Rat Health.
Rats for the most part are pretty hardy and adaptable creatures, they can survive great falls and their wounds heal in just days, but unfortunately they can have some health problems and do not live particularly long lives. The life expectancy of a pet rat is generally 2-3 years, but some easily do not live this long due to complications, some avoidable, some not. If you would like to help keep your little friends as healthy and happy as possible, below are a few tips to follow and facts to understand.
Just like with any pet though, you must be willing and able to take your rat to the vet if they get sick, either to be medicated or to be kindly put to sleep if it is the best thing for them. It is cruel and criminal to let any animal suffer without treatment or kind euthanasia, even a cheap animal such as a rat.
General Health-
Firstly, it is important when researching online to read information which is current, and relevant to your area. In the case of the info below, it is relevant to Australian rats specifically. We are lucky enough in Australia, due to very strict importation laws, to not have many of the fatal diseases which rats in other countries, namely the US and UK, can contract. When reading overseas websites, most will advise very strict quarantine practices. Quarantining is generally not needed in Australia, because the only known 'diseases' which rats can catch here are ‘Myco’ and other similar respiratory based bacteria, which are already carried by almost all rats from birth. If every rat has it, there’s no point in quarantining new or sick rats from the rest of your rats. And removing a sick rat from it's friends will likely stress it out unduly, which can make them even sicker.
Although respiratory illnesses are definitely the most common health issue rats face, other issues can include- head-tilt/ear infections, tumours, cataracts/blindness, teeth issues and ulcers/abscesses, all of which would require vet treatment.
Rats can also be affected by parasites such as mites, lice, mange and worms. If you suspect that your rats might have caught something, the a tiny drop of "Puppy and Kitten- Revolution" or ivermectin(external cow drench) on the back of their necks should clear any problems up. Make sure to fully clean cages and replace all bedding when you do so.
Respiratory Issues (aka breathing difficulties)
Unfortunately respiratory/breathing issues are the biggest health concern with rats in Australia. Every rat carries from birth the bacteria Mycoplasmosis and possibly other lesser known bacteria in their respiratory tract(nose and lungs), and when most rats ‘die of old age’ it is in fact because of these bacteria, which slowly affects their lung capacity and efficiency. But it is not the be all and end all, and most breeders are trying to improve on this. There is no cure for or way to eradicate Myco without a sterile laboratory setting, the best way to deal with Myco is to breed for resistance to it. By breeding rats together that show the most resistance to the bacteria, we can hopefully create rats with strong immune systems that can live happily and healthily despite the Myco.
This however doesn’t help you much as a pet owner once you have a sick rat. The best thing you can do as a pet owner is to 1. Choose the best rat possible to buy, one that has clear breathing, is active and inquisitive, and has healthy parents. And 2. Create the best conditions for the rat to live in that won’t aggravate their breathing difficulties or hinder their immune systems allowing the Myco to get the upper hand and cause further illness.
There are a few basic general rules of thumb to help keep your rats as healthy and happy as possible now, these are;
1. Supply them with constant fresh water(a bottle or dripper system is best as it doesn't get spoiled like an open bowl)
2. Give them a quality rat cube food available 24/7. (Cummins Milling McManus/Mouse or Lauke Mills Rat Food are best in VIC. You can then of course give them healthy treats on top of this).
3. Keep them in ideal temperatures. (10-28 degrees is ideal, they can deal with cold much better than hot) If the temperature gets above 28 Celsius you will need to find a way to cool your rats down, air-con, fans and damp towels, frozen blocks or containers with frozen veggies in ice etc. Keep their cage away from draughts, direct air-conditioning flow and direct sun.
4.Try to avoid dust and irritants that will affect their breathing (lots of bedding can be dusty, strong cleaning fluids can harm them, and food crumbs that don't have substrate to filter down into can be snuffled up rats noses and make them sneeze, etc.)
But now, a little more about Myco and other health issues. Since we can assume that every rat has Myco, there are three basic stages that a rat can fall into regarding it.
