[fallinstar]

cody has a bloody nose , he has been to the vets and he cheacked him over n sed it wasnt repspatory (sorry cant spell) and gave him antibiotics as he had a tempture, we then took him for a check up and we were told he was fine, can rats get nose bleeds? its not a reprotory problem as he has no other symptoms and our vet is great but i was so worryed about cody hes bin bk 3 or 4 times and each time hes just said hes only got a tempreture apart from the last 2 times when he sed he was fine im a very nervous person and dont do well in confrontation so i dont like to ask questions face 2 face. so i didnt ask what it could be, back to the point can rats get nose bleeds as the blood isnt always there! please help thanks

 

[Night]

It just sounds like porphyrin to me (mucous stained red). When do you usually see Cody with the red around his nose? A lot of rats sometimes have a little when they wake up from sleeping. Is it a lot, or just a couple tiny spots?

 

[fallinstar]

it changes most days he has non then other days he has spots and some times his whole nose is red non of the others have it ive had toby and cody since about september/octobre and hes always been like this!

 

[Night]

Well, since he's a pet store rat, he comes from pretty terrible lines/genetics. He possibly has some lung scarring, which can cause porphyrin to show up every now and again. Also, how long was he on those antibiotics for, and do you remember what they were?

 

[Nazarath]

I've only hurd of porphyrin showing up in the tears from the Harderian gland, Never hurd of it coming from their nose? I'll look into it though just giving my 2 cents . (learn something new everyday)

 

[Darksong17]

Nope happens around the nose to. You know how when your eyes tear your nose runs? Same with rats ;D

Actually I'm pretty sure rat saliva and nose mucous is also tinted in general for the same reason as their tears. So yeah XD

 

[Nazarath]

oh duh can't believe i forgot that! blonde moment :? no offens to any blondes

 

[lilspaz68]

from http://kristinewickstrom.homestead.com/files/RFC_FAQs.html#porphyrin

It is probably not blood. The mucous and tear ducts of rats' contain a substance called porphyrin which gives their tears and "snot" a distinctive red coloration. Evidence of porphyrin is not really a reason for concern. Some rats will have a little in their eyes or nose when they first wake up - much like humans will wake up with "eye crusties". It is the amount which can signal problems. Excessive production can be a symptom of stress (such as a move to a new home, or a new cagemate), or can signal the beginnings of a respiratory infection. When in doubt, consult with your vet.

Porphyrin is in a lot of fluids of a rats body, urine, saliva, etc.

Is your rat pale coloured as well?

 

[fallinstar]

cody is white and blond with red eyes theres pics of him under meet my rat