Signs of Illness In Your Rat
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Signs of Illness in Fancy Rats
Pet rats are cute, furry, smart, and social. No one wants anything to be wrong with their pet, not even a pet rat.
Here are some signs of illness in rats.
SKIN PROBLEMS:
Hair loss, Scratching, Rubbing, Chewing, Swelling, Redness, Scaly, Sores,Dry fur
ABDOMINAL PROBLEMS:
Diarrhea, Weight loss, Poor appetite, Bloating, Discharge, Lethargy, Infertility, Excessive water consumption, Excessive Urination
MUSCLE/ BONE PROBLEMS:
Limping, Holding up a paw, Abnormal angles to limbs
NERVOUS SYSTEM PROBLEMS:
Incoordination, Trembling, Seizures, Paralysis, Depression
OTHER PROBLEMS:
Discharge from eyes/nose, Wheezing, Labored breathing, Hunched posture, Change in awake/sleep cycle, Increased aggression, Curled position, Rigid standing, Stiff gait, Slow chewing/lack thereof, Drooling
Rat Health
- Health of a Fancy Rat
Great information abot the lifespan of the fancy rat, common medical problems and what to do about them, things your vet may not know about rats, and safety-precautions if taking on an orphaned wild rat. - Rat Health Care
Find out basic first aid as well as common rat ailments and diseases.
Upper Respiratory Infection
A common rat illnesses is upper respiratory infection. Surprisingly, or not, rats have sensitive respiratory symptoms and can acquire resperiatory infection rather easily. Unsanitary living conditions, improper nutrition, excess dust, stress, and many other causes can bring about respiratory problems.
The symptoms you want to look for include Swaggering gait, Reddish brown staining around eyes or nose, Face rubbing, Wheezing, Labored breathing, Poor appetite, Weight loss, Hunched posture, Chattering, and Lethargy.
Rat Info
- Housing Pet Rats
Finding the perfect cage is a must for pet rats. Make sure you know what you're looking for in a cage and accessories. - Rats Vs. Mice
When deciding upon a pet rodent, make the proper decision between rats and mice. Make sure to know the true differences. - Games and Toys for Pet Rats
Find fun games for you and your pet rat(s). - Rat Munchies
Proper treats for your rat(s). - Homemade Rat Diets
Make a healthy, homemade rat diet for your favorit pet. Find out about proper nutrition. What you can and can't feed your rats. - Homemade Rat Recipes
Find out more fun and yummy recipes that you can make for your pet rat(s). - Homemade Rat Treats
Make yummy homemade treats for your beloved pet rat(s). - How to Train Pet Rats
Tips for training your pet rat.
Veterinarian
If you notice any signs of illness in your pet rat, you should go to the vet as soon as you can. A vet can diagnose the symptoms and prescribe the proper medicines. Do not try to self-diagnose any symptoms that you may be seeing, because you could be wrong, and you never want to put your pet in any danger by self-medicating or self-prescribing something that may harm your rat. And, NEVER get medicine ideas from the internet. There are so many sites out there that contain mis-information. You do not want to take advise from a website that may be completely inaccurate. You could end up poisoning or overdosing your pet.
If you cannot make it to the vet right away, you CAN help your rat by disenfecting the cage, adding a little pedialyte to the water bottle, and putting fresh fruits and vegetables in the cages. The fresh produce will help boost nutrition levels, and hopefully boost immunity levels. But, take your pet to the vet as soon as your can. These will not cure any illness, just hopefully help boost the rat's immunity.
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Comments
My rats are constantly makinf noises like a "nifff" but they show no other signs of resp. problems. What should I do?
I think it might just be you're rats way of talking. Or, maybe he/she is allergic to the bedding. I'd try getting a new, dust-free bedding and see if that works.
=]
NEWRATLUVR: You may want to try a dust free bedding such as carefresh or aspen. But, more than likely they could have upper respiratory, which is similar to a cold in humans. You may want to take a visit to a vet, just in case. Sometimes they can recover on their own, but sometimes, depending on their size and age, they may need a little help with the symptoms via an antibiotic. Clavamox can be prescribed by your vet, and it is pretty good with upper respiratory conditions. Many times pet store rats can get upper respiratory infection because of their housing at the petstore; usually the cages are over crowded and dirty. Sometimes, changing of environment, may spark a little illness. I would just keep watch on them, but do not wait too late if you feel they need to go to the vet, do so.
LUVDARATS: Your rats are probably just excited and happy. Just keep a watch on them. Watch for sneezing, lethargy, and other signs of illness that I have mentioned above.
Thank you so much! It's been two weeks since I got my rats, and they seem much better. I tried a new bedding which seemed to work wonders.
Thank you for the advie!
My rat keeps sneezing and he wheezes sometimes- not like every day but just sometimes when he's sleeping. But it goes on for a long time, maybe like 10 minutes. He only does it when he's sleeping and he doesn't seem to be struggling to breathe, or anything, but it's just the noise. He also has a skin rash just behind his ears that spreads to his neck. His hair is not falling out but he keeps scratching at it and I can tell its really itchy. Does this sound like an allergic reaction or something more serious?
I got my rat a month ago and i tamed her already.for the past week she seems agressive and frequently tries to bite me. what is wrong with her and what should I do?
If she's normally been friendly and social, and all of a sudden grouchy and whatnot, she may not be feeling well. Is she eating and drinking ok?
shes ok but now she started scratching at 1 spot and snapping at anything that came her way. she was back 2 normal but cut my thumb after i picked her up again. she wakes up and scratches herself too.
hi iv got three sisters. i keep seeing which looks like blood on them today i noticed blood on 1 rats paw it also has bloody stains on its nose, it eating playing cleaning, but keeps rubbing its nose can some 1 give me some help i know alot about rats as i worked in a pet shop but would like some help please as im really upset thanks
RATLOVE, they could be playing a little too rough, which could be what the blood is from. Check them for scabs and wounds. If the blood is coming from their nose, you need to go to the vet ASAP!!!! A bloddy discharge from the nose and eyes is can be a sign of illness.
