Can bruxing/eyebulging ever be bad?

[Ali]

I've only ever seen Badger doing the bruxing/eyebulging thing once, and that was the other night as we left the vet's office. I know that it can be a sign of being a bit stressed (or relieved??!!) as well as being happy. He doesn't brux with me yet.

I've just gone into the bedroom where the boys are on playtime - Badger has found his old igloo on top of the chair (the igloo is currently banned in the cage due to bad aeration whilst we're treating their sneezing with baytril) and is curled up in it, half asleep, doing a lot of bruxing and eyebulging all on his own!

I'm hoping he's just happy to have found his igloo, but as a totally paranoid mother I'm now worried that it's because he's stressing from the infection or something (he doesn't seem any worse than usual).

Am I just worrying too much?!

[Suebee]

I'm thinking that at the vet's, it was stress, but now it's relief.  

Most of the time, like cat purring, it's positive.

[kmw]

Yes, sometimes.  So, to add to your paranoia, rats in extreme distress or pain will brux.

However, Badger sure doesn't sound like he's at Death's door  I've seen my boys doing it whenever.  Sitting in a hidey box, on top of the sofa, cuddling on my neck, running amuck in the bathroom during playtime.  I think in some cases it's almost like thumb sucking in humans - a soothing/comforting mechanism, rather than one of pure joy or sheer distress.

[Ali]

Thanks guys! He's out and about again now (chewing up a magazine, to be precise) and looking very chipper!

Yep, I think he was just thinking 'you tried to take it away, you mad human, but you can't get one over on a rat'.

And who can blame him!

Thanks for the reassurance.

[Paul]

Glad you asked that one Ali because it has often had Aileen and me concerned.
I hope KMW's explanation is close to how it is - but it does get you worried when a sick rattie is crunching on their own.

Paul