Asymptomatic: Most of the time a rat will be asymptomatic, meaning that they do not show any symptoms of the Myco that they carry; they seem healthy. In this category they may from time to time sneeze, or have a wet nose, but this comes and goes quickly without any other symptoms and does not require any intervention or medication. Sneezing is considered a minor Myco symptom and is very common, it alone should not cause alarm, but watch closely that it doesn’t progress into something more serious. Look out for signs of a sick rat such as puffy fur, weight loss, lethargy and consistent noisy breathing.
Acute: On occasion a seemingly healthy rat might have a ‘Myco Flare-up’ in which it suddenly becomes sick. This is often caused by a lowered immune system which then becomes overwhelmed by the bacteria and cannot keep it in check. Their immune system might be compromised by an environmental factor such as allergies, dust/food crumbs, stress, extreme weather changes, heat stress or draughts, but it also could be because of a virus, like a cold that you or I would get.
In young rats this is often an Upper Respiratory Infection or URI (nose, throat, sinuses) and may include excessive sneezing and coughing, excess porphyrin(red mucus) around the nose and/or eyes and inner-ear infections/head tilt. In an older rat where the bacteria has made it’s way with time to the lungs it is often a Lower Respiratory Infection, which may include wheezing, heavy breathing, gasping and pneumonia. Though some rats will get over a flare up on their own, it could quickly become fatal, so it is recommended that as a pet keeper if you notice your rats’ condition deteriorating rapidly that you treat your rat with antibiotics as promptly as possible, or choose to have your rat humanly put to sleep before they suffer too much.
Chronic: As a rat ages, it can often develop either minor or sever chronic breathing issues, being ones that are ongoing and medication doesn’t seem to help with. This usually develops over time, getting progressively worse into old age. A rat can live quite a long time with chronic breathing difficulties, anywhere from months to more than a year, but it will in time take a toll on their lungs and bodies, they will likely loose weight and condition towards the end, and they will not have the life expectancy of a healthy rat. If a rat’s breathing becomes too difficult and they are loosing condition, but medication doesn’t work, then having them put to sleep at the vet might be the kindest thing to do for them in their old age. No one likes to see a pet suffer.
Avoidance
Besides buying the healthiest rat possible, which can be tricky and sometimes comes down to pot luck, the best way to have healthy rats is to make sure you keep them in the best environment possible. To keep their immune systems functioning optimally, as mentioned above, you should provide the best diet possible, always have clean food and water available and never let these run out. You should also take care in how you house them, avoid dust and crumbs as much as possible, and protect them from draughts and weather changes, rats can die in temperatures over 30 degrees. Rats should also be kept in pairs or more, as they need company to function normally, and becoming ‘depressed’ due to loneliness can affect their health and behaviour.
Just as in people, stress can also have an affect on a rats' health/immune system. Rats going to a new home are often reported to have started sneezing, this may affect them for a week or two, but then should subside. Stress in other forms, such as because an aggressive rat is bullying them or because they are suddenly lonely after their friend passes away can also affect their health. Try to keep your rats from getting stressed if possible.
Treatment
Because Myco is a bacteria, not a virus, it is easy to treat with Antibiotics, however you will never cure it, only bring it back down to manageable levels so that the rats immune system can fight it off on it’s own again. It is not recommended to over-use antibiotics for any reason, as with all treatments including in humans, with over use the bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics and in the future the medication may no longer have any affect. Only use Antibiotics when it is clear that a rat is struggling to overcome the infection on its own.
The most common antibiotic combination used by rat owners is Doxycycline(Vibravet paste, tastes nice) and Baytril(liquid, tastes nasty). It often needs to be administered twice a day for 3-4 weeks, or for one week after all symptoms have gone. Administering yucky tasting medicine twice a day can often turn your rat against you, so many owners find it is easiest to disguise the medicine in a treat (just make sure it’s not dairy, as this may affect the medicine). I have had great success with mixing medicines into a spoon of ‘Hills Prescription Diet – a/d critical care canned food’ which my rats love, and with it’s high fat content it is helpful in putting weight and condition back onto sick rats. You need to get this food from a vet, along with the medication mentioned.
