Expert: Robin Bartlett - 6/20/2008

Question
I have a white rat that i adopted from my Zoology lab. She was used to study mammal estrous cycle,this involved taking vaginal swabs and studying the slide under a microscope..She is now 1.5 years old. The past two days and many times this month,she appears to have a nose bleed. In the ornin there is a red to dark brown incrustation under her nose. Is this a discharge?oor a nose bleed?What can i do to treat it?


Answer
 Brownish red discharge that comes from a rat's eyes and nose is called porphyrin and in small amounts it is normal.  Rats naturally have red mucus, so sometimes when they wake up from a nap you will notice it around their eyes just as humans' eyes can get 'crusties'.  A normal, healthy rat should not have very much porphyrin; usually it is a result of stress, bad bedding, or illness (generally respiratory illness).

 Has anything happened to her or in your house lately that may have caused her stress?  If her cage was moved, you got a new family member or new pet, or anything that may be causing her stress, you will notice the porphyrin but she will seem otherwise normal.  She will probably get used to whatever is new and calm down eventually if this is the case.

 If you are using pine or cedar bedding it can cause irritation in the lungs because of aromatic oils it produces.  Sometimes this can cause respiratory infections and sometimes it can just be irritating.  If you are using one of these wood chips switch to something non-irritating like aspen wood, Carefresh, or Yesterday's News.

 If you notice increased sneezing, any wheezing, rattling in the lungs, listlessness, or blue tinge to the nose and feet, she may be in respiratory distress.  Rats are very prone to respiratory infections, especially older rats, and they can usually be treated easily with a course of antibiotics.

 It could also be due to her older age.  Though 1.5 years isn't THAT old, coming from a lab she probably wasn't bred for longevity and if she was living in overcrowded conditions or had a lot of stress as a younger rat she may not make it to 2.  Older rats have more health problems as their immune systems begin to decline and are more susceptible to respiratory infections and stress.

 If she seems otherwise fine, I wouldn't worry about it.  Porphyrin isn't usually a bad sign on its own, only coupled with other signs of illness.

 I hope that answers your question, good luck with your rat!


For more information on rat care please visit my website at http://careguide.evergreenrattery.com