Conjuctivitis?

[devaney]

Last night I noticed that one of my rats Tina had some brownish/red goop around one of her eyes--sort of looking like blood. She also wouldn't open the eye all the way. She had been fine the previous night. From what I've heard this might be conjuctivitis and is serious! Her roommate looked to be okay. I seperated Tina though and put her in a freshly cleaned cage and this morning the ring was still around her eye but she was able to open the eye up almost all the way. Her nose wasn't runny or anything and her breathing seems normal. Upon further inspection, I noticed another one of my rats Raz who had been in the cage beside hers was having a problem with one of his eyes and would not open it all the way but he didn't have any ring around it.

I'm not sure what to do. Especially since I believe Tina to be around 1 1/2 weeks to 2 weeks pregnant! I've read that you're supposed to keep their cages extremely clean and that it might have been caused by the soap I use to clean out their cage. I'm afraid to use anything now and I'm worried I will have to take her to the vet and it will be incredibly costly!

Can anyone give me advice about what I should do and what is wrong with my rats!! Thanks!

[Marybelle]

The reddish goop you're seeing is called porphyrin.  Rats secrete it in their mucous.  It's usually a sign of illness, or stress.  What are you using for bedding?  If it's terribly dusty, it may be irritating their eyes.  It is possible that if you're using soap to clean the cage, that may cause some irritation as well.  I recommend using vinegar, and following it with peroxide.  You can spray on and wipe off, and the cage is clean, without any chemical residue, and without any strongly scented cleaners.