Rats, like all pets, can get sick from time to time. Unfortunately, it's not always possible to rush a sick pet rat to the veterinarian's office and not all rat owners are local to a 24-hour veterinary clinic that's equipped to treat rat patients.
That said, there are certain rat health care techniques that can be employed at home until a rat owner can get his sick rat to the veterinarian's office for an exam. When proper care is provided to a sick rat, owners will maximize the chances of a sick rat's recovery and survival.
Keeping a Rat Warm and Comfortable
When a pet rat is sick, it's vital that he is provided with a quiet, warm environment in which to recover. If the rat's cage is located in a high-traffic area, relocate the cage to a guest room or another out-of-the way location. Keep the room warm and increase humidity by running a humidifier. Humid air feels warmer and the humidity makes it easier for a rat who is experiencing mycoplasma or another respiratory infection - a common illness in rats.
Also provide a T-shirt (replaced daily or more frequently if needed) as a warm spot for the rat to cuddle and nest in. If the rat feels cool to the touch, also consider providing a reptile heating pad on the bottom of the rat's cage. In a pinch, a hot water bottle or microwavable heat pack (non-toxic only!) can work well to warm a cold, sick rat. An electric heating pad can be used to warm a cold rat while he's out of his cage, but never leave a rat unattended with access to an electrical cord.
Keeping a Sick Rat Drinking and Well Hydrated
A sick rat - just like a sick human - will require extra fluids to combat illness. Provide a second water bottle filled with fruit juice (non-citrus) mixed with Pedialyte (found in the baby care aisle of the store) and encourage the rat to drink.
A sick rat should also be provided with foods that contain a lot of fluid such as yogurt (which also helps to remedy diarrhea and other digestive problems), baby food, avocado, melon and other fruits (no citrus) and veggies. These foods with a high fluid content are also usually very appealing to a sick rat, which also helps to promote eating, which is vital to proper recovery.
Feeding a Sick Rat & Helping a Sick Rat Who Won't Eat
When a rat is ill, it's vital to provide foods that are high in fluid (see above) and high in calories. Rats have very rapid metabolic rates, which means that their bodies process calories at a very fast rate. This can lead to rapid weight loss and a rapid decline in health when a rat becomes sick.
In addition to the foods mentioned above, offer cottage cheese, cream cheese, meats like chicken and turkey, and crackers coated with a thin layer of peanut butter.
All rat owners should have Nutri-Cal available at all times!
A sick rat should be given a high-calorie nutritional supplement like Nutri-Cal, available for purchase at most veterinary clinics. This can be offered alone or mixed with yogurt or baby food and hand-fed to rats using a liquid syringe. This mix is ideal for feeding a rat who will not eat. Hand feeding is absolutely necessary if a rat stops eating; without nutrition - even for a day - a rat's chances of survival and recovery plummet.
When to Separate a Rat from His Cagemates
It's preferred to leave a rat with his cagemates in most cases of rat illness. But if the rat's illness appears very serious or contagious, it's best to separate the rats until the sick rat is examined by a veterinarian, who can determine if the rat's illness poses a danger to the other rats.
Sick rats should also be separated from healthy rats if the healthy rats appear to be disturbing the sick rat. Most rats are great caretakers when a fellow rat is sick or unwell. Rats are very social and many will groom the sick rat, in addition to cuddling and comforting their ill ratty friend. Rats have even been known to bring food to a sick cagemate. But there are a few rats who simply don't understand that a cage mate is unwell and it can be stressful to the sick rat if his fellows are trying to play or disturbing him as he tries to rest and recover from illness. This is a case where the sick rat should be removed and placed in a separate cage.
Related Reading
To learn more about how to help a rat who won't eat and other tips on caring for a sick rat, visit the Pet Rat Care Page.
