Is my baby rat dead? How to confirm if it's sleeping or passed away?

Is he the only baby rat shivering? At 13-14 days of age rats are usually still nursing their mother with litter mates...rats sometimes shiver if they are scared or nervous. If he is nursing well, the same size as his littermates, active and alert when not nursing, I would remove any possible stressors such as loud noises, other pets, being picked up frequently. In addition providing enrichment in the form of cardboard huts or other opaque hiding spaces, as well as food enrichment may help. If he also appears lethargic, dehydrated etc. I would recommend bringing him in to a veterinarian that sees pocket pets/rodents for an exam.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Spook is very unstable and should be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and treatment. It is unclear what is going on and an examination would help determine that. Good luck!

If he’s eating and drinking then keep him in a small cage so he can heal. He should improve over several weeks. The heavy breathing is probably from pain and will get better as he improves. Do not give any medication and I would let him be quiet and rest. With less movement and rest he should get better. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your baby rat.

Thanks for reaching out about Nibbles. We can't determine whether the babies are alive or not. You might have to gently disturb the nest and observe the babies for breathing or moving. Do not touch them unless determined dead, to remove, as humane scent on the babies might cause mother to further neglect. I still not sure, the whole cage can be quietly moved and taken to a veterinary clinic for assessment. Good luck.

At home you probably can't do much for her, she is probably suffering from an infection, it could related to the pregnancy (pyometra), you will have to take her to the vet ASAP in order to get her checked and treated but it's hard for me to tell you what treatment she will need without having some tests done.

Hello there! This little rat does not look very good at all. Unfortunately, there are many different diseases that outdoor rats can have - some that are zoonotic (this means transmissable to humans and other animals, so be sure to wash well after handling him) - and without a complete workup by a vet, it's not likely that he's going to survive the next couple of days. Even if you do bring him to the vet, there might not be much that can be done for him at this point. He is thin, he has a hunched body posture (an indicator of pain and severe stress), and his sunken, squinted eyes indicate dehydration. The respiratory symptoms you mentioned are very common in wild rat species, and are usually fatal. I highly suggest that you contact a veterinarian and consider humane euthanasia for this guy. You could also try to call a wildlife rehabber, but only if you can get in touch with one that will take the rat immediately. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks like you've done everything you can at home. If you can't get him to the vet right away, keep him warm and quiet. His little container looks quite comfy, but he needs professional care. Thank you for taking him in, and good luck.

He might be suffering from a severe respiratory infection, which is the most common medical condition in rats. you need to take him to the vet urgently in order to get treated, he will need antibiotics and medications to help him breath.