My husband has a pet rat and sometimes it gets bloody noses. Its not a lot of blood, just a little. Besides the bloody nose, it seems fine, is there something wrong with it?
2006-07-15 16:48:52 · 19 answers · asked by krystal 6 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Usually, when a rat has reddish stuff around its nose, it's not blood at all. It's porphyrin. This is a reddish pigment secreted by a gland in/near the rat's eyes. It's not abnormal to see it now and then, in small quantities.
However, if you see a lot of it, it usually means the rat is very stressed or distressed. Sometimes poor nutrition can also be the cause. It could also mean the rat is coming down with an illness, or actually has a viral or bacterial infection but isn't yet showing the symptoms.
The reason you see more of the pigment around the nose is because when the rats blink, most of it goes down through their tear ducts and comes out the nose, just like in humans, we get a runny nose if we cry too much.
If your rat has an increase in the amount of porphyrin around the nose and/or eyes, or if it starts having any other symptoms (sneezing a lot, loss of appetite, loss of weight, skin irritations, etc.) PLEASE take it to a veterinarian. Certain diseases and infections can be treated by vets. And in the meantime, make sure you're feeding your rat a well-balanced diet.
P.S. Some of the folks answering this question have good advice, but so far I haven't seen anyone else mention PORPHYRIN. Please know, however, that that *is* what you are seeing around the rat's nose and eyes. And it *is* produced for any/all the reasons I mentioned earlier. Good luck with your rat -- they are wonderful pets! :)
2006-07-15 16:54:46 · answer #1 · answered by scary shari 5 · 9⤊ 0⤋
Rat Bloody Nose
2017-01-05 11:10:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
What does it mean when a rat gets a bloody nose?
My husband has a pet rat and sometimes it gets bloody noses. Its not a lot of blood, just a little. Besides the bloody nose, it seems fine, is there something wrong with it?
2015-08-10 11:56:32 · answer #3 · answered by Loreen 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To back up Shari's response:
Red Tears in Rats
Holly Nash, DVM, MS
Veterinary Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.
Owners of rats may become very alarmed when they see their rat has red tears and nasal secretions. Red crusts may also develop around the eyes and nose, and the forepaws may be red from rubbing the face. This redness is not caused by blood, but by the secretion of a red pigment called porphyrin. This pigment is released from a gland behind the eye called the Harderian gland. The scientific name for the colored tears is 'chromodacryorrhea.'
Although the red coloration is not blood, the red tears suggest the rat may have a serious condition because they occur when rats are stressed or ill. If this condition occurs in your rat, try to determine possible stresses and have the rat examined by your veterinarian.
2006-07-15 20:28:21 · answer #4 · answered by Hauntedfox 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
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Don't worry to much, one of my rats used to get 'bloody noses' all the time, she was allergic to a certain species of pollen and whenever some got into the house her nose would turn red for a day. Maybe all four of yours have the same allergies? First time it happened I panicked and ran to a vet, he told me its really nothing to worry about if the redness doesn't last, if it goes on for more than a day however it may mean something serious is wrong. Just take a damp cloth and clean them up, if they still have it tomorrow morning you'll want to see a vet.
2016-04-07 01:28:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called Porphryin staining. Rats and mice do it when they are stressed or have an upper respiratory problem. My ratties did it by their eyes alos and sometimes nose. I had one who had Mycoplasma problems..all rats have it but in some it only flares up at certain times. Some ratties never have problems with Myco.You did not say if your rattie sneezes or not but it may be an allergy also. I had one who was allergic to aspen/pine bedding and we had to go to Carefresh brand. If it happens often try alittle Tetracycline in the water or in some sweet stuff like yogurt or baby food fruit (like I did) for about 5 days. You can get the capsules at a pet store in the fish section. I put about 1/4 of a capsule's contents in food. The breeder I got my ratties from suggested this from experience with her ratties and comments from her vet.
2006-07-15 19:00:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I seriously doubt its a bloody nose. Rat mucus is red, so I bet its mucus. They may have all acquired a cold or sickness. Perhaps even Mycoplasmosis-- an incurable disease in rodents. Check them with a vet, and make sure that they get plenty of nutrition and their cage is cleaned often-- 1-2 times a week at least.
2016-03-16 07:23:21 · answer #7 · answered by Jennifer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It probably means he's got an upper respiratory infection. It's a fairly common occurance in rats. About 90 percent of rats are affected by this condition.
2006-07-15 16:51:20 · answer #8 · answered by janie d 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think they get something called mycoplasmosis. I had a rat in college and he seemed to sneeze blood sometimes and it was on the sides of the tank. It had to be controlled by adding tetracycline to his water.
Yes, it is Chronic Murine Mycoplasmosis, or CMM. Do a web search and you will find info on it. You can probably find the antibiotic and dosage to treat it and get it through the bird or fish sullpy places. Usually they come in capsule form for fish and birds so it would be easy to add it to the water for the rat.
2006-07-15 17:13:50 · answer #9 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blood from the nose is usually a sign of stress.
Other than that, make sure the cage remains clean, because respiratory problems can cause it too.
2006-07-15 16:54:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