Experienced ratty owner but worried about one of my girls...?

Question

Not often I ask questions on here but I am genuinely worried about one of my ratties.

She came, with her sister, as a rescue ratty. I was told they were 7 weeks but there is no way this was the case. They were tiny.

Also, I have no idea as to their treatment before I rescued them.

I have been using the forced socialisation method for a few weeks now, with Ruby (problem rat) she is still extremely nervous.

Once into the forced socialisation I stroke her gently, speak to her in a quiet and soothing voice, and generally try to keep her calm.

She starts chattering and shaking as she is so nervous and pees and poos all over me (happy to put up with this).

Today I noticed red staining round her eye and immediately panicked and thought of Myco. However her breathing is fine, she is eating and running round the cage happy as larry (she is fine in the cage).

Any advice from experienced rat owners would be gratefully received!! Quite worried.

Thank you so much!

Answer 1

Hmm...I'm guessing that you might have to slow down a bit with the forced socialisation with Ruby.

Our little rattie was also very shy and nervous when we first got him.  It took Ratsy quite a while to get used to me and stop the urine marking. (He is my fiance's rat.)  I had to let him come to me and tempted him with goodies that he loves. I think it was a couple of months before he discontinued that behavior.  But he's really awesome now and comes running whenever I say his name.

I'm guessing that the forced socialisation might be stressing Ruby out and that is why she's getting the red eye.  Ratsy does that same thing, like when we are at the vet's office. And stress can cause the inherent Myco in most pet rats to kick in.

(I'm sure you already know the following.)

Red tears and crusty eyes/nose is called porphyrin.

Owners of rats may become very alarmed when they see their rat has red tears and nasal secretions. Red crusts may also develop around the eyes and nose, and the forepaws may be red from rubbing the face. This redness is not caused by blood, but by the secretion of a red pigment called porphyrin. This pigment is released from a gland behind the eye called the Harderian gland. The scientific name for the colored tears is 'chromodacryorrhea.'

Although the red coloration is not blood, the red tears suggest the rat may have a serious condition because they occur when rats are stressed or ill. If this condition occurs in your rat, try to determine possible stresses and have the rat examined by your veterinarian.

I'd take her to a qualified vet and have it checked out.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Rats will brux when stressed or when happy (much like how cats purr when stressed or happy). The chattering and shaking is likely her bruxing hard.

The red staining is porphyrin. Rats have a reddish pigment in their tears and it's normal to see a little once in a while. Excess amounts can be signs of stress or illness.

Maybe ease back slightly on the force socialization. Don't stop, but you don't want to stress her out too badly by moving too quickly.

Answer 3

i agree with slowing down on the forced socialization's, but fer sure dont stop them altogether...

what i've done that's helped is taking them out with more social rats in a play area that's on a table bc shy rats will get freaked out if on the floor and they see a giant human... encourage the social rats to play with you while on the play area, letting the shy one come and go as it pleases. alot of the time, the social outgoing rats will convince that checking you out is a good idea (its like they're starting a trend and the shy one follows^_^)

and if everything else besides the red staining is perfectly fine, as in no sneezing, good appetite, etc, then there is something in the environment that might be stressing her out (think about their relationships with the other rats, how clean the cage is, and how long she is out with you). if she just happens to be in an area of the cage that is often dirtier, cleaning that section more often might make it clear up, but if it doesn't clear up after that or if it gets worse i'd take her in for a checkup at a vet that has experience with rats.

Answer 4

All rats secrete a reddish liquid from their eyes but it's nothing to worry about. If a rat is clicking it's teeth together that means their happy. If the rat is shaking while she is clicking her teeth she is clicking them a little to hard. But if her whole body is shaking instead of just her head i recommend taking her to a vet that is experienced with rats.