long, so be sure to continue checking them weekly and clipping them whenever necessary.
