Rat Health Guide

At Coastline Pets, we prioritize the health and well-being of every rat in our care. To ensure our rats remain happy and healthy, we perform routine health checks regularly. These checks are simple, quick, and essential for catching potential issues early. Here’s how you can adopt a similar routine to keep your rats in great shape.

Daily Health Checks

Daily checks are an effortless way to monitor your rats and should become second nature as you handle and interact with them. Here’s what to look for:

Behavior and Alertness:

  • Greet your rats with a scratch or stroke and observe how they respond.

  • Watch for any signs of lethargy, lack of response, or unusual behavior.


Eyes, Nose, and Ears:

  • Ensure their eyes are bright and free of porphyrin (red discharge).

  • Check that their nose is dry and clean, with no crustiness or discharge.

  • Their ears should be clean, with no redness, swelling, or scratches.


Fur and Body Condition:

  • Run your hands over their body to check for lumps, bumps, or scratches.

  • Look for fur that’s shiny and smooth. Dull, greasy, or patchy fur (in non-double rex rats) may indicate underlying issues.


Movement and Activity:

  • Let them roam during playtime and observe their gait and coordination.

  • Note any limping, stumbling, or reduced activity levels.


These checks can easily be integrated into your daily interactions with your rats, ensuring you’re always in tune with their well-being.

Monthly Health Checks

In addition to daily checks, a more thorough monthly health inspection can help catch issues that may not be immediately noticeable. 

Head-to-Toe Examination:

  • Eyes and Nose: Ensure no discharge or redness. Eyes should be bright and nose should be dry and clean.

  • Ears: Check for any irritation or inflammation in the ear canal in addition to the outer surface.

  • Teeth and Mouth: Teeth should be even and a healthy yellow-orange color. Look for signs of uneven wear or overgrown teeth. Inside of the mouth should be a healthy pink color. Check for smooth breathing without wheezing, clicking, or grunting. Hold them close to your ear to listen for any abnormal chest sounds.

  • Body: Gently feel along their body for lumps, especially around the chest, abdomen, arm pits, and groin. While feeling along their body apply gentle pressure taking note of any areas that elicit a potential pain response (flinching and squeaking). Check for dehydration by gently pinching at the loose skin at the back of their neck. If the skin is slow to return to its normal position this could be a sign of dehydration.


Skin and Fur:

  • Inspect for scabs or scratches, particularly around the shoulders and tail.

  • Part their fur to check for lice, mites, or dandruff. If you see white particles that are unable to be removed from the hair shaft and small orange moving particles, your rat likely has lice. If you see that your rat is overly scratching at their body and notice scabbing and or hair patchiness this can indicate potential mites. If you see white particles that flake away when brushed, your rat likely has dandruff.


Tail and Feet:

  • Look for a healthy pink color, free from swelling, sores, or rough skin.

  • Ensure their feet are free of hot spots or injuries.

  • Check that nails are a proper length.

  • Check their tail for any bites or dry skin and ensure the tail is free from any kinks or darkening of the tail tip.


Gender-Specific Checks:

  • Males: Inspect the area around the testicles for swelling or lumps.

  • Females: Examine the mammary areas for any unevenness or discharge.


Regular monitoring not only helps catch potential problems early but also strengthens the bond you share with your rats.

Rat First Aid Kit

Having a basic rat first aid kit on hand is crucial. It allows you to address minor issues promptly and provides tools for monitoring your rat’s condition before a vet visit. A list of common essentials can be found in our Rat First Aid Kit guide at the link here.