Although it looks like blood, don’t worry–it’s just tears. It’s called porphyrin. Rats have a large glad behind their eyes that produce it, and because the eyes are connected to the nose, you’ll often find it caked around their eyes and nose. Many first-time rat owners see this are concerned that their rat has a bloody nose.
Why does it happen? Porphyrin may show up when a rat is stressed, but it’s also a sign of a respiratory infection. You might want to get your rat checked out by a vet, especially if she’s sneezing or showing any other signs of a respiratory infection.
For more scientific information about porphyrin, check out the links page under “health problems.”
i have onlt had my little 5 month old rat, willow, for 3 days and she has been sneezing all the time i’ve had her. Once when she sneezed there was a little blood spekkle on her bedding! OH NO! she is the first rat any of my family has owned, so none of us know what to expect. Should i take her to the vet?
Hey vivien,
my rat hugs had the same problem he was sneezing red stuff It’s not blood I took hugs to the vet its not blood your rat is just getting used to its surroundings!
my rat has been havin bloody stuff round his nose and he is also most of the time snezzing but if ti is an respiratory infection i thnk it might be from when my couzin had him becuz he didnt look after him and the other 3 rats they were in a very dirty cage that basicly never got cleaned and my rats mum and sisters died od dehidration ithnk cuz my cuzin never put water in their cage and i was thinking mabey that is why he has been snezzing if you have any more info can you please email me at tic-tac_2@hotmail.com