Just like with any pet though, you must be willing and able to take your rat to the vet if they get sick, either to be medicated or to be kindly put to sleep if it is the best thing for them. It is cruel and criminal to let any animal suffer without treatment or kind euthanasia, even a cheap animal such as a rat.
General Health-
Firstly, it is important when researching online to read information which is current, and relevant to your area. In the case of the info below, it is relevant to Australian rats specifically. We are lucky enough in Australia, due to very strict importation laws, to not have many of the fatal diseases which rats in other countries, namely the US and UK, can contract. When reading overseas websites, most will advise very strict quarantine practices. Quarantining is generally not needed in Australia, because the only known 'diseases' which rats can catch here are ‘Myco’ and other similar respiratory based bacteria, which are already carried by almost all rats from birth. If every rat has it, there’s no point in quarantining new or sick rats from the rest of your rats. And removing a sick rat from it's friends will likely stress it out unduly, which can make them even sicker.
Although respiratory illnesses are definitely the most common health issue rats face, other issues can include- head-tilt/ear infections, tumours, cataracts/blindness, teeth issues and ulcers/abscesses, all of which would require vet treatment.
Rats can also be affected by parasites such as mites, lice, mange and worms. If you suspect that your rats might have caught something, the a tiny drop of "Puppy and Kitten- Revolution" or ivermectin(external cow drench) on the back of their necks should clear any problems up. Make sure to fully clean cages and replace all bedding when you do so.
Respiratory Issues (aka breathing difficulties)
Unfortunately respiratory/breathing issues are the biggest health concern with rats in Australia. Every rat carries from birth the bacteria Mycoplasmosis and possibly other lesser known bacteria in their respiratory tract(nose and lungs), and when most rats ‘die of old age’ it is in fact because of these bacteria, which slowly affects their lung capacity and efficiency. But it is not the be all and end all, and most breeders are trying to improve on this. There is no cure for or way to eradicate Myco without a sterile laboratory setting, the best way to deal with Myco is to breed for resistance to it. By breeding rats together that show the most resistance to the bacteria, we can hopefully create rats with strong immune systems that can live happily and healthily despite the Myco.
This however doesn’t help you much as a pet owner once you have a sick rat. The best thing you can do as a pet owner is to 1. Choose the best rat possible to buy, one that has clear breathing, is active and inquisitive, and has healthy parents. And 2. Create the best conditions for the rat to live in that won’t aggravate their breathing difficulties or hinder their immune systems allowing the Myco to get the upper hand and cause further illness.
There are a few basic general rules of thumb to help keep your rats as healthy and happy as possible now, these are;
1. Supply them with constant fresh water(a bottle or dripper system is best as it doesn't get spoiled like an open bowl)
2. Give them a quality rat cube food available 24/7. (Cummins Milling McManus/Mouse or Lauke Mills Rat Food are best in VIC. You can then of course give them healthy treats on top of this).
3. Keep them in ideal temperatures. (10-28 degrees is ideal, they can deal with cold much better than hot) If the temperature gets above 28 Celsius you will need to find a way to cool your rats down, air-con, fans and damp towels, frozen blocks or containers with frozen veggies in ice etc. Keep their cage away from draughts, direct air-conditioning flow and direct sun.
4.Try to avoid dust and irritants that will affect their breathing (lots of bedding can be dusty, strong cleaning fluids can harm them, and food crumbs that don't have substrate to filter down into can be snuffled up rats noses and make them sneeze, etc.)
But now, a little more about Myco and other health issues. Since we can assume that every rat has Myco, there are three basic stages that a rat can fall into regarding it.
