Rat
Rescue :: Rat
Article
Rats Get Heatstroke Too
It’s well known that dogs should not be left in cars on hot
days as they can die from the heat, but it’s less well known
that rats are very prone to heat stroke. Every year pet rats
are killed by the heat and last year was no exception.
Rats can only regulate their temperature in a very limited
way, in that their only method of losing heat is through their
tails and paw pads. Their only other option to stop themselves
overheating, is to get somewhere cooler and if they’re confined
to a cage or travel carrier they can’t do this.
I was caught in a tricky situation last summer when a 10 minute
car journey to the vets with a rat, turned into three quarters
of an hour in a traffic jam. Luckily the car had air conditioning
so I could keep the rat cool. Without air conditioning cars
can become ovens even with the windows open. I really feel that
if the temperatures are forecast to go up, rats should be left
in the cool at home unless the trip is essential, such as getting
them to the vet.
Of course car journeys aren’t the only time rats can overheat.
Any rat left in full sun or a hot place even for only a short
time is at risk of heat stroke. They can overheat and die incredibly
quickly. Rats in glass tanks are at even higher risk, as are
rats kept in sheds which can get stiflingly hot even at night.
Another place where it can get unbearably hot is tents at agricultural
shows where sometimes classes for rat shows are held.
The temperature at which a rats starts to overheat varies.
Humid conditions increase the risk. A rat with respiratory problems
or which is overweight will succumb to heatstroke sooner.
Early symptoms of heat stroke are variable but one sure sign
is a warm or even hot tail. Rat’s tails should be cool to the
touch. The rat may also be lethargic and depressed. Their breathing
will be far more noticeable as unlike dogs, rats can’t pant
to help cool themselves down. They may drool saliva from their
mouths. In under half an hour a rat can have passed into a coma
and died.
Obviously a rat with heat stroke needs to get to a vet fast.
First aid measures should aim to bring the rats temperature
down. It’s sometimes suggested to submerge the rat in cool water
up to it’s neck. However the rat can die of shock or become
very stressed by this so you’re better to sponge cold water
over the rat particularly where main blood vessels come close
to the skin; round the rats neck, it’s limbs and put the tail
in cold water. The rat will be very dehydrated, so encourage
it to drink and give electrolytes such as ‘Dioralyte’ or add
pinches of sugar/salt to the water.
Clearly it’s far better to prevent the rat getting heat stroke
in the first place. So do keep a close eye on your rats and
the weather forecast this summer, put their cages in the coolest
place and consider providing fans if necessary.
Finally do speak up if you see an animal left in the heat.
You may save it’s life. Last summer one local pet shop had rats
and mice in glass tanks with a strip light in the roof of each
tank. The rats were so hot they had draped themselves over their
water bottle. Some of the mice looked very ill indeed. I and
several other customers couldn’t persuade the shop to at least
switch the strip lights off. I came home and rang the RSPCA,
who said they’d send an inspector round. By the next day the
strip lights were off and one glass panel of each tank had been
replaced by mesh.
So let’s try and make it a cool summer for us and our rats.
Web sites giving information on heat stroke include:
www.ratfanclub.org/cool.html
www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/health/ni4.php
Author: Sally Clark 2005
