Mary Allen
The rat as a pet is no longer an insider tip among animal lovers. She was also able to largely shed her image as a plague and disease carrier, at least in this country.
However, it is less well known that the rat itself can get very specific diseases. Anyone who thinks of the combination of rats and diseases thinks of laboratory tests, landfills and sewers, maybe even the poisoned bait in one’s own basement – but rat diseases in the sense of sick rats that need to be cured are far too rarely discussed. But such topics are important for rat keepers.
Not only to be well prepared for the worst case scenario, but above all to identify possible risk factors in good time and prevent illnesses. We now want to consciously put into perspective exactly what is important here.
Care and health of the domesticated black rat
With its outstanding intelligence and ability to learn, the black rat has earned itself one of the top spots on the popularity scale. At the same time, she inspires with her trustworthiness.
The combination of these qualities makes the rat quite suitable as a pet. Rats recognize their owners, let themselves be petted and look forward to common challenges and employment opportunities. In short, with such a rat man can have a lot of fun. In order for this joy to last as long as possible, species-appropriate husbandry is necessary, which takes into account all the claims and health needs of the rat.
Species-appropriate husbandry of rats
The small rodents usually end up in the rat cage, where they can set up their own territory and have all the important elements they need to live. In other words, material for nest building, a cave or little house for shelter, fresh drinking water and a balanced diet. However, that alone would not be enough for the rats’ happiness.
The species-appropriate husbandry of rats also includes appropriate games to keep the animals mentally and physically fit. These can be tunnels, different levels within the cage, natural materials for gnawing and digging, and toys for rats. Without all this, boredom would quickly reign in the cage.
Not to forget that rats are pack animals and therefore dependent on social contact with their own kind. So at least two animals should be kept, whereby same-sex couples and groups, also neuters, are the best solutions.
Eventually, no matter how hard you try, the cage will eventually become empty and the adventurous explorers will need more variety. Regular outdoor access in the room keeps rats and owners on their toes.
With special exercises and training units, the little ones quickly learn a few great tricks, but of course they also have nonsense in their heads from time to time. It is therefore important to always keep an eye on the well-being of your darlings, both when running free and in the cage
The health check for rats
The best way to check the health of the rodents is either when they are fed or when they are being trained or played. Such a health check should be carried out regularly, ideally daily. Luckily, it doesn’t take too much: a little experience, patience and attention.
The following should primarily be checked:
- The movements. If the animal limp, it may be injured. If it fluctuates, there may be internal organic causes or a circulatory problem.
- Behaviour. Rats show keen interest in both feeding and playing. Apathetic, disoriented or aggressive rats are considered behavioral problems and must be examined more closely.
- Digestion. Feed intake, drinking, urination and faeces are essential indicators of healthy digestion in the rat. If even one of them is wrong, this could have serious consequences. For example, toothache leads to a loss of appetite, diarrhea indicates poorly tolerated food and, at the latest, when blood is visible, help is needed.
- The sense organs. Clear airways, clear eyes and healthy teeth are very important. Gasping breathing noises, reddening and swelling of the eyes and mucous membranes or even inflammation significantly impaired the health of the rat. Here, too, there is a need for immediate action.
- fur and skin. Parasite infestation, rashes and even allergic reactions can be clearly seen in the fur coat. The ears are also particularly at risk.
All these details can usually be checked within a few minutes. A single glance is often enough to see if anything seems unusual. In fact, most rat owners soon know their pets so well that irregularities are more important than regularities.
Nevertheless, each individual animal should be considered separately. Some signs are only recognizable on closer inspection, others can only be identified by palpation, such as abdominal cramps. Therefore, the best preventive measure for all rat diseases is a regular health check.
The most common rat diseases at a glance
However, if abnormalities are recognized or more than clear symptoms are already recognizable, good advice is expensive. Despite their adaptability and reputation as survivors, even in the harshest of conditions, rats can be quite sensitive to illness and injury.
Of course, this applies more to house rats than to the general street rat. They have neither the immune system nor the defenses to fight critical germs and pathogens. But they have another important advantage: their owner, who can fall back on modern veterinary medicine and is hopefully well informed about how rat diseases can be treated.
Rats and mycoplasmosis
The most frequently documented disease in indoor rats is mycoplasmosis. This is an infection of the respiratory tract. The tricky thing is that not all infected animals show symptoms. In addition, the disease is highly contagious. Young animals or individual pack members often fall ill. However, everyone is at risk.
Typical of mycoplasmosis are the first signs such as increased sneezing and nasal discharge. As the disease progresses, the pathogens infect the lower airways, all the way to the lungs. The result is shortness of breath. In extreme cases, death from pulmonary embolism.
It is also noticeable that the animals avoid exertion because they cannot get enough air or breathing is difficult and painful. Apathy when playing or eating should therefore be taken seriously immediately. Furthermore, personal hygiene is neglected, because it also requires strength. Rats suffering from mycoplasmosis also very often have shaggy fur, reddish-brown smeared eyes and significant weight loss. In some cases, there are also ear infections and movement disorders.
Above all, help can be provided preventively and at the beginning of the outbreak of the disease. According to studies, certain factors trigger the disease in the first place. For example, stress, poor nutrition, draughts, and strong temperature fluctuations. The ammonia content in the air is also suspected of playing a role here.
All of these supposed triggers should not occur in a species-appropriate rat husbandry anyway. The cage must be protected from wind, heating and direct sunlight. Legacies that spread germs and ammonia must be removed regularly. And a balanced diet and avoidance of stress are generally part of the basics of keeping rats.
So why is mycoplasmosis still so common? Mostly out of sheer ignorance. Because rats are purchased without the owners finding out enough about the animals in advance. Because dangers and symptoms are not recognized in time. And last but not least because many do not know how to react when mycoplasmosis begins.
