The Rat Lovers Club! ~MODS PLEASE LOCK!

[hypersomn.ia]

I understand that it might have been porphyrin due to stress, but...coming out of the nose? It sounds more like blood to me...

[Kouvinxx]

Nightlock I love your little rat animation where did you get it from? :3

[ratius]

I understand that it might have been porphyrin due to stress, but...coming out of the nose? It sounds more like blood to me...

But porphyrin can also come from the nose, no? That's what I think I read^^

Oni is a small ball of fur right now, sleeping in his hammock <3

[Kouvinxx]

All my girls are flaked out around the cage sleeping and every time you stroke them they don't even try and push you away its funny

but if I was to put chocolate in the cage then they would all be running around storing the food and munching on the chocolate

[Cloudsong]

Hey guys! Like you all know, this is my first time as a rat owner, and I got two girls from a petstore, saving them from becoming rat chow. I have no experience with rats being sick, and I've heard a lot that pet store rats are more prone to getting diseases, and I'm really scared.

One of my rats, Pixel, seems to be sick. And it's been a while that she's been like this. It's not like she's wheezing and all wet with sweat (which I've read could be a sign of sickness)... It's more mild. She has a lot of red mucus around her eyes and nose, and sometimes she wakes up with red feet and ears, and she overall sneezes more than Whisper does. Whisper also is more active than she is.

I don't think it's very obvious that she's sick - but do any of you rat owners with more experience know if this sounds like it's serious?

Please reply soon... my parents probably won't take her to the vet, but if it's really serious, maybe they will... I really don't want to lose them, and I'm doing all I can to make them feel better..

[Kouvinxx]

your rat needs to see a vet asap . they are very prone to a disease called mycoplasmosis which targets the respiratory system and is usually fatal. the disease can not be cured but can be controlled with antibiotics . without treatment the rat will get weaker,lose weight rapidly and have great difficulty in breathing. its a slow and painful death unfortunately.....antibiotics for a rat will cost very,very little so your parents need not panic about cost.for the rat's sake,take it to the vet please x

[rachaelandrats]

your rat needs to see a vet asap . they are very prone to a disease called mycoplasmosis which targets the respiratory system and is usually fatal. the disease can not be cured but can be controlled with antibiotics . without treatment the rat will get weaker,lose weight rapidly and have great difficulty in breathing. its a slow and painful death unfortunately.....antibiotics for a rat will cost very,very little so your parents need not panic about cost.for the rat's sake,take it to the vet please x

I agree with this but just a couple of things, all rats carry myco and that doesn't affect them. It's a respiratory infection, I suppose related to myco though like said above, that will make them sick. Antibiotics are really needed or she is just going to get worse.

[rachaelandrats]

I understand that it might have been porphyrin due to stress, but...coming out of the nose? It sounds more like blood to me...

Why wouldn't it come out the nose?? Porphyrin comes from glands that are behind their eyes, and comes out their eyes or their nose.

[MochaTheLlama]

Guys.. I don't think it's Porphyrin coming out of Zues's eye anymore. It's only coming out of one eye and today I noticed that It's so bad he can't even open the one eye....I fear he has an eye infection. I cleared away a little bit of it so he can see and open his eye now but... help?

[Cloudsong]

your rat needs to see a vet asap . they are very prone to a disease called mycoplasmosis which targets the respiratory system and is usually fatal. the disease can not be cured but can be controlled with antibiotics . without treatment the rat will get weaker,lose weight rapidly and have great difficulty in breathing. its a slow and painful death unfortunately.....antibiotics for a rat will cost very,very little so your parents need not panic about cost.for the rat's sake,take it to the vet please x

I agree with this but just a couple of things, all rats carry myco and that doesn't affect them. It's a respiratory infection, I suppose related to myco though like said above, that will make them sick. Antibiotics are really needed or she is just going to get worse.

Pixel has lost weight, and she does seem weaker. Thanks for your advice, guys. I'll be taking them both in to the vet tomorrow for a check-up!

The reason I didn't take them in sooner was because my sister (who I thought was knowledgable about this) said that they didn't look sick. But I spend more time with them, so I know more about them...