Expert: Sandra Todd - 6/17/2008

Question
What does mild respiratory sound like when you put your ear up to the rats chest? What does a healthy rat sound like when you do the same? Is there any way I could tell if a rat has it when there is not signs of the "red stuff" or puffed up fur, or sneezing. When I listen to the lungs I hear either nothing or a very light breathing noise (hard to describe), occasional light sneezing occurs daily, but sounds like it's from allergies. I will take it to the vet if recommended but I just want to know if there is any way you could tell if a rat has mild respiratory. Also how do vets check if a rat has it or not?

Answer
A healthy rat doesnt make any sounds at all.  With a healthy rat all you will hear is the beating of his heart and some clear breath sounds with no crackling or whistles and noises, just air moving freely...maybe a bruxing in your ear if he doesnt mind you listening to his chest!  :)

The vet will use a stethescope to hear the rats lungs which of course work much better than just putting your ear against the rats chest:)  
The vet will be able to tell if the lungs sound clear from listening to the way the air moves through the lungs and also the way the heart sounds. Even certain ways the heart sounds the vet can tell if the heart is diseased or enlarged etc...

A little sneezing here and there is normal, just like when we do it on occasion to clear our airways.  
With careful evaluation of your rat daily, you will be able to note what is normal and not normal for your rat.  Even some traces of porphyrin is normal in some rats on a daily basis. A rat owner that has a rat that produces porphyrin even if  they are not sick has to watch and monitor what is normal and what is NOT normal as far as the amounts of porphyrin they have daily.  Just being in tune with your rat and you will be able to catch the first thing that seems off about his health. This is a good thing since rats usually dont let us know they are sick till the illness is advanced so its good to want to get ahead of the game.

Hope this helps!