Why does my rat have discolored fur????

Question

He is dark brown and he does SCRATCH a lot. Toward his but, he has patches of cinnamon fur. What could cause this???

Answer 1

It could be porphyrin. Rats excrete porphyrin from their noses & eyes sometimes. It's a red substance, it's nothing to be alarmed about, but may be caused by stress. It's possible your rattie was grooming himself and got it on his fur. Try wiping it with a damp cloth and see if it comes off.

It's also a possibility that it's mites. Look at his skin, are there any red scabs there? If so, it's likely mites and he'll need to see a vet. If not, I'd just keep an eye on him.

Answer 2

Rats go through several molts in their life and sometimes their adult coats are a little different.  It's probably normal.

  The other possibility is that it is buck grease staining his fur.  Male rats exude an orange greasy substance from their backs and it can stain their fur a more orangey color.  Try giving him a bath, using dish soap and a soft toothbrush to scrub at the orange patches and see if they come clean.

  Unless his skin is irritated, flaky, or red, it's probably something normal and not to be worried about.  However, you did mention that he scratches a lot; he may have mites or lice even if they are not responsible for his discolored fur.  They are really easy to treat, just buy a single tube of the puppy / kitten Advantage or Revolution (flea killers for dogs and cats) and place a single drop on the back of his neck against the skin, then another in two weeks.  This will kill any parasites he has and is safe to use even if he doesn't have any.

  The scratching could also be due to allergies, but that is more rare.

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

Answer 3

They are born this way.  I work at PetSmart and we have some fancy rats that have this same marking.  One of my girls have this too.  I have already been to the vet and it is just the way god made them.  Rats scratch, you have a fancy rat and it is just a color.

Answer 4

Take him to the vet

Answer 5

Is he old? I once had a white rat that turned yellowish as he got older.