Rat

Exam & Consultation

We strongly recommend you have your rat examined every 12 months.  They are very good at hiding their illnesses and injuries and the physical exam is a good time to make sure they are healthy.  It’s always good to catch a problem early before it becomes more expensive and difficult to treat.  We know several things change from year to year with rats  and even though these changes may appear minor, they can be quite dramatic.  The sooner we see a change that isn’t part of the normal aging process, the sooner we might be able to intervene.

Biological Facts & Behaviors
The  most common rat species maintained as a companion animal is the Rattus norvegicus, with the white rat and hooded rat being the most common variations. The life expectancy of a rat is 2-3 years. Rats make excellent pets with their charming  dispositions and extreme intelligence.  Rats are not as territorial as other rodent species and are very social.  Rats, however, can inflict serious bite wounds if provoked.

Diet & Nutrition
Commercial rodent biscuits or pellets with 20-27 percent protein are the recommended diet for rats. This food contains all of their required nutrients.  Seed-based diets are not recommended , nor is significant supplementation of fruits, nuts, vegetables, cheese, or other human foods.  If a treat is to be given, yogurt or dried fruit treats manufactured specifically for rodents and/or rats  can be provided 2-3 times weekly. For younger rats,  softer pellets are needed because rats start eating pellets at 2-3 weeks of age. In addition,  a sipper bottle filled and replenished with fresh water should be affixed to the cage.

Home Environment
Rats can easily chew out of enclosures, therefore it is important that their housing be “rat proof”.  Large wire cages with plastic removable bottoms are the optimal enclosure.  Rats like to climb, so adding ramps and ropes is ideal. The cage should be large enough for these toys, an exercise wheel, food, water and a hide box for the animal’s psychological well being. Avoid wire-bottomed cages and wheels as these surfaces can injure your rat’s feet. To prevent the build up of fecal material and urine, commercially available paper and rodent bedding or wood shavings should be used for a  cage substrate.  Although pine and cedar shavings are available,  the volatile oils that radiate from these are irritating to rats and can cause dermal and respiratory inflammation. It is recommended that the substrate be changed at least twice weekly or more often if there is a problem with odor. Do not leave fabric in the cage as rats will shred the fabric and leave threads that can become entangled around the rats causing injury.

Health Maintenance Care
It is important to keep a new rat quarantined for 30 days prior to introducing the new pet to an established group.  An exam and fecal check is also recommended during this time.  The most common sign of  clinical illness is an unkempt hair coat. The lack of grooming is most often related to the animal feeling depressed or sick and not having the energy for grooming.

Common Health Problems

• Respiratory Disease
• Incisor overgrowth
• Mammary Tumors
• Parasites

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