When your rat get sick Rats live a short and hectic life, and ufortunately they are prone to contracting several diseases. The life expectancy of a rat, is two to three years. But sadly I have witnessed that many die before their time. I think one of the reasons is that bad genes have been passed on, because sick rats are often used for breeding. The most common diseases are: Infection in the respiratory system, cancer and attacks of mites/parasites. You cannot avoid detecting when your rat is not feeling well. Some signs are: The fur stands on end, the eyes get narrow, weight-loss, the rat eats little or nothing, doesn't move around much or just lies quietly in the same spot. Another sign can be that the rat ambles around with no apparent sense of direction. Contact a vet immediately, your rat's health will deteriorate rapidly if you don't move quickly. I will recommend the use of a veterinary practise that specializes in cage-animals, if at all possible. Look further down this page to get the name and link to the one we use. I must point out that the cost of going to the vet with a rat is the same as if you take a dog. Keep that in mind if you are planning on getting lots of rats. When it comes to putting an animal down, get it done at a veterinary who knows the right procedure. The rat receives an overdose of a narcotic substance. I have witnessed this five times. The rat feels nothing, and I have never heard as much as a whimper from them as they are given the injection. Afterwards I hold it close, and cuddle it until it falls asleep. The procedure takes about five to ten minutes, and is done in a most humane way. Even so, it is terrible thing to have to go through, but it is the only right thing to do when an animal is suffering. Don't leave the rat to die on it's own, as this will be a long drawn-out and torterous death. Don't let anybody put the rat down by an injection straight to the heart without anaesthetics, this is extremely cruel to the animal, and the rat will invariably try and remove the needle with its tiny, little fingers. It makes me sick to my stomach, and I shudder to think of it. No, I don't mean to fill up this article with morbid reading material, it is just that I am so involved with animal rights, and their well-being and cannot stand to watch them suffer. One last thing: Please stay with your pet on its final journey, don't just take the easy way out by delivering them to the vet, and walk away, in order to avoid "the uncomfortable".
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