Rats - Health

General health

How do I know if one of my rats is ill?

You should check your rats each day for any signs of illness. These might include the following:

• Diarrhoea
• Significant weight change (in either direction) over a short period
• Loss of appetite
• Drinking much more or less than normal
• Lack of energy/sleeping more than usual
• Hunched posture
• Unusual swellings
• Skin conditions
• Change in coat appearance
• Limping
• Unusual bleeding
• Signs of pain, such as sensitivity to touch
• Runny eyes or nose
• Red staining around the eyes and nose
• Overgrown teeth

If you see any of these signs, visit your vet straight away. There could be other signs of illness, not on this list, and any change in behaviour should alert you to the possibility of illness.

Is it true that rats often get respiratory infections?

Respiratory infections (involving lungs and breathing) are among the commonest illnesses in rats. Rats with respiratory disease may have a runny nose or eyes, have difficulty breathing or be snuffling and wheezing. They may also lose weight. If any of your rats show these signs you should take them to your vet straight away.

Respiratory infections are more common in the following situations:

• Cage not cleaned out often enough (please see  “How often do I need to clean the cage out?) – this leads to a build-up of ammonia, which makes the rats more vulnerable to respiratory infections
• Dusty bedding (e.g. woodshavings or sawdust (please see “What type of material should I use on the floor of my rats’ cage?”)
• Poor ventilation (e.g. rats kept in a tank rather than a cage with bars)
• Overcrowding (too many rats kept in a cage)

If any of your rats are showing signs of respiratory disease, take them to your vet, clean the cage out more frequently and ask your vet for advice about which bedding to use.

Can rats get obese?

Obesity is common in pet rats. It reduces their quality of life and can lead to other diseases. Rats get obese if they eat too many calories and can’t exercise enough. The following advice will help ensure your rats don’t get obese: 

• Make sure your rats live in a large cage with plenty of space and things to climb on and explore, including an exercise wheel. This will allow them to get exercise that they need. 
• Don’t feed fatty or sugary foods (e.g. “honey sticks” or unhealthy human foods such as crisps, cake and chocolate). Natural treats are available from pet shops which are enjoyed by rats and are healthy for them. 
• Sunflower seeds and peanuts are high in fat. If you are going to feed them, just give them occasionally, as treats. 
• Feed complete rat nuggets (please see “what should I feed my rats”) rather than seed-based mixes. When fed seed-based mixes, rats often eat the bits they like and leave other bits behind. This can lead to obesity. 

If you think one of your rats is obese, visit your vet for advice. 

Why has one of my rats got red staining around his eyes and nose? 

Rats have special glands in their eyes called ‘Harderian glands’. These produce a reddish brown liquid which can come out of the eyes or nose, looking like red tears or a nose bleed. Production of this liquid increases with stress. If one of your rats has red staining around the eyes or nose it could be due to one of the following stress factors: 

• Pain 
• Lack of space in the cage 
• A draughty or noisy living environment 
• Poor nutrition
• Stressful handling 
• Disease 
• Presence of predators, such as the family cat

You should take your rat to your vet if there is red staining around the eyes or nose. 

Are rats prone to getting tumours? 

Rats are prone to certain types of tumours, some of which are more serious than others. If you notice any lumps or bumps developing, take your rat for a check-up with your vet. 

What should I do if I think one of my rats is ill? 

If you are worried about the health of any of your rats it is always best to contact your local veterinary practice.