socRATties

Respiratory Illnesses

Among the fairly common health problems found in pet rats are respiratory illnesses. If you notice any of these symptoms in your pets, you should call the vet and then do some research yourself:

Sneezing

Rattling sound when breathing

Red staining (porphyrin) around nose or eyes

Swelling (appearance) of eyeball or around eye

Cloudy eye(s)

Swelling in neck area

Puffy face

Weight loss

Lethargy

Any of these can be symptoms of mycoplasma, SDA or Sendai, and these illnesses can be fatal to your pets.

Bumblefoot (Ulcerative Pododermatitis)

If your pet rat develops sores on his feet, he might have bumblefoot. It is believed by some that bumblefoot is caused by rats walking on the bare wire bottom of their cage, although there are other causes such as diabetes, and being overweight amoung others. Treatment can include oral medication or surgery.

Parasites

If you find that your rat is scratching alot, he or she may be allergic to something or may have parasites. When rats get lice, you will see the same signs as you would see in humans-itching and tiny white "droplets" on individual hairs. Mites are harder to see. Your vet can determine if your rat has parasites and can treat it. There are many kinds of treatments including powders, creams, injections or oral meds. DO NOT DO INJECTABLE. I find that ivermectin given orally by means of a drop on the back of the neck is effective and causes very little discomfort for my rats. I then separate them into 2’s for an hour or so, so that they can injest while they groom.

Megacolon

Megacolon is most often seen in very young rats with blazes or other white spotting on their bodies. If you find that your rat pup is very bloated and not having bowel movements, megacolon as a possible cause. If you find that your pup does have it, like any other illness, it is important that you contact the breeder to let him or her know about it.

If you suspect that this may be a problem for your rat, please start by contacting your vet without delay

Other Considerations

If your rat's symptoms do not fit in any of these categories, check to see if he's been injured or if something is different in his environment. Sometimes changing cleaning products or diet can cause problems for rats. When it comes to asking others whether or not your pet needs help, go ahead and ask, but remember you know your pet best. If you're not sure, but think something is wrong, call your vet. Often the best results come when he's taken in at the first sign of illness.