Goosemoose Pet Portal

He's in perfect health otherwise, but he has really bad breath.   Any idea what could be causing this?  (I've only had him a few days, and there's a possibility it's gotten a bit better since I brought him home, but it's hard to tell, since he's definitely still afflicted with it.)   :-[

I'm not concerned about this for aesthetic reasons.  I was wondering if it could signal an infection, etc.  (He also makes rather odd little chirping sounds when excited.)

Some rats practice copophragy (sp?) where they will eat their poop. This is normal albeit gross. They get minerals and what not back from it. One of my rats did it and looking back it was because she wasn't getting a good diet (back when I knew nothing about rat care) and she was no doubt making up for it by ingesting her poo!

I'm not saying this is what is causing his bad breath, it's only a thought. With humans, halitosis can signal some very serious underlying problems like diabetes, liver problems, and different endocrine and metabolic disorders. My husband has sinus problems and it can cause very icky breath at times :confused:. Stomach problems, heartburn, ect. can cause it also. However, I've never smelled bad breath on any of my rats (poop eaters or not)

I really have no idea what could be causing it, do research and when in doubt...bring him to a vet if it continues.

As for the chirping noises when he gets excited, my first rat did that when I'd put her on her back and tickle her tummy. I swore to people she was laughing. Just remember that certain noises can signal resp. problems.

Best wishes

If it smells bad, like an infection, I'd suspect a sinus infection. Halitosis (the scientific name for bad breath) is one of the key symptoms of chronic sinus infections in humans, so I don't see why it wouldn't also hold true for rats. Corprophragy could be another cause, as Rascal noted.

The chirping noises could be an indicator of a respiratory problem, especially when he's excited. That's when his oxygen demands go up, so he might be more prone to making noises then. A visit to the vet to rule out any health concerns is always a good idea with a new rat. It also helps establish a baseline of health for that rat.