problems with albino animals?

Re: problems with albino animals?

Laura James — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:56:45 GMT

[quote user="sarah parrott"]

a rat breeder suggested a steriod injection too for her chest, is that good? i alway thought steriods were bad for the immune system? or that might be something else im thinking of??

any thoughts??

[/quote]

Woo i know this!! (I have a pharmacology exam next week so ive been revising)

At certain doses steroids act as immunosuppressants, but if you've got access to a nebuliser you could always try nebulisation (If its safe for rats) as you get all the benefits of the steroids acting on the chest but you don't get the systemi effect if given orally or parenterally

Re: problems with albino animals?

Cat Woman — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:03:25 GMT

Rats do generally have poor eyesight. All my rats have done the swaying thing - I believe it is something to do with their dodgy eyes/trying to focus & make objects out.

Re: problems with albino animals?

Rachel Jayne — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:35:26 GMT

Albino bunnies sway too, is something to do with brain development, but is completely normal.

I have heard something before regarding the colour pigments in albino's effecting the retina & therefore their sight, think it was an article in a magazine.
I'll try look for it.

Re: problems with albino animals?

Fleabee99 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:47:24 GMT

[quote user="StephB"]

Not sure about rats or other species but albino cats can be deaf and sometimes blind from genetics. here is an interesting page about it, i actually read about it somewhere else, but this gives you an idea about it. http://www.catplaza.org.uk/medical/white-cats-deafness/

[/quote]

i found this really interesting steph thank you, speshly where it mentions the pink-eyed and siamese as she is a pink-eye siamese so duno where that leaves her sight wise but her health isnt too good due to the way shes been kept most her life unfortunately, she was kept on sawdust which obviously is an absolute NO NO for rats but shes on paper based cat litter now so hopefully the baytril will do the trick

a rat breeder suggested a steriod injection too for her chest, is that good? i alway thought steriods were bad for the immune system? or that might be something else im thinking of??

any thoughts??

Re: problems with albino animals?

Caro Laithwaite VN — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:30:24 GMT

Albino humans can have sight, hearing and skin problems also general health is poor. I know as one of my 2 best friends is an albino and has those issues.

As it affects humans there is no reason to not assume it affects animals as well, that is why l am against having albinos to deliberately breed albinos. In the wild they have short life spans as they stand out, herd animals are driven out for being different and attracting attention and they soon fall prey. Others carnivores or those that live alone can not find mates as they are different.

My friend is wonderful but l wish like hell for her sake she did not have that s**ty gene in her, hers was a throwback not deliberate.

Re: problems with albino animals?

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:28:14 GMT

Re: problems with albino animals?

Fleabee99 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:17:00 GMT

yeh she does that! surfing we call it!, but my brother used to have albino gerbils years ago and they did it too, might be an albino thing yeah their sight aint so good anyway but i think i may have heard about albinos being abit worst off on the sight and sound front she finding her way over and pushing me about though so she can see the laptop bless!

Re: problems with albino animals?

Kim Buckley — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:14:18 GMT

I had an albino rat and she did used to sway slightly from side to side which is apparently normal for albino rats. Don't know if this is actually true though. I may be wrong but I didn't think rats had amazing eye sight anyway relying mostly on smell, sound and touch with their whiskers.

Re: problems with albino animals?

Fleabee99 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:13:41 GMT

thanks anyway, she is fine regardless of her sight very happy in herself, more confident everyday so all in all good, was abit shakey last night but she was good this morning and managing to get her trying different foods like malteasers, jelly and flapjack lol but yeah shes enjoying herself , am gessing the sight in just lower compared to normal black eyes as she sees changes in light

Re: problems with albino animals?

Saskia Quinn — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:09:57 GMT

Hi Sarah

unfortunately, I cannot help you with the original question other than to say I have known one or two albino Boxers to be deaf. I fostered one for a few weeks one christmas. Other than that, I dont know why etc.

I am so glad little Flower is continuing to improve!