Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
A rat may be ill if they stop eating or drinking, breathe noisily or with effort, sneeze a lot, have runny eyes or nose, sit hunched, lose weight, tilt their head or sleep through their active hours. The RSPCA says rats hide pain well, so ring your vet as soon as you notice a change. Struggling to breathe, collapse, heavy bleeding or poisoning can't wait.
How the checker sorts what you tick
Every sign on the list has one of four levels, set from what the RSPCA, PDSA, Woodgreen, Burgess and the MSD Veterinary Manual say about it. When you tick more than one sign, the checker shows the most urgent level, because the most serious sign decides how soon your rat needs help.
| Level | What it means | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Ring a vet now | Don't wait for a routine appointment, day or night. | Struggling to breathe, collapse, bleeding that won't stop, an eye injury, overheating, possible poisoning |
| Ring your vet today | Ring the practice today and ask for a vet who treats rats. | Noisy breathing, repeated sneezing, runny eyes or nose, not eating, head tilt, hunched posture, diarrhoea |
| Book an appointment | Ring the practice and they'll tell you how soon to come in. | A new lump, weight change, bald patches, sore feet, a change in behaviour |
| Keep an eye on it | Check again morning and evening; ring if it keeps happening. | An odd sneeze in a bright rat, a small amount of red staining once |
The checker signposts. It can't diagnose, and it never gives treatments or doses: only a vet who has examined your rat can do that. Your ticks are saved on this device so you can come back to them, and you can copy or print a short note listing the signs and when they started, ready for the call.
Signs that need a vet
The RSPCA lists these signs that a rat may be ill and says to contact your vet if you see them: not eating or drinking, or refusing foods they used to like; losing or quickly gaining weight; diarrhoea; sneezing, wheezing or breathing strangely; sunken or dull eyes; discharge from the eyes or nose; sleeping more during their active hours; a hunched, stiff posture; walking strangely or struggling to balance; guarding a painful spot; and an oily, clumped or scruffy coat.
Breathing signs come up again and again. PDSA lists runny eyes and nose, a head tilt, difficulty breathing, snuffling, wheezing and weight loss as signs of respiratory disease, and says to see a vet as soon as possible because infections can get worse very quickly. Woodgreen adds a rattling chest you can feel when you hold your rat, and a hollow look to the sides when they breathe.
Red staining round the eyes and nose
Rats make a red pigment in their tears, so red or orange staining round the eyes and nose can look like blood when it isn't. The RSPCA says a small amount that doesn't come back is less of a worry, but large or repeated amounts need a vet. Burgess says to speak to a vet as soon as possible if the staining increases, because it can go with breathing or eye problems. Woodgreen notes the staining can also show on the inside of the legs, the flanks and in bedding.
Teeth, lumps and skin
Woodgreen says healthy incisors are orange, smooth and wear evenly. Trouble eating hard food, eating less, fast weight loss, lumps along the jaw or swelling round the face or mouth can mean dental problems that probably need urgent treatment, and you should never clip teeth yourself. Lumps are common in rats: Woodgreen says some grow slowly and others can double in size within weeks, and swellings near the head or neck need a vet quickly. The MSD Veterinary Manual says early removal of the common belly lumps in female rats gives the best outcome. Intense itching with scabs on the shoulders and neck can mean mites.
A quick health check, twice a day
- See each rat at their active times, morning and evening, as the RSPCA suggests: moving, breathing quietly, standing normally, bright eyes, shiny coat.
- Notice who is eating, drinking and joining in with the group.
- Run your fingers over each rat's body for lumps, bumps or wounds.
- Weigh them regularly, for example each time you clean the cage, and write it down.
Common questions
How do I know if my rat is sick?
Look for a change from normal: eating or drinking less, noisy or fast breathing, sneezing, runny eyes or nose, a hunched or fluffed-up look, sleeping through active hours, weight loss, a head tilt or a scruffy coat. The RSPCA says rats hide pain well, so even one of these signs is worth a call to your vet.
When is a sick rat an emergency?
Ring a vet straight away if your rat is struggling to breathe or breathing with their mouth open, has collapsed or can't stand, is bleeding heavily, has an eye injury, has overheated, or may have eaten something poisonous. Out of hours, ring your usual practice: their phone message gives the emergency number.
Is sneezing in rats serious?
An odd sneeze in a rat who is otherwise bright and eating is often nothing. Sneezing a lot, sneezing that keeps coming back, or sneezing with noisy breathing, discharge or red staining can mean a breathing problem. PDSA says breathing infections can get worse very quickly, so ring your vet the same day.
Why is there red stuff round my rat's eyes?
Rats' tears contain a red pigment, so the staining is often not blood. A little that doesn't come back is less of a worry, the RSPCA says. Lots of staining, or staining that keeps returning, can be a sign of stress, illness or a breathing problem, and Burgess advises speaking to a vet as soon as possible.
My rat has a lump. What should I do?
Book a vet appointment for any new lump. Woodgreen says some lumps grow slowly while others can double in size within weeks, and abscesses near the head, neck or face need treatment quickly. Ring sooner if the lump is growing fast, is near the head or the rat seems unwell. Early removal usually gives the best result.
What should I tell the vet on the phone?
Say which signs you have seen, when they started and whether they are getting worse, plus your rat's age and recent weight if you know it. Ask whether a vet who treats rats is available. The checker can copy or print a note with the signs you ticked and when you first noticed them.
Can I treat my rat at home?
Don't give medicines or home remedies unless a vet has examined your rat and told you to. Woodgreen asks owners to act quickly and speak to a rat-savvy vet when they have concerns. While you arrange help, keep the rat calm, warm and safe in a quiet space with water and their usual food.
More on rat health
- Rat health problems
- Breathing problems
- Rat teeth care
- Rat emergencies
- Hiccups or breathing changes
- Quarantine cage
- Too hot or too cold