This is what one vet says:
"Rat tears are brown-red in color, so if your rat has a “bloody discharge” from the nose and eyes, it is most likely the porphyrin secretion from the Harderian Gland that helps to lubricate the eye. An increase in tear secretions can be due to stress, illness, allergies, lesions of the eye, tumor of the tear duct, or a plugged nasal-lacrimal duct. Under normal circumstances, most rats do not have a nasal discharge, although Dr. Booth has seen many older disease free rats that frequently have a slight eye discharge. If an animal has a plugged nasal-lacrimal duct (drains from the eye to the nose), your veterinarian can check the patency by placing fluorescein stain in the eye. If the duct is not clogged, a small amount will drain out the nose. A clogged nasal-lacrimal duct is very uncommon in rats, and most that have a nasal or ocular discharge have a respiratory or viral infection. Karen Robbins & Carmen Jane Booth, D.V.M."
I find that healthy rats do not have the bloody dischage from the nose or eyes.
Otherwise, I don't know what the deal is. I would say take them to the vet.
My rat has been walking and standing leaning to the left and if you pick her up and tilt her to the right she freaks out and spins to the left. i am really worried. and just resently she has been having red discharge from her nose... please eamil me at happy_bunni_rox@msn.com i would really like to know if anyone has any clue what is going on with her... i can;t take her to the vet right now because we don't have much money. so any help would be much appreciated. thank you and sorry for any spelling errors
We just purchased a darling dumbo rat 2 weeks ago. She seems to be very healthy, eating well and very active. We are noticing little reddish brown spots on our shirts after we hold her. It appears that it may be coming from her face. She does have a scratch on her (I think from playing rough with her cage mate) It appears it could be maybe from her right eye or her nose or mouth. Can you give me ideas on this. Is it worth it to take her to our vet and see if she needs an antibiotic?
Christa- I would see a vet just in case. It could be rough housing, stress, or something more serious.
Do rats have a tendancy to sound like mini dogs when they're sniffing things?? Like when they're smelling it's kinda snorty, and then when they finish sniffing something, they'll push the air out of their nose quickly.. and then quietly go about their business afterward?? My rat kinda reminds me of a scaled down Boxer or Pug.
I've never heard of rats being referred to as dogs when sniffing. They can sniff loudly, but I've never thought about it as a dog.
my rat has been standing in one place and is inactive. She is also shaking a little bit
when she tries to walk. She also huddles up srunches herself together What disease is it and what should i do?
thanks
You should take her to the vet. Not a cat/dog vet but one who will be able to treat small animals. Some cat/dog vets will, you'll just need to make a few calls. It sounds pretty serious, but I cannot diagnose the illness for you. It may not be a disease, but some other type of illness. Only a vet can diagnost it.
HI
i need help i ahve two brothers which adore each ohter but now my hyper rat [monty] is not himself he is eating and drinking and i love my rats to bits what should i do with monty.
With what you've described, I can't really help you diagnose the problem. How old are they? Remember their average lifespan is 3-5 years.
they are yong not even a year he is sleepy and amke hervy beathing sounds im keeping him. warm.All monty wants to do is sleep which im letting im do but its just no my rat
I'd definitely suggest a vet then. Sounds like a respiratory concern, that you'll need meds for.
Is there anything I can do for monty while ea it for the vets?
thanks for helping me I LOVE MONTY AND RIO WITH ALL MY HEART I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THEM SUFFER
SO THANKS SO MUCH
Just make him comfortable. If he's still eating and drinking, that's 2 things you've already got a step up on. Just watch his breathing.
HE HAS NOW GOT A PLOB ROUND THE CONER OF HIS EYE IT IS BROWN.
That's another sign of a respiratory illness. You really need to take him to the vet tomorrow first thing.
i hsve taken monty to the vet he is on meds he really did not like the vet but he is on the mend.thanks for all your help and support
THANK-YOU
That's great. What was wrong with him? I hope he gets better.
the vet just sed that respirtaory problem was coming on but we caught juat in time .Monty now is becoming his hyper self.Also sorry another question should i ever clip monty and rios claws because the are becoming quite lond and sharp.?
That's good. I wish him and you luck. Some people clip them some people don't. I have tried but my girls are everywhere and never stay still long enough for me to try. You can use baby baby clippers or regular ones. Just be careful.
OK.What is the best method dor giving monty his meds because it is a liquid his has to have it though this tube?not sure how we gonna get him open his mouth.
Use a syringe. You should be able to just slip a small syringe in the side of his mouth. You may have to raise the sides of his mouth, but you shouldn't have a problem with a small syringe, as the tip is pretty thin.
Monty has finshed alll his meds and he is fully cure.thanks for your help
monty and rio say thankyou to
That's great!
My husbad is pretty fancy and sometimes he's a rat....would this apply to him?? teasing, he's a doll. ahem, that's just in case he reads this. LOL
good hub, we had rats in my class room, and some were four-legged!! Marisue
my rat (pepper) has been having some discharge from the eyes and nose, recently it seemes to have stopped a little. But instead she is now feeling colder than usual and is sneezing alot. Is this allergies or a cold or something worse?
Sounds like it may be a respiratory concern. You'll need to see a vet for a diagnosis and possible meds.
working
newratluvr says:
7 months ago
My new rats (from pet store) seem to be wheezing alot. I am afraid that they have resp. problems, but they dont show any other signs of resp. problems. Maybe its the bedding I am giving them? The stress from being in a new invironment? I don't want my ratties to die!!