Can rats have nose bleeds?

Question

ive just come home and one of my female rats has blood around her nose and sort of like going down past her mouth.

well, it looks like blood but there isnt any sticking there so tis like its stained the fur

it cant be porpherine can it? its going right down her chin and she was fine this morning.

please help! wat is it and will she be ok.

neither her or her sister hav any scratches on them that it could have come from

thanks and please answer :/

Answer 1

rats *can* have nose bleeds, either from fighting or illnesses, just like people.

However what you describe sounds to me to be porphyrin

Rats do produce more when a little stressed or ill, so double check your girl hasn't got a respiratory problem, nothing stressful in the room they are in, make sure their cage is big enough and clean enough and ensure they are never kept on wood shavings or sawdust.

Still worried? Pop her to the vets or join a good rat forum :)

Answer 2

rat snot is also red, and I heard that when they groom themselves it may come out a little.  if she is sneezing/wheezing alot you should take her to the vet she may be sick.  but if theres no sneezing or wheesing she'll be fine.

Answer 3

It's possible that what you think is blood may actually be something called porphyrin that rats get. Some get it when they're stressed or unwell, but some get it all the time even when they're okay. I know the first time I saw a rat with it I panicked and thought they might be bleeding, but as it turns out it was just porphyrin. They usually get a little bit around their nose and sometimes the eyes too. If they wash themselves, it also goes on their paws. If you're not finding any of it on his bedding, there's a good chance this is what it is, as there doesn't seem to be a lot of it that occurs at any one time. There's nothing to worry about with regards to the porphyrin, just keep a general eye on him to see whether it could be that he's feeling a bit unwell.  I know my 2 boys get porphyrin around their eyes a lot, and they're about as laid back as you can be without being comatose!! Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Um, I dont think that rats are supposed to get nose bleeds.  I think she may be sick and best bet would be to take rher to a vet, or at least call a vet and ask what they think.  Good luck, I hope shes okay.

Answer 5

They sometimes give themselves nosebleeds by burrowing too hard, sometimes against hard surfaces (like a lower wall of the cage)

Just keep an eye and see if it happens again. The rat will clean itself.

Answer 6

Sounds like porphyrin to me.

However I had one unique case with my rats where blood got splattered on my walls near their cage, on their bedding, and on the cage wires. I don't know if it really was porphyrin or blood, all I know if was in liquid form around my rats nose. It was really scary. :(

Answer 7

They have blood ? They have a nose ? U do the math

Answer 8

I'm confused.. why do you think it can't be porphyrin?

That's what it sounds like to me if nothing seems to have happened to her.