As with any pet, there are certain health problems that rats are predisposed to. Particularly with rats from pet stores, a lot of the time not much care or attention is given to their health before they’re adopted out.
Some of the most common health issues in pet rats include respiratory infections, tumors, head tilts, obesity and aging-related issues. By catching them early, you can improve your rat’s chances of recovery and quality of life.
If you’re new to pet rats, I recommend finding a vet early on, before your rats have any problems. Not all vets are experienced with pet rats, and finding the right vet can make all the difference between successfully treating your little furry friends or not.
Respiratory infections
Respiratory infections are by far the most common illness found in pet rats. Mycoplasma pulmonis, a bacteria that nearly every rat has in their lungs from birth, or catches from other rats, is the usual suspect in these cases. But respiratory infections can be caused by other things, like poor husbandry and cage ventilation too.
Because rats have such a small and delicate respiratory system, they are susceptible to lung damage and pneumonia. Treating respiratory symptoms early can make a huge difference to the quality and length of their life.
For more info, see: Respiratory Problems in Pet Rats
Tumors & Abscesses
Tumors are another common health issue that pet rats face. These growths can be either benign or cancerous, and they can occur almost anywhere on their body. Mammary and pituitary tumors are particularly common in female rats.
Abscesses can also form quite easily in pet rats when bacteria gets into a small scratch or wound. If your pet rats get into a bad fight or receive little scratches, you can apply an antiseptic to the cut to help keep an abscess from forming. You can also soak the affected part in a salt water solution if it doesn’t seem to be healing.
For more on tumors, see: The Dreaded Lump: Causes, Treatment and Care
Head tilts
Another common health problem you may see in your rats is a head tilt. This can progress into your rat’s whole body leaning over to one side, or even spinning around in circles when they walk.
There are a few possible causes for head tilts: inner ear, respiratory infections, or brain tumors. All three conditions can be treated with antibiotics, and sometimes steroids, to improve the symptoms and prolong your rattie’s life.
Skin issues
External parasites like mites, fleas and lice can affect pet rats. Normally, you’ll only have to watch out for these when you’re adopting a new rat, because rats typically only catch them from each other. You might notice your rats scratching a lot, patches of fur missing, and scabs. External parasites are easy to treat with topical medication from your vet, and by thoroughly cleaning out their habitat.
Overgrooming or “barbering” can also happen when rats are stressed out, bored, or kept in poor, crowded conditions. Rats may scratch themselves or groom cage mates too much, resulting in fur loss and scabs.
Hairless rats in particular are more prone than other rats to skin issues like itchy and dry skin, without any fur to protect them.
Obesity
Some rats are more prone to becoming overweight than others – particularly males! Rats reach their full adult size around 6-8 months old, so if you notice your ratties continuing to grow at that point (more so around the middle than in length!) you might want to tweak their diet, feeding them a bit less at each meal time and encourage them to be more active.
As cute and squishy as fat rats are, obesity can really lower quality of life for them, causing arthritis, inactivity, and even diabetes and heart problems.
Good cage design can help keep your rats fit, trim and strong into their old age. Rats love to dig and climb, and some of them enjoy running on a large enough wheel. Providing them with a dig box, branches and ropes to climb on, and keeping their hammocks in spots they need to climb to can help challenge them to move around lots even inside their cage.
Although it’s super tempting to spoil your ratties with lots of treats, they don’t actually need to eat as much food as you might assume!
For more on helping rats lose weight: Obesity in Pet Rats
As our little friends age, they can experience mobility problems, trouble grooming, and have a hard time keeping on weight.
Hind leg degeneration is particularly common in male rats, where they develop weakness and eventual paralysis in their back legs. It can affect female rats too, though they tend to be more agile throughout their lives.
Older rats might find it harder to keep their faces and fur clean, and benefit from a little wipe down from time to time, or a gentle cleaning with a q-tip.
Older rats also struggle sometimes with their teeth, so may need a softer diet.
Signs of illness in rats
Rats are prey animals, so they hide illness and pain very well. If you notice that something is a little off with your rat, it probably is. Illness can progress very quickly, so don’t hesitate to give your vet a call. Especially if you notice:
- Lethargy, or not wanting to play and explore as much
- Weight or fur loss
- Lots of discharge (porphyrin) around the eyes and nose
- Excessive head shaking
- Pawing a lot at their face
- Sneezing or making audible noises when breathing
- Behavior changes. Rats may become more withdrawn from their cage mates, or even aggressive when they weren’t before.
Preventing health issues
Keeping rats healthy and stimulated throughout their lifetime can help them age gracefully and makes a huge difference to their quality of life, whether or not they develop a health issue.
- Proper nutrition
- Regular vet checkups
- Mental stimulation
- Companionship
- A roomy cage with lots of enrichment opportunities
Conclusion
Knowing what to look for can help you catch health problems early on, and improve your ratties’ chances of successful treatment. Thanks for being proactive and brushing up on some of the most common health issues found in pet rats!