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Rat:  Most frequent diseases.   Vet Dr. Tigre gives information and advice.

There are many diseases rats may get. Only the most       important ones will be described hereafter. One should learn       to realize by oneself when it is time to go to see a vet.       The best prevention against diseases are cleanliness and       hygiene in the cage. The equipment has also to be kept in       good condition. Moreover, a balanced and healthy feeding is       the best basis for healthy animals. Most diseases do not       represent any danger for human beings. Caution must be exercised in case of transmissible fungal infections. The problem of a high cancer predisposition is the result of a one-sided breeding aimed for the use as laboratory animals; the domestic rats, as is generally known, come from the same breedings. This is the reason why older rats often get tumours which cannot be controlled. Hereafter a summary of the most frequently occuring diseases rats can get.

Disease	Causes	Symptoms	Visit veterinarian?
Abscesses	Bite wounds, scratches, other injuries	Skin wounds, minor growths and tumours which get inflamed	Cleansing of the wounds, consult vet
Parasites of the skin	Lice, biting lice, mites	Restless behaviour, frequent scratching, hair loss, suppurant inflammations, white dots in the pelage	Get special agents in the zoo specialist shop or from the vet
Fungal disease, transmissible to human beings	Fungus	Circular or oval denuded spots, inflammations	Go to see a vet
Diseases of the airway	Draught, infections	Sneezing, coughing, breathing stertorously, nasal discharge, fever, weariness, shortness of breath	Go to see the vet, avoid draught, balanced feed
Diarrhoeal	Infections, nutritional error (too much fruit)	Pulpy to liquid droppings, loss of appetite	Starving for 24 hours, camomile or fennel tea, consult vet, balanced feed, no rapid change in feed, clean drinking-water and feed
Tumours	Diverse kinds of cancer	Protruding neoplasia of larger size, weariness, emaciation	Go to see the vet

Self-Medication

In case of parasites which can be combatted with corresponding agents obtainable in a zoo specialist shop, or in case of minor injuries and also possibly diarrhoea, the animal can be cured by oneself. Giving medication with the help of a syringe as well as the control of the incisor teeth is something which can also be done at home. In case of strange appearances, however, it is necessary to go to see the vet at once, before it is too late!

Emergency situations

Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to discern an emergency situation as such in the case of such small animals. The few reserves the little body has are quickly consumed. Continued observation of one's pet, however, helps to gain experience in judging when immediate action is necessary. Typical emergency cases are for instance if an animal gets caught in a door or if it gets poisoned.

When to consult the veterinarian?

A person who each day gives attention to his rodents will immediately discern when an animal changes his habits, when for instance all of a sudden a rat does not climb anymore, does not eat or looks tired all the time. As it has been said before, it often is very difficult to judge the aspect of a disease correctly and the disease progresses very quickly. That is why it is better in most cases to bring the animal to the vet's practice for examination.