My rat has a heart murmur. What's her lifespan & how can I help?

Hello. Unfortunately, rats are very prone to cancer. If there is already a tumor on her body, there is also a very good possibility that there has been metastasis to the intestines. If you can have her seen by a veterinarian, this would be best, otherwise keep her as warm & comfortable as possible. Feed her whatever she will eat, but if the bleeding does not stop soon, she may not survive long. I hope you can have her seen. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for using PetCoach to address your concern. Heart murmurs do not always progress to heart failure and do not necessarily mean that life expectancy is shortened. There was a trial recently done in multiple countries called the Epic Trial ( www.epictrial.com ). If x-rays have not been done for Toby (of his heart), I would recommend doing so to help establish where he is at in regards to the size of his heart. My dog, that lived until 20 years of age, had a heart murmur from the time he turned 9 years old. For 11 years he had a heart murmur that became louder and louder. He never went into heart failure and he lived a very long and happy life. Just because a dog has a heart murmur does not mean he / she will have a shortened life or go into heart failure. I hope this helps ease your mind. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Based on what you are describing it does sound as if Lucy is very ill. I would recommend either having her rechecked at your veterinarian or asking for a referral to an exotic capitalistic that can perform more specialized tests on small mammals like blood work, x-rays, and ultrasounds. Based on the age of your rat she may have something more serious going on like an internal infection or cancer. In the meantime, try to encourage Lucy to eat as best you can by offering her her favorite foods and/or syringe feeding her some baby food. I'm sorry to hear that she is not doing well and I hope your vet can help you find answers. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hello. Unfortunately, tumors are very common in rats, especially as they age. Were the tumors sent for histopathology to see if they are benign or malignant? If malignant, then it may be time to just make her as comfortable as possible until her time. Benign tumors will not kill her, but you probably know they can get quite large. Either way, Yuki will continue to form tumors. This is just what usually happens with rats. I am sorry. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for reaching out about Rita. A common respiratory disease in rats is mycoplasmosis, a bacteria-like organism that causes chronic upper and lower respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, sneezing and congestion. Antibiotics can improve condition but might not cure. A veterinary visit is recommended. 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.

I'm sorry Lorenzo has a tumor. Unfortunately, rats in general, especially older rats, have a predisposition to developing tumors both benign and malignant. His prognosis depends on the type of tumor as well as its location. To determine either, he would need to be physically examined by your veterinarian and have diagnostics performed. This could include blood work, x-rays, abdominal ultrasound or a fine needle aspirate of the mass. Once you have this information, you can discuss all options with your vet. Good luck!