Hi!  Everyone here was so sweet to me when I posted about my lost Rattie a few weeks ago.  Lydia still hasn't appeared, but while searching the shelters I found a little guy (10#) who will be coming home with me after he is neutered today.  I've renamed him "Whitaker Bits" (probably will call him Whit or Whitty) (They said that the former owner who surrendered him had called him "Rotten" -- can you imagine?)  I'll post pics after he gets settled in.

Here's my question.  The shelter said that the vet didn't say anything about his hips, but it is clear to me that there has been some injury in that area.  He doesn't like to sit on his haunches -- when I said "sit" he would lie down.  His gait is awkward and one leg seems especially stiff.  He can jump into my lap, but seems to have some trouble doing it.  It also seems that the base of his spine, behind his hips, curves down although he holds his (very long, bushy!) tail upright

I will be taking him to my own vet, but I was just wondering if any of you more experienced people have thoughts about this. Injury, dysplasia?  How can I help him to be as comfortable as possible?

Just wanted to say Congrats on your new rattie   

The black hair does seem to be smoother on some ratties. Maybe he was born with a little shorter tail, that was not docked. My Winchester has a natural bob tail, that he was born with. I guess they can be born with any length tail. Does it curl up wen he walks?

Amos' tail is kinda booshy on the end.  He mostly keeps it curled up over his back.  He is a rattie mix, so I'm not sure what a pure rattie would look like with a tail.

Well, it does sort of look like Amos's tail.  Whitaker carries his curled back also, but really, the white hair is much longer and today I noticed what almost seems like "feathering" on his back legs.  I'm beginning to suspect that Mr. Whitaker Bits may have something besides Rat Terrier in his background!!