Basics

Care

Healthy rats have bright eyes, clean noses and clean ears. Signs of ill health in a rat include a ruffled coat, depressed attitude, lethargy, reluctance to move even when handled, a lack of appetite and a change in drinking habits.

• Respiratory disease is one of the commonest problems in rats, and can be triggered by stresses such as overcrowding or poor nutrition. Rats can develop pneumonia even after a fairly mild cold, so always take your rat to the vet if it begins sneezing.

• Obesity is also a common problem in rats. If your rat does become overweight, reduce the fatty and sugary foods in the diet, gradually replacing them with more vegetables and fruit.

• Rats have special glands in their eyes called ‘Harderian glands’. These produce a reddish brown secretion that increases with stress, overcrowding, poor nutrition and respiratory disease. Try and eliminate any stress factors that can trigger other diseases, such as overcrowding and poor nutrition. A vet should always see an affected rat in case there is another problem, such as a respiratory disease.

Holiday care can be difficult to organise, as some people don’t like rats. Rats do store food, however, so can be left for a day – any longer than that and they do need the care of someone trustworthy who can be relied on to feed and clean them regularly