Pet owners often face such a problem as nasal blood from a decorative rat. There may be several reasons for this phenomenon. In any case, the appearance of secretions from the eyes or nose of the rodent indicates existing health problems. Why does blood come from the nose of a rat? Consider methods of treatment and prevention of diseases.
Main reasons
If you notice dark traces under the nose of a rodent, do not rush to sound the alarm. Very often, porphyrin secretions are taken for blood from the nose and eyes of a rat. The substance is brown in color, and therefore it may look like clotted blood. If the porphyrin secretion is normal, the rat itself quickly removes its traces from the face, if plentiful - indicate health problems; the animal is unable to cope with them without the help of the owner. We will consider in more detail the reasons for the increased isolation of porphyrin below.
Less commonly, trauma to the animal may result in bleeding. Rats are mobile and curious. They jump high and run fast. It happens that the animal falls from a height or hits hard. The rat can get injured on sharp objects, get a bite from other pets. If the bleeding is heavy, the rodent faces death.
Blood from the nose of a rat can go as a result of serious respiratory illness. In this case, other symptoms accompany the bleeding, which indicate the infectious nature of the disease. Decorative rats have very low immunity, so even a cold can lead to complications and death of the animal. In this case, the rat needs immediate help from a veterinarian.
Nose injury
Blood from the nose of a rat can go due to mechanical injury. If you witnessed an incident, you must immediately provide first aid to the animal. If you have not seen the animal injured, you should still carefully examine it. With a strong blow, you can often note other symptoms that indicate mechanical damage: wounds on the face, broken teeth, twisted nose.
Small wounds are recommended to be treated with hydrogen peroxide. If bleeding does not stop, it is necessary to make an injection of a hemostatic drug (Vikasol, Ditsinon, etc.). The injured area must be treated with a healing ointment. If the injury is serious: the legs are taken away, a large wound, the animal does not move or behaves strangely - the rat should be urgently shown to the veterinarian. At the same time, transporting the animal to the clinic is required very carefully so as not to cause even more harm, but it is better to call a specialist at home.
What is porphyrin?
Porphyrin is a red-brown substance that is secreted by the gardovy glands. In color and texture, it resembles clotted blood. Porphyrin has an organic origin and is a combination of four pyrrole rings. With excessive production of porphyrin leaves noticeable marks on the hair of the animal. This is why nose blood from a domestic rat is often confused with this substance.
Porphyrin is needed to lubricate blinking membranes, as well as to protect the eyes from too bright light. Porphyrin production in rats increases as they grow older, and also in bright light. The peak falls on the pet's one-year-old age, and after the production of porphyrin begins to decline. It is at the age of one that one can most often note traces of this substance under the eyes and nose of the rat. If the animal itself manages its hygiene, do not sound the alarm. If these traces are constantly visible on the muzzle of a rodent, and the animal is less than or significantly more than a year old, the secretion of porphyrin can be considered excessive, which indicates existing health problems.
Causes of increased porphyrin excretion
Increased allocation of porphyrin is possible for the following reasons:
- bright light;
- loss of animal immunity;
- moving to a new house;
- stress;
- pain;
- shock state;
- a sharp change in conditions of detention;
- shortage of drinking water;
- poor diet;
- bathing;
- loud noise and vibration;
- animal disease.
Excessive secretion of porphyrin may indicate infection of the animal with salmonellosis, mycoplasmosis, diphtheria. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to the totality of symptoms observed in the animal.
Treatment
First you need to determine that this is porphyrin, and not rat nose nose blood. Fresh blood has a bright scarlet color, and the blood gore is maroon or brown. Porfirin has a scarlet brown color. When dried, it is much lighter than caked blood. To determine that the rat has become dirty with porphyrin, it is necessary to take a cotton pad and wipe it with contaminated places. After that, a little hydrogen peroxide should be poured onto the cotton pad. Blood under its influence will change color, but no porphyrin. Also, the spot can be illuminated with an ultraviolet lamp. Porphyrin should glow pink.
Treatment of increased porphyrin excretion should begin with a review of the animal's conditions. The diet of the rat should be varied, with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. There should not be bright light sources or other types of radiation near the rodent's cage. If the animal is under stress, it is necessary to provide him peace and quiet. It is necessary to carefully examine the rat, monitor its condition. If any other symptoms of the disease are observed, the animal must be immediately shown to the veterinarian. If porphyrin continues to stand out excessively after correcting the conditions of detention, it is necessary to take tests in a clinic to determine the cause.
Symptoms of Respiratory Disease
Blood from the nose in a domestic rat is one of the signs of a respiratory illness. We highlight its main symptoms:
- cough;
- wheezing
- secretion of mucus from the mouth and nose;
- increased secretion of porphyrin;
- wheezing and gurgling when breathing;
- lethargy;
- lack of appetite;
- dyspnea;
- labored breathing.
How to treat respiratory illness
Before starting treatment, it is important to diagnose the cause of the respiratory disease. This may be a viral infection, poisoning by toxic fumes, allergies, colds. For accurate diagnosis, the animal is recommended to show the veterinarian.
If the rat is in satisfactory condition, you should insulate the animal house. The cage must be moved to a warm and quiet place. Do not carry the animal in your arms, it needs to ensure peace. A rat can be given warm milk using a syringe (without a needle). If the condition of the animal does not improve, then it must be attributed to the veterinarian. After diagnosing the cause of the disease, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
It is not recommended to give the animal antibiotics without a prescription, because decorative rats have low immunity, and such drugs can only aggravate an already dangerous situation.
Stress
Decorative rats are very people-oriented. Any change in the life of the owner affects the condition of the pet. Changing the host in adulthood is sometimes a very serious stress for a pet. For this reason, rat nose can bleed. Why is this happening? When the animal is in a state of constant nervous tension, immunity decreases, due to which various diseases manifest themselves.
When changing the owner of a pet, it is important to give time for acclimatization. You should not take the animal in your arms immediately after moving, but you need to talk to him. The rat needs to be given treats so that it gets used to the new owner. You can not raise your voice or punish. Rats are smart animals and are easy to train. To establish a good relationship with a pet, you need to spend a lot of time with it. A rat can be taught tricks, you need to communicate and play with it. The more attention and care a pet will receive, the stronger its immunity and health will be.
Disease prevention
To avoid injury to the rat, it is necessary to equip the cage. It should not contain sharp piercing and heavy objects. Pinched limbs or tail between the bars of a cage is very dangerous for the animal. When walking, it is necessary to closely monitor the animal. Keep rat away from cats or dogs. Also, do not take the rat out to the street, where the animal can easily be injured or catch an infection.
Since domestic rats do not have strong immunity, it is important to ensure optimal conditions for their maintenance. Feed is recommended only high quality, with the inclusion of all the necessary minerals and components. The animal should always have clean drinking water. It is necessary to monitor the hygiene of the pet - in time to remove feces and periodically disinfect its habitat. You need to put the cage in a quiet place, far from drafts and direct sunlight.
Thus, we determined why a rat has nose bleeds. Very often, bleeding is confused with an increased secretion of porphyrin, which may indicate an animal's disease. To stop bleeding, you may need an injection of a hemostatic drug. Regardless of the reason, the animal should be shown to a doctor as soon as possible.