How to spot a sick rodent?

Either you may have a pet rodent, or you probably came across one that isn’t acting like the furry little energetic creature they generally are, and it has got you worried. Is this normal? Is this how they behave? What do I do? Let us look into a few telltale signs that can distinguish an infected rodent from a perfectly healthy one.

Reduced energy and appetite

Rodents, being the furry little creatures they are, are almost always full of energy and on the run. If you feel that the rodent is being excessively lazy and/or not eating correctly, that may indicate that the animal isn’t feeling their best. Though this is a very general statement, this is the simplest way of telling if the little rodent is sick or not.

Cold symptoms

Rodents normally breathe through their nose, which is what makes upper respiratory tract disease a severe health concern. Look around for symptoms such as nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing, breathing problems or trying to blow with the mouth open as they might point towards this direction and its best to take the animal to the vet immediately!

Changed grooming habits

Rabbits are attentive groomers and are well-known for keeping themselves clean. Hence, any sign that points in the opposite direction might indicate that the rabbit might be not well (signs such as matted paws or fecal matter on their body). Drooling and/or missing hair is also a serious matter and is an indicator of potential diseases. In rats and mice, frequent licking of the same body part indicates injury, pain or an infection in that particular region.

Skin allergies

Rodents that are often bald in a few spots scratch themselves excessively, rub themselves too against different objects and have redness or swelling on various parts on their bodies point towards the presence of a skin allergy. These allergies come from multiple factors, the most common being the wood shaving people often use to underline the cage they put their pet rodent in. Most of the time, the wood shaving is either not fresh or has not been treated properly.

Staring in a corner

Staring into the hole in the classic telltale sign that something fishy might be up with your rodent. In severe cases, this is often linked to tumors and strokes in rodents. Furthermore, this is also a side-effect of lethargic behavior in which the rodent loses all sort of energy to move around and chose to just sit idle in their environment.

Sudden loss of weight

Rodents, just like us, are prone to cancer as well. Sudden loss of weight points towards several problems, the most dreadful being cancer. Other things it might point to stomach problems and general illness. In all cases, it is best to see a vet immediately!

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