Stroke in a rat: symptoms and treatment

Domestic rats become especially prone to developing various diseases when they approach the turn of two years. A stroke in a rat is a consequence of a violation of the blood circulation of the brain. Narrowing and clogging of one or more vessels, their rupture – leads to oxygen starvation of brain cells, which in turn leads to damage to its areas. The consequences can be very severe, even fatal.

Stroke symptoms in rats

In violation of blood circulation, damage to brain tissue can be both minor and severe. This depends on the severity of the symptoms. Usually, the signs of a stroke appear quite sharply, a number of changes are observed in the behavior of the animal:

• depression or aggression, anxiety;
• blurred vision, blood is visible on the eyeballs;
• deterioration in coordination of movements, disorientation in space;
• uneven, heavy or frequent breathing;
• muscles spasms, hind legs are taken away.

Sometimes a domestic rat, after being hit, cannot walk straight, falls and falls on its side. Usually, the subsequent development of the disease causes paralysis of half or the entire body, then the animal falls into a coma and dies.

Despite the fact that the pet looks very bad after the attack, it can still be helped if you consult a doctor without delay.

IMPORTANT: Symptoms of some conditions and neurological diseases coincide with the signs of a stroke (severe dehydration, head trauma, infection with encephalitis). An examination by a veterinarian will help to identify the real cause of the pet’s condition.

Causes of a stroke

There are many reasons for the disease – usually it is a genetic tendency, age-related changes (most rats live no more than two years). Already existing diseases of blood vessels, heart, kidneys have a noticeable effect. Improper nutrition, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle also puts the animal at risk. The cause may be the development of a tumor that causes compression of the vessels of the brain.

Doctors distinguish two types of cerebral circulation disorders:

• ischemic – develops against the background of blockage of blood vessels, oxygen starvation and death of brain cells;
• hemorrhagic – a consequence of hemorrhage in the brain tissue, in this case, the blood puts pressure on the cells, leading to their death.

In order to prescribe the correct treatment, it is necessary to know what type of stroke the ornamental rat has experienced. This can only be done through an examination in the veterinarian’s office.

Therapies

Medicines prescribed by a doctor will help normalize all the processes in the body of a rat and survive the consequences of a blow with the least consequences. At home, it will be necessary to carry out medical procedures and perform the following steps:

1. If the animal moves independently, provide easy access to bowls, drinkers. Remove all shelves, ladders so that the rat does not accidentally fall.
2. Make sure that the bedding is soft, otherwise it will be difficult for a weakened pet to move around.
3. If the animal is paralyzed, it must be turned over regularly so that irritation and sores on the skin do not form.
4. Make sure the rat doesn’t get dehydrated.
5. Do a light massage daily to prevent muscle atrophy.
6. Determine and maintain a comfortable temperature in the cage so that the immobilized animal does not get overheated or hypothermic.
7. Monitor the cleanliness of the litter, the hygiene of the animal, to avoid infections.

Remember that you can treat a rat that has had a stroke only under the supervision of a doctor. If you start a course of medications in the early stages of the development of the disease and provide the animal with proper care, it is highly likely that he will successfully recover from the blow and return to a full life.