[Admiral]

My rat is gasping for breath, has dark mucus stuff all around her eyes, and doesn't move very much. She's been with me for a little over 2 years and my first rat died a few months ago, so this is not unexpected.
My question is, what is it that is killing her?
My other rat did not die like this.
She just breathed quietly until she just...stopped.
She had her paws cramped up and could not move when she tried.
She was also about 2-3 years old.
What is the difference?
Neither of them had respiratory problems previous to their deaths.

 

[Nazarath]

I honestly am not sure what could be happening, if she lives through the night i would take her to the vet. It could be she's got sick and you might have a bit more time with her?

 

[Admiral]

No, she died about an hour after I posted.

 

[lilspaz68]

I am so sorry for your recent losses

About your girl it could've been many things. Maybe a bad myco flareup, pneumonia can hit that hard, a stroke, or PT is likely especially when you mentioned her stiff paws.

It all depends on her symptoms. The red fluid was porphyrn, which is normal in small quantities but when there's a lot you have a sick and/or stressed rat.