Asymptomatic: Most of the time a rat will be asymptomatic, meaning that they do not show any symptoms of the Myco that they carry; they seem healthy. In this category they may from time to time sneeze, or have a wet nose, but this comes and goes quickly without any other symptoms and does not require any intervention or medication. Sneezing is considered a minor Myco symptom and is very common, it alone should not cause alarm, but watch closely that it doesn’t progress into something more serious. Look out for signs of a sick rat such as puffy fur, weight loss, lethargy and consistent noisy breathing.
Acute: On occasion a seemingly healthy rat might have a ‘Myco Flare-up’ in which it suddenly becomes sick. This is often caused by a lowered immune system which then becomes overwhelmed by the bacteria and cannot keep it in check. Their immune system might be compromised by an environmental factor such as allergies, dust/food crumbs, stress, extreme weather changes, heat stress or draughts, but it also could be because of a virus, like a cold that you or I would get.
In young rats this is often an Upper Respiratory Infection or URI (nose, throat, sinuses) and may include excessive sneezing and coughing, excess porphyrin(red mucus) around the nose and/or eyes and inner-ear infections/head tilt. In an older rat where the bacteria has made it’s way with time to the lungs it is often a Lower Respiratory Infection, which may include wheezing, heavy breathing, gasping and pneumonia. Though some rats will get over a flare up on their own, it could quickly become fatal, so it is recommended that as a pet keeper if you notice your rats’ condition deteriorating rapidly that you treat your rat with antibiotics as promptly as possible, or choose to have your rat humanly put to sleep before they suffer too much.
Chronic: As a rat ages, it can often develop either minor or sever chronic breathing issues, being ones that are ongoing and medication doesn’t seem to help with. This usually develops over time, getting progressively worse into old age. A rat can live quite a long time with chronic breathing difficulties, anywhere from months to more than a year, but it will in time take a toll on their lungs and bodies, they will likely loose weight and condition towards the end, and they will not have the life expectancy of a healthy rat. If a rat’s breathing becomes too difficult and they are loosing condition, but medication doesn’t work, then having them put to sleep at the vet might be the kindest thing to do for them in their old age. No one likes to see a pet suffer.
Avoidance
Besides buying the healthiest rat possible, which can be tricky and sometimes comes down to pot luck, the best way to have healthy rats is to make sure you keep them in the best environment possible. To keep their immune systems functioning optimally, as mentioned above, you should provide the best diet possible, always have clean food and water available and never let these run out. You should also take care in how you house them, avoid dust and crumbs as much as possible, and protect them from draughts and weather changes, rats can die in temperatures over 30 degrees. Rats should also be kept in pairs or more, as they need company to function normally, and becoming ‘depressed’ due to loneliness can affect their health and behaviour.
Just as in people, stress can also have an affect on a rats' health/immune system. Rats going to a new home are often reported to have started sneezing, this may affect them for a week or two, but then should subside. Stress in other forms, such as because an aggressive rat is bullying them or because they are suddenly lonely after their friend passes away can also affect their health. Try to keep your rats from getting stressed if possible.
Treatment
Because Myco is a bacteria, not a virus, it is easy to treat with Antibiotics, however you will never cure it, only bring it back down to manageable levels so that the rats immune system can fight it off on it’s own again. It is not recommended to over-use antibiotics for any reason, as with all treatments including in humans, with over use the bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics and in the future the medication may no longer have any affect. Only use Antibiotics when it is clear that a rat is struggling to overcome the infection on its own.
The most common antibiotic combination used by rat owners is Doxycycline(Vibravet paste, tastes nice) and Baytril(liquid, tastes nasty). It often needs to be administered twice a day for 3-4 weeks, or for one week after all symptoms have gone. Administering yucky tasting medicine twice a day can often turn your rat against you, so many owners find it is easiest to disguise the medicine in a treat (just make sure it’s not dairy, as this may affect the medicine). I have had great success with mixing medicines into a spoon of ‘Hills Prescription Diet – a/d critical care canned food’ which my rats love, and with it’s high fat content it is helpful in putting weight and condition back onto sick rats. You need to get this food from a vet, along with the medication mentioned.