If you provide the correct care, diet, environment, exercise and attention to your rat it will normally stay fit and healthy, and will be bright, alert and eating and drinking normally.

Any change in normal behavior may indicate an underlying problem. Watch out for:

• eating or drinking more or less than normal
• restless or lethargic or a crouched, huddled appearance
• coat that looks dull or is soiled or itchy
• discharge from the eyes, ears or nose
• soiling around the vent with urine or feces
• feces abnormal in color, texture or amount
• more or less urine being produced or unusual in color
• offensive odor from the ears, mouth or vent
• difficulty in eating, drinking or moving
• difficulty in breathing or raspy noises from the chest

Common illnesses
Rats do not often get ill but, because of their size, if they do get ill, they can deteriorate very quickly. If your rat looks ill you should take him to the vet as soon as possible.

Diarrhea
Overfeeding with green food is the most common cause of diarrhea. If your rat has diarrhea, stop feeding green food immediately and allow it only to eat its Reggie Rat mix. If the diarrhea persists, you should take your rat to the vet.

Constipation
Conversely, if there is a lack of droppings in the cage, and your rat is walking with a hunched appearance, it may have constipation. Feeding a small amount of green vegetables may relieve your rat but, if there is no improvement, he should be taken to the vet.

Colds
Rats can catch colds from humans, so if you have a cold you should keep the handling of your rat to a minimum. Your rat will have a runny nose and sneeze if he has a cold, and should be kept in a warm room. Sneezing can also be indicative of an allergy. Take him to the vet if you have any concerns.

Overgrown Teeth
Rats teeth continue to grow throughout their life. Rats need to gnaw to keep their teeth trim. If there is a chipped tooth, or their teeth do not meet properly, this may cause overgrown teeth and they must be trimmed by your vet.

Overgrown Nails
Nails can also become overgrown and should be trimmed by a vet to ensure your rat is comfortable.

Flystrike
Flies could be attracted to rat droppings, either in the cage or around the rear end of the rat. Fly eggs will hatch into maggots and will initially feed on the droppings and may then burrow into the rat and eat its flesh. This will result in discomfort, pain and, often, death. Avoid flystrike by removing droppings regularly from the cage, grooming your rat daily and ensuring good ventilation to the cage as this will prevent flies becoming attracted and then trapped in the cage. Spray the cage with a rat safe disinfectant/deodorant to deter flies and eliminate bacteria. Seek veterinary attention immediately if you suspect flystrike.