Why does my rat have blood in his eyes?
If you see your rat developing too much porphyrin, you’ll notice the buildup around their eyes and nose. It usually means that the rat is stressed, sick, or experiencing allergies. It can even be a symptom of dehydration. It is very similar to a human’s runny, stuffy nose and excessive tear production when sick.
Why do rat’s eyes have a reddish tint?
These sensitive mucous membranes can become severely damaged if they are dried out. When porphyrin is concentrated, it takes on the appearance of blood. Unlike our clear tears, rat tears have a reddish tint to them. As the water dries, a bloody residue is left behind.
Why does my rat have a lot of tear secretions?
An increase in tear secretions can be due to stress, illness, allergies, lesions of the eye, tumor of the tear duct, or a plugged nasal-lacrimal duct. Under normal circumstances, most rats do not have a nasal discharge, although Dr. Booth has seen many older disease free rats that frequently have a slight eye discharge.
What to look for in a rat with an infection?
If left untreated, mites can cause the rat extreme discomfort and may lead to a skin infection. Look for a reddish discharge around your rat’s eyes and nose. This discharge is called porphyrin and, while it does look a little like blood, it’s a different substance altogether.
Why do rat’s eyes look like they have blood in them?
Just like us, rats need to keep their eyes and nasal cavities moist. These sensitive mucous membranes can become severely damaged if they are dried out. When porphyrin is concentrated, it takes on the appearance of blood. Unlike our clear tears, rat tears have a reddish tint to them. As the water dries, a bloody residue is left behind.
Why does my rat have a bloody nose?
A Rat tears are brown-red in color, so if your rat has a “bloody discharge” from the nose and eyes, it is most likely the porphyrin secretion from the Harderian Gland that helps to lubricate the eye. An increase in tear secretions can be due to stress, illness, allergies, lesions of the eye, tumor of the tear duct, or a plugged nasal-lacrimal duct.
An increase in tear secretions can be due to stress, illness, allergies, lesions of the eye, tumor of the tear duct, or a plugged nasal-lacrimal duct. Under normal circumstances, most rats do not have a nasal discharge, although Dr. Booth has seen many older disease free rats that frequently have a slight eye discharge.
What to do if your rat has porphyrin in his eyes?
If your pet rat becomes sick or ill with excessive porphyrin, you might need to visit the veterinarian. If the rat has porphyrin all over its eyes, but seems otherwise healthy, he or she is probably fine. However, this is a common symptom of illness or stress that may become more obvious within time.
