What are some of the symptoms of a sick rat?

Rodents are major carriers of diseases which can be quite harmful to humans. Rodents such as rats transmit both viral and bacterial diseases to humans. Humans contract these diseases by either inhaling dust particles from urine and droppings of infected rats by consuming contaminated food or water. A major symptom of rat infection is often manifested in the form of sneezing which is usually confused with flu.

It’s almost difficult to identify a rat that is sick or a potential disease carrier at first glance, but with proper observation, it becomes easy to tell if a rat is sick or not. While all rodents, should be treated as harmful and as such preventive measures should be taken to curb the growth of rodent population around the home, here are some tell signs that you are living in the same house with a sick rat.



Loss of appetite

Just like other animals, when rats fall ill, they lose their appetite for food. So if you often find pieces of food that are out of place around the home and of recent no longer do, then all signs point to the fact that your rats might be sick.

Poor grooming

Rats are extremely clean creatures. This is because they take their grooming seriously and would not normally look untidy except when they are ill. From studying rats kept as a pet, researchers discovered that rats take it upon themselves to groom themselves by licking their bodies and will only fail to groom themselves when they feel weak due to illness.

Side Sucking

Rats tend to engage in this act when they are suffering from an abdominal related issue such as kidney stones. If you own a pet rat and notice that he occasionally sucks on its side, then you most likely are dealing with a sick rat and should visit the vet.

Cataracts

Rats also suffer from cataracts and this is usually a major sign that they are going blind. If you own a pet rat and discover a white like substance over their eyeball, then you need to schedule a visit to the vet. This can be corrected by means of surgery.

Incessant licking

When a rat frequently licks one part of its body, then it is most likely that it is experiencing some difficulty in that area which could be as a result of an injury or infection to that area.

Porphyrin around nose or eyes.

Porphyrin is biological pigments which are in the form of red discharge around the eyes and nose that resembles blood. This is usually a sign that your rat is suffering from a respiratory infection or other types of illness.

Weight loss

Just like other animals, when a rat is sick it losses a great deal of weight. A number of factors can cause a rat to lose weight which includes stomach related problems, respiratory or other forms of infection, cancers, and any other type of illness.

If you own a pet rat and notice any of these symptoms, then you most likely need to consult a vet. But if you spot these symptoms in rodents around the home, then you most certainly to take necessary measures to eliminate these sick rodents from your home.


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