All animals can get ill at some point in their lives, small furries are no exception.

If you notice one of your pets not acting themselves then it could be that something is wrong with your pet.

How can you tell if they are unwell? Well, the first thing is to get to know your pet properly, as soon as you get your pet study them, see what their behaviour pattern is, handle them daily so you are able to check them over.

Check for any lumps, scabs or anything you feel to be unusual, if you find something that concerns you then you should take them to the vet to have it checked out, it may be something simple but it doesn't hurt in seeking medical advice.  If you would like to ask us any questions regarding the health of your pet then please feel free to do so and we will try our best to find the answers for you.

Below are some common health issues we have found whilst pets have been in our care, whether they have been rescued or not

 

Rats:

Rats are prone to tumours that is why it is important to always check for lumps, lumps can appear anywhere on the body, they may be tumours or they may be abscess but either way they need to be checked.

You are most likely to hear a rat sneeze, this is common, if they seem to be sneezing profusely see if they have any other symptoms ie. discharge from the eyes, red around the nose they could be suffering from respiratory infection and may need antibiotics from your vet.

You need to check your rats feet for sores/blisters as this could be bumble foot and will need to be treated. Try to keep the floor and shelves in your rat cage as dry as possible as this could make the bumble foot worse.

Scabs are common with fighting rats however there maybe another cause for this such as mites or a poor diet.

 

Mice:

Scabs or sores on the back/neck are very common, this can be caused either by a parasite infection or by food intolerance. If you have treated your mouse for mites and there is no change then you might want to gradually change your mouse’s diet to see if that helps. If there is still no change then you are best to get your mouse checked over by a vet who may give you a course of antibiotics or other treatment depending on the cause.

Mites - Mice can get mites through a number of ways ie, food, hay, straw ( I wouldn't recommend using hay or straw for your mouse). You can not see the mites as they are very small. You may be able to buy something to treat the mites from your local pet shop but make sure you get the correct dose, the best thing to do would be to take your mouse to the vets, as with any illness in your pet.

It is very important to clean your mouse’s cage out thoroughly before putting your mouse back in it.

You may hear your mouse sneezing or coughing. If this is happening frequently then you need to take your mouse to the vet. It might be an allergy so you could try changing the bedding to something different and the flooring. (Sawdust/Wood shavings should NEVER be used for mice). If the sneezing/coughing continues then your mouse needs a vet as this could well be a respiratory infection which sadly is very hard to cure. (If you have more than one mouse in the cage it is very important to separate the poorly one).

 

Degu's:

Diabetes - Degu's are naturally insulin resistant so they can easily become diabetic. This is why it is very important to make sure you are feeding your Degu's the correct diet.

Bumble foot - As with rats and other small furries Degu's can also develop bumble foot. Please take care to keep all surfaces in their cage dry and if they have wire flooring it is a good idea to cover the wire with a towel or cardboard or something as walking on a wire flooring all the time can cause discomfort and pain.

If you notice a sore on your Degu's foot you need to take them to the vet so you can start the treatment as bumble foot can be very stubborn.

Make sure you keep your Degu's water bottle very clean, wash it daily as Degu's are prone to getting infections in their mouths. It may help to weigh your Degu's regularly to keep track of their weight. If they have lost a lot of weight it could be that they have an infection and are unable to eat properly. (Your Degu's teeth should be a healthy orange colour) If you have any concerns please seek medical advise urgently.

Cataracts - Cataracts is most likely due to diabetes, mostly common in older Degu's.

 

Hamsters:

Hamsters can develop abscesses and tumours so as with any pet it is very important to check your hamster for any unusual lumps and bumps. If you do find a lump on your hamster please see your vet.

Mites - Hamsters can also be affected by mites so with any signs of scabs, excessive scratching etc you may need to treat your hamster for mites.

Respiratory problems - As with other small furries respiratory infection can affect hamsters. If your hamster is sneezing a lot and has obvious weight loss then please see a vet.

Other things to look out for include: Wet tail, Diarrhoea, fur loss, overgrown nails and anything out of the ordinary.

 

Rabbits:

Myxomatosis - This is a viral infection that can become very serious. You need to make sure your rabbit gets the appropiate injections to prevent this.

You will need to brush/comb your rabbit regularly and check their skin.