Going to the vet is usually the best decision, even if you are unsure whether it is actually mycoplasmosis. It is then treated with antibiotics. In the long term, low-fat and calorie-reduced nutrition, if necessary with vitamin-rich feed additives to strengthen the immune system, as well as high-quality bedding in the cage, which prevents the smell of ammonia and at the same time optimally insulates it.
Gastrointestinal diseases
Digestive problems are less common in rats. Rats living in the wild often eat carrion, leftover food that we have long since found inedible, and other rubbish. The classic apartment rat, on the other hand, is quite spoiled – and therefore sometimes reacts more sensitively than their fellows in the sewage system.
Triggers for gastrointestinal disease in rats include:
- Wrong diet (too much fat, sugar, unsuitable rat food, change of food)
- Parasites such as worms
- Bacteria and viruses (the rotavirus also spreads to rats, for example)
- reactions to medications
- Stress, for example due to moving, vacation, new pack member, etc.
Depending on the cause, diarrhea or constipation must be treated specifically. Especially mild food often helps for a while to calm down and gently stimulate digestion. Most of the clues can be easily identified from the faeces. If you are unsure about parasites, you can send faecal samples to certified laboratories and have them evaluated. Sometimes the vet can help and is guaranteed to know which therapy is most likely to bring improvement.
Dental prophylaxis and dental problems
As a rodent, sooner or later dental problems will arise. Older rats are primarily affected. Where “old” is not exactly meaningful. In the wild, a house rat lives to an average of 12 months. Pet rats, for example, can live for 2 to 3 years.
Nevertheless, due to age or breeding, tooth misalignments, inflammation in the tooth area and various tooth anomalies develop. Genetic predispositions definitely play a role, but the so-called gnawing on the lattice encourages dental problems.
Therefore, just because rats are rodents, they should always have appropriate materials available to sharpen and clip their teeth, regardless of the food. Special woods, lines, roots, ropes, but also rat toys promote dental prophylaxis. The advantages are numerous:
- Cleaning of teeth and interdental spaces
- strengthening of the gums
- Sharpening and shortening of the constantly growing incisors
- Avoiding injuries in the mouth due to sharp teeth
- Stress reduction and species-appropriate social behavior
In case of doubt, the veterinarian can also help here and prove his skills as a dentist for rats.
Coat and (mucous) skin problems
Problems with the fur, the skin and the mucous membrane are easily recognizable from the outside and fortunately often easy to treat. Some diseases affect several areas at the same time and can bother the rat and spread to other animals – not just to conspecifics.
For example, ectoparasites (i.e. parasites that live externally on the host) such as mites, fleas and lice can be found in the fur of a rat and shortly afterwards in the dog who also lives in the household. Or vice versa, the dog transmits the parasites to the rats.
Fungi also cause skin changes and spread if left untreated. If the mucous membrane and conjunctiva are affected, the whole thing can have fatal consequences. In the worst case, inflammation of the eyes in particular can lead to blindness or the eye may even have to be surgically removed.
It is therefore equally important to pay attention to species-appropriate husbandry and to take regular health checks seriously. Then almost any skin problem in the rat can be solved with the help of an ointment or an antibiotic.
Rats and tumors
The situation is different with tumors, which rats are by no means immune to. Sometimes these are just abscesses that form under the skin and are perceived as swelling. This can be caused by injuries caused by fights over the hierarchy or bacterial infections. Unfortunately, tumors are much more common.
In such cases, the veterinarian can only help with an operation. However, if metastases are already spreading, any measure comes too late.
Treating injuries in rats
In general, it is difficult to detect disease or injury in rats. Out of their instinct that weak animals fall prey to others, the rodents try to suppress their suffering as much as possible and don’t show anything.
Internal injuries can therefore hardly be identified, but fortunately they are extremely rare in indoor rats. At most because pointed or even sharp-edged objects were swallowed during the unsupervised release.
Injuries as a result of a dispute about the ranking order are more common: when new members of the pack are added, because one is missing, is getting old or if hormones are involved. With their claws and teeth, rats can really attack each other. In most cases, these are superficial injuries that only need to be cleaned and disinfected. Bandages are only necessary in exceptional cases to protect the wound from overzealous care or even new attacks.
It becomes more difficult with eye injuries – they should definitely be examined by a veterinarian. Fractures, claw injuries and fall injuries are even rarer. As a preventative measure, the little four-legged friends should only be handled carefully, trapping and falls should be avoided when they go outside, and the rat cage should of course also be designed without the risk of injury. However, one can certainly trust the rats to be capable of climbing maneuvers and tricks, since they are not that fragile.
The rat at the vet
Whether it’s an injury or an illness, taking a rat to the vet always raises an uncomfortable question. Is it worth it?
Rat lovers will immediately answer: “Yes, definitely!”. From a purely objective point of view, however, the sometimes considerable veterinary costs are offset by a life expectancy of (ideally) 3 years. If the rats are predominantly owned by the children and the parents are allowed to pay, the cost and benefit will most likely be weighed differently than it would be for a breeder or animal lover who put their heart and soul into their rats’ care.
On the other hand, of course, the small animal practices also try to advise and act as sensibly as possible. Animal welfare has priority, but sometimes the effort is not in scale for the benefit. In addition, there is the high risk of anesthesia in such small creatures, the lack of experience in the treatment of rat diseases in many places and the low chances of success, especially in serious cases.
Either way, rat keepers act most effectively if they preventively ensure their darlings are kept in a species-appropriate manner and carry out regular health checks on the rats in order to provide timely help. With the appropriate devotion, hopefully nothing will stand in the way of healthy rat happiness.