Why does my rat have red discharge from its eyes? Is it sick?

'chromodacryorrhea is the term for the red tearing that is commonly seen in rats. This is not blood per se, but a secretion of porphyrin from the gland. This happens commonly when your rat is very ill or stressed and is indicative of a serious condition. If he is sneezing and showing this, it is time for a trip to the vet. Your rat may have a treatable respiratory illness or something more serious like a tumor. I would urge you to take him in as soon as possible. Hope this helps.

Hello! The picture is a bit dark, but there are two main possible causes for this. The first cause is completely normal- rats have porphyrin pigment, which is red colored, in their tears and nasal secretions naturally. Seeing a small amount of red tinged tearing is completely normal in rats. The tearing often increases during times of stress and illness. Moving is a common cause of stress in rats, so may increase this normal tear production. If Nugget is completely normal otherwise, I would likely attribute this to the stress of moving. If the discharge is a bright frank red blood, associated with the eye being swollen or held shut, yellow/green discharge, sneezing, wheezing, lethargy, or disinterest in food, I would recommend a vet check to rule out an upper respiratory infection that may require antibiotics for both rats, as it is usually contagious. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! :)

Poor Rick! The staining you are describing is porphyrin, which is a normal discharge that gets groomed off. However, when rats are not feeling well it can be produced in larger amounts and lack of grooming causes it to accumulate. If Rick is having trouble breathing, he should be seen by his vet immediately as he may need oxygen supplementation. To keep him comfortable, you can moisten his food slightly or provide a gel diet which is easier to eat.

The red tears are due to the secretion of porphyrins. This typically happens during times of stress or illness. If your rat has bloody urine, you should have her examined by your veterinarian to diagnose a UTI or a more serious condition such as a bladder tumor.

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.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is a good sign that Oliver’s red discharge has stopped. This is a substance known as porphyrin, which rats make normally in a small gland behind their eye. It is normally groomed off, but you may notice it if your rat is grooming less than usual because he doesn’t feel well. The fact that the discharge is now gone, is likely because Oliver has started grooming. Unfortunately, rats can have many bacterial infections that can cause them to sneeze and may take some time to treat. I recommend continuing the antibiotics for as long as directed by your vet, even if the symptoms decrease.

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!