My rat is falling, can't balance, and has a bulging eye. What should I do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While it is unclear what is going on this may be a metabolic imbalance such as decreased blood sugar or perhaps a gastrointestinal issue or infection. Regardless, this is considered an emergency and Wally should be evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to gather more information, perform and exam and decide what to do next. I am hoping for a speedy recovery!

Your rat could be suffering from either an internal ear infection or a brain tumor, the later is more common in rats over 1.5 years of age. You need to take your rat to the vet ASAP in order to get it treated, if it is an ear infection, then a course of antibiotics should resolve it.

Although a picture of it could help to determine underlying cause more specifically, that is likely to be due to a mild to moderate conjunctivitis, probably secondary to a trauma or infection. A check up would be needed as appropriate treatment would include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. Corneal injuries must be ruled out as well. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

If your rat’s eye is truly infected with bacteria then she will need some antibiotic eye drops or ointment to help it clear up. If she is just having ocular discharge it could be from stress, allergies, a viral infection, or a corneal ulceration. It would be best if you would be able to take Peppa in to be evaluated by a veterinarian so she can be appropriately diagnosed and the proper treatment can be initiated. If you are unable to do this, then try to keep they eye as clear from drainage as possible by cleaning it with a damp cloth 2-3 times daily and make sure she is still eating and drinking normally. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

Your rat has a serious head trauma (blood in nose and eye) and a proptosed eye. There is nothing you can do for your rat at home. You will need to take him to your veterinarian for an exam. Your rat will need pain medicine and medication depending on the injuries. Please take Tip to your veterinarian now.

Rats, particularly as they grow older, are prone to getting tumors in their brain. In an older rat, this would definitely be my top differential. Other causes include an infectious disease or lack of sugar. In order diagnose a brain tumor, diagnostic imaging would be required. Hope this helps. He should be seen by a vet right away if the seizure activity is continuing and is violent in nature.

I'm sorry that Carrie is not feeling well! Head tilts in rats are commonly caused by ear infections, however, other diseases such as certain cancers, or stroke can cause these signs. How quickly treatment needs to be started really depends on what the underlying cause is, so it is impossible to say what will happen in the next two days. If Carrie is having difficulty moving around, it may help to provide some moistened food (pellets with water on a small plate) for her so that she can access food and stay hydrated. In my experience, head tilts can progress rather quickly, but are not necessarily painful and most animals do well with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. I hope this helps and that Carrie gets well soon!