Sometimes your rats are going to get sick when the veterinarian's office is closed. What do you do then? If they are really very sick you should find an emergency clinic to take them to. I can't tell you what to do with a seriously ill rat except see a veterinarian. For some of the more minor emergencies that arise there are some things you can do yourself.

Things you can do at home:

For Respiratory Problems:
Feed them one or two chocolate chips to help open the breathing passages. Chocolate has theobromine in it, which is a natural aminophylline. It is safe for rats in small amounts for medicinal purposes. It is not toxic to them as it can be for dogs or birds. It has no nutritional value; which makes it not a wise choice as a treat. It can be helpful in cases of respiratory distress.

Vick's Vapo-Rub can be helpful too. Place the sick rat in a small container such as a plastic "critter keeper" with a ventilated top. Open a jar of Vick's and place that on top of the container where the rat can't touch it. Keep the rat inside the box and cover with a towel. Make the rat sit in the box for 15-20 minutes. This often will break up some of that congestion temporarily.

A humidifier or vaporizer may be of some help too.

Minor Wounds:

Keep peroxide and triple antibiotic ointment on hand. Minor wounds such as scrapes, superficial cuts, or other minor skin abrasions can be safely flushed with peroxide and then an antibiotic ointment can be used. If there is a lot of bleeding, try to find a veterinarian who can meet you for treatment. Rats are so small they can bleed to death very quickly.

Keeping the rat's nails trimmed can sometimes prevent wounds. A good pair of bird or cat claw clippers is a good investment to help prevent skin problems. A heavy nail file can also help to keep those nails trim. Bite wounds should be flushed immediately. Bite wounds very often lead to abscess later on; if one develops you'll need a vet to lance that abscess and prescribe some medication.

If your rat is overcome by high temperatures, get him or her cooled off as fast as possible. Salivating and breathing hard are signs of being overheated. Rub them with a cool damp cloth, or even wet them down with water then try to get them to drink water. Flush their mouths with water even if they don't drink. Rats cannot pant like a dog; they regulate their temperature through their tails. They can withstand colder temperatures much better than hotter ones. An electrolyte or sports type drink may be helpful. Try to get your rat to drink a small amount of that. Don't over do it because these are high in sugars, which could cause diarrhea. If the rat doesn't recover fairly soon after cooling them down, find a vet because heat stroke can be deadly.

Choking:

Sometimes rats are so overexcited by food that they will push as much food in their mouths as they can, which can result in too much. Sticky foods like peanut butter can cause choking too. It's good to keep a few syringes without needles or an eyedropper around so that you can flush their mouths with water in case of choking on food. If water doesn't wash all of it out, try running a finger through their mouth and pull out as much of the food as you can.

Are they really? Porphyrin is the red substance manufactured by the Harderian's gland behind rat eyes. It's red, they have red tears. Those tear ducts are connected to the nasal passages so this will sometimes drip down through the nose. Red tears are normal but not normal for you to see often. Get an ultraviolet (black) light bulb. Check this "blood" in a dark room with the UV light on. If the "blood" fluoresces to a bright pink or magenta, then it's not blood. Blood will not fluoresce but rat tears will. If you see this often make an appointment to see a vet because that indicates there is a problem. If you see it once in a while and especially when they have just woken up from a deep sleep, don't worry about it. If what you see really is blood, find a vet immediately.

Mites and Lice:

Please think long and hard before you use a paste made for a horse. This is not a safe product for rats no matter how many people tell you it is. Veterinarians will not suggest you use it, they've seen the horrors of death by ivermectin when it's been used incorrectly. Be aware that if you decide to use it, you are doing so at the risk of the lives of your pets.

Signs of ivermectin toxicity are staggering gait, drunken appearance, confusion, listlessness, seizure, coma, and death.

 Torn or Broken Nail:

Keep styptic powder at home. You can buy this in pet stores or from your vet. This is the powder that stops bleeding instantly. Torn nails usually aren't a serious problem but can be if you don't get that bleeding stopped quickly. If you have no styptic powder, use cornstarch. Before you need it get that styptic powder because you need to have it on hand anyway when you trim their nails.

All serious medical problems should always be treated by a qualified veterinarian. In the event you have a seriously ill rat the best thing to do while trying to locate a vet is to keep them as calm as possible, warm but not hot, and keep them comfortable.

It's highly unethical and can be illegal for a person who is not a veterinarian to diagnose or prescribe medications to treat your rats. That's practicing medicine without a license. RVTs have the medical training and knowledge to get a good idea of what's wrong with your pet but all they can legally and ethically do is help you determine what may be wrong and then suggest you see a vet, if needed. People with no medical training at all are a dangerous choice for you to turn to for help, but that unfortunately happens. Diagnosing over a computer is even worse. Nobody can really diagnose anything without physically seeing your pet, not even a veterinarian.

It's true, not all vets are knowledgeable about rat treatment or even interested in treating them. It's your responsibility as a good pet owner to find a vet, cultivate a good working relationship with that vet before a doctor is needed. If you'll take the time to do that fatalities can often be avoided.

Jan McArthur, R.V.T.