Rat emergency guidance: contact a vet now

Call a vet now: A rat that is struggling to breathe, has collapsed or is severely weak, is in severe pain, is bleeding heavily or continuously, may have been poisoned, is choking, is having a seizure or has suffered a serious injury needs urgent veterinary help. Contact your vet or an emergency vet service and follow the instructions they give for your rat.

This guide helps you arrange urgent veterinary help. It cannot diagnose an emergency or replace veterinary instructions.

What to do while you call

  1. Say which rat is affected, what you saw and when it started.
  2. Move the rat away from an immediate hazard if you can do so safely.
  3. Keep the rat calm and safely contained.
  4. If poisoning is possible, keep the packaging, plant or substance and take it with you only if this can be done safely.
  5. Do not give a home remedy or medicine, force food or water, or attempt a procedure unless a vet instructs you to do so.

Do not delay the call while trying to treat the problem at home.

Events that need an immediate call

Breathing difficulty

Struggling to breathe or breathing that is very unusual is an emergency. Call now, keep your rat safely contained and follow the practice’s instructions.

Collapse or severe weakness

Collapse, severe weakness or a rat that is not responding normally needs urgent veterinary help. Tell the practice what changed and when.

Possible heatstroke

If your rat may be overheated and is unusually weak, collapsed or breathing abnormally, move it to a cool, shaded place while you phone the vet immediately. Do not delay the call while trying to cool the rat at home.

Heavy or ongoing bleeding

Heavy bleeding or bleeding that does not stop needs urgent veterinary advice. Keep the rat calm and contained, and ask the vet what to do next. Do not apply a home product or attempt a procedure unless instructed.

Seizures

A seizure or repeated seizures needