Common Signs of Illness

Despite our best efforts, sometimes our little friends fall ill. Here are some of the more common signs of illness - and remember, if you feel like your animal is just "off" or not doing well, please do not rely on the internet for help! Call your veterinarian!

Porphyrin staining - this is the most common sign you will see. Rats have a red secretion in their mucus called porphyrin. It will sometimes look like very dark blood, but your rat doesn't have a bloody nose, or bloody eyes, it's just mucus. Porphyrin most commonly gathers in the corners of the eyes and around the nostrils. A little when the weather changes is nothing to worry about, but persistant or heavy amounts are definite signs of illness.

Sneezing/Coughing/Chirping - Rats are not naturally noisy animals, and they do not "chirp" conversationally. If you have a rat that's making squeaky, chirpy, snuffly noises, or sneezing frequently, or jerking its ribcage/stomach rhythmically - the rat is having respiratory issues and needs to see a vet. Sneezing when entering a new environment (like a new home) or when the weather changes for a day isn't something to be concerned with, but abdominal breathing or a persistant sneeze should be looked at.

Scabs - especially around the neck/shoulders/upper back area. These are usually signs of a mite infestation (and NOT protein hotspots, as you will find claimed on the internet.) Mites are demodectic to rats (meaning they live naturally in the skin) and an outbreak is a sign that the rat's immune system is too suppressed to control them. Lice and other parasites can also cause skin problems, but these are NOT demodectic, and should be considered a sign of poor husbandry and an unclean environment. A vet can prescribe a run of ivermectin to deal with parasites.

Lumps and bumps - rats are very prone to tumors (both malignant and non) and to abcesses. Usually, an abcess will feel hard and firm, and you may be able to find the scab on it from the original injury - an abcess is a buildup of thick pus around an injury site. Abcesses need to be drained and kept clean, and antibiotics are often prescribed. Tumors are usually round and squishy in feel, and are usually found in the mammary tissue on the underside of a rat. Very fat rats will be more prone to these than trim ones, even males. Tumors can usually be removed by a veterinarian without issue, and should be removed while they are still small instead of waiting for them to grow large. Some older rats, or rats with compromised systems, cannot safely undergo surgery, and may be offered palliative care instead.

Lethargy - this is a nonspecific symptom, but can be the indication of something quite serious. A rat who is usually active, affectionate and attention-seeking who would rather just sit in a corner should be considered quite ill indeed, and a vet check is not out of order.

Puffy coat - along with lethargy, this is a nonspecific symptom that points to the underlying misery of the rat's feelings at the time. Rats sitting hunched on a shelf with their fur puffed out, especially if breathing heavily, are probably either struggling to breathe or in considerable pain.

Weight loss - this can be a sign of anything from cancer, to heart disease, to a severe respiratory infection. If a rat is too sick or in too much pain to eat, they need to see a vet as soon as possible.