Your rats' health: what to look out for

If you want to make sure your furry friends are in tip top shape, health checking them regularly is a must!

It’s important to do this weekly and look out for any changes in their behaviour every day. Rats can be very good at hiding any health issues until they’re really suffering. So, if you have any concerns, act quickly and contact your rat savvy vet.

 

How to health check your rat

Weight 

Use small scales (like kitchen scales) to monitor their weight but keep an eye on their general condition daily.

Eyes

Eyes should be clean, clear and bright with no cloudiness or discharge. If there’s an injury to the eye itself, veterinary treatment should be sought immediately.

Ears, nose and mouth

Ears, nose and mouth should be clean, free of any discharge, flaky, scabby and crusty patches . No noisy breathing.

Teeth

Top and bottom incisors (front teeth) should be orange in colour, smooth and wearing evenly against one another. Teeth should not be growing to the side or curling up towards the back or top of the mouth.

Body

Body should be free of any lumps, bumps, scabs or wounds. These often appear under their armpits, groin and neck.

Skin, coat and tail

Skin, coat and tail should:

• be clean and healthy looking
• have no fur loss
• have no red, flaky skin/dandruff
• have no wounds or scratches
• have no obvious parasites hiding in the fur, particularly around the rump just above the tail

Bottom and genitals

Bottom and genitals should be clean, not red or swollen.

Feet and toes

Feet and toes should be free of any sores and swelling on the skin and joints.

Nails

Nails should be a regular length. Most will not need to have their nails clipped as they’ll naturally wear down whilst climbing and exploring. Older rats may need their back claws trimmed occasionally.

 

Finding a vet

It’s very important to find a vet in your area who is rat savvy. Most vets see cats and dogs every day and will have an extensive knowledge of their needs. Other species such as rats will rarely be seen by most vets. So, finding someone who has lots of experience of seeing, diagnosing and treating these species is vital.

• Look for an Exotics Veterinary Practice – they may have more experience and could end up being cheaper in the long-term than other vets. Look here to find a rat-friendly vet in your area: Rat Vet Reviews UK | Facebook
• Talk to friends and family who own or have owned rats to see if there are any vets in they recommend.
• Talk to veterinary practices themselves to find out if there are any rat savvy vets within the practice. Don’t be afraid to ask them how many they see on a weekly basis, as this will help you decide whether they’re the right vet for you.

 

Lumps, bumps and tumours

Unfortunately, tumours and non-aggressive lumps are very common in rats, especially females. These can develop as young as a year old, so health check your rats regularly – in particular under the armpits, groin and neck.

Non-aggressive lumps (which tend to account for the majority of lumps in females) can be left or removed. This will depend on your vet’s recommendation and your rat’s general condition, but they rarely grow quickly. They’re often pea-sized at the beginning but can grow very large over time. This may impact on your rat’s quality of life in the long-term.

Aggressive, often cancerous lumps, can grow extremely quickly – doubling in size in a matter of weeks. Removal is possible, although you should discuss this with an experienced vet and take into consideration the rat’s general condition and age.

Lumps could also be abscesses or cysts. These are quite common, particularly in male rats. They’re not life-threatening unless they’re around the head, neck and face. Veterinary treatment should be sought quickly for abscesses or cysts in these areas. This is because they’re close to important nerves and blood vessels, so infection can get into the bone very easily.

 

Breathing problems

Sadly, respiratory infections are a very common illness in rats. These are caused by bacteria in the respiratory tract, which makes the rat unwell. Pre-existing respiratory conditions in rats can also be worsened by stress, poor ventilation, dusty substrate, changes in temperature, predators in the home, bullying by other rats and old age.

As well as medical support from your vet, there are many steps you can take to help your rats avoid breathing issues. These include choosing suitable substrate, cleaning your rats’ cage to a high standard, washing the hammocks and bars of the cage, ensuring their cage is well-ventilated, and keeping predators such as dogs and cats away.

Contact your vet if you notice the following symptoms:

• Sneezing
• Rattling sound from the chest – you can often feel this when handling your rat
• Signs of them struggling to breathe, giving the chest/sides of abdomen a hollow appearance
• Blood-like spotting, brown or red colouring around the inside of the legs, face, eyes and flanks (sides of abdomen – known as porphyrin staining). This can also be seen in their bedding or in their hammocks
• Generally looking fluffed up and poorly

 

Neutering your rats

Although rats are not routinely neutered, it’s possible and there are many benefits. Some rats can become hormonally aggressive, which may be directed towards one another, or towards people. In these cases, neutering can stop this behaviour and helps them stay in a bonded pair or group.

If you choose to neuter your rats, find an experienced vet to carry out the surgery.

 

Parasites and fur loss

These can be relatively common in young or elderly rats, especially if they’ve come from poor conditions. It can be tricky to spot mites, but the signs are usually excessive scratching and scabs around the shoulder and, later, the face.

Lice can be quite clearly seen if the fur is brushed gently backwards. If your rats have lice, you’ll see very small orange/light brown parasites wriggling on the skin and moving in the hair. Whereas mites are nearly impossible to see, so being aware of common symptoms is important.

These include:

• Intensive itching and scratching
• Small scratch wounds along the shoulders and back
• Hair loss
• Crusts forming along the ears, tail or nose

If you notice any of these, make sure you act quickly as parasites can be very distressing for rats. Get your rats checked by a vet who will be able to advise you on the best treatment.

 

Back leg problems

As rats age, they can become prone to back leg weakness. This is often referred to as hind leg degeneration or HLD. It’s particularly common in male rats. You may notice your rat appears wobbly, or one or both legs starting to drag when they walk.

Keeping your rats fit when they’re young through fun activities will help reduce their chances of developing this problem. This can include things that challenge your rats to climb all around their cage, and give them plenty of free-range time. We have lots of ideas about different toys you can put in their cage.

If you notice any changes in your rats’ movement, speak to your vet and make changes to your cage. We also recommend reducing the height of platforms and hammocks and removing activities like ladders and ropes that they may fall from.

 

Dental health

Rats have front teeth that continuously grow. They should be orange-yellow in colour, which may get darker as they age.

Rats will wear their teeth down naturally by grinding them together – known as ‘bruxing’. Occasionally, they can suffer with dental issues including overgrown incisors. This can be down to poor breeding or an accident.

If you spot any of these signs, your rat could have dental problems:

• Rapid weight loss
• Eating less than they usually do
• Unable to chew hard foods and only eating softer foods they’re given
• Lumps along the lower jaw

The following signs can indicate a number of things including damaged teeth, or food getting stuck, but often the cause can be unknown:

• Lumps along the lower jaw
• Abscesses on the side of their face
• Swelling in or around the mouth

If you think your rat has a dental issue, always speak to a vet as they’ll probably need urgent treatment. Whilst it may be tempting to clip teeth yourself, please don’t! This can risk splitting the tooth or may even result in a broken jaw.