I have an albino month-old rat, and today in my Zoology class we took all of the rats outside in the school field, and i let my rat crawl in the grass, and she seemed alright, for the first few minutes, but then she started to scratch her right eye with her back foot, very very hard and fast. Then it was very red around the whole eye, and it kindof looked like it was bleeding. I showed my teacher and he said that that happens alot, and when they play, they fight and get their eyes scratched. She kept scratching her eye in her cage, and then she started to scratch her left eye real hard with her left back foot. I looked in the corner of her right eye, and she had something black in the corner of her eye like a piece of dirt, but now i think its gone. So when i got home, (she has been using cedar shavings for 2 weeks) so i changed her cage to CareFresh bedding, and gave her new food and put her toys back in, and i gave her a carrot to eat. She seems ok now, but what else can i do? thnx!!
2006-06-27 08:07:15 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I just checked on her a few seconds ago, and she was scratching her eye again in her cage. I took her into the light to look at her eye, and it looks like she has a small piece of dirt in the left eye in the tear duct. I dont want her to hurt her eye, so i was wondering if i could take a damp warm washcloth (or small towel) to gently wipe it out. Is that possible? Or what should i do?
P.S. - Tomorrow we are going on a field trip, so i wont be bringing Ivory to the class, so she will be able to rest, but i wont be able to show my teacher until Thursday. Please help
2006-06-27 08:35:06 · update #1
You did the the RIGHT thing about switching over on the Bedding. it sounds like she may be doing okay. But if you feel there is something wrong with her eye, you may have to call around to various vets to find one who is knowledgeable about rats. (and that is hard) But it sounds like she just had something in her eye.
I have had many pet rats in my life and they are adorable. If you need further advice or information, just email me quartznh@yahoo.com
2006-06-27 08:18:11 · answer #1 · answered by Erica, AKA Stretch 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All rodents have a duct near the eye, similar to human tear ducts, that contain a red fluid (not blood). Owners of rodents often run to the vet the first time they see their eye "bleeding", but this is normal and not harmful to the rat in any way. As long as there is not any foreign object present in the eye, and the eye does not appear to have any scratches on the surface, I think he'll be just fine.
2006-06-27 08:21:14 · answer #2 · answered by wabbitqueen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are worried about her eye take her to the vet. Also. pine and cedar shavings cause respiratory and liver problems in rats, you can use carefresh or aspen, though.
2006-06-27 08:12:55 · answer #3 · answered by jerrri 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think that dirt was it and give her a little bath with some soap so nothing will get in her furr either although keep the soap out of her face
2006-06-27 08:33:45 · answer #4 · answered by morganestberg 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you just need to keep her cage clean make sure she has water all the time and keep her fed.She might have gotten a cold when she was out side.I don't think it's something to stress about.
2006-06-27 08:15:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
kll the rat or calico colored guinea pigs with eat your other leg by the way look down
2006-06-27 08:12:49 · answer #6 · answered by kajit3024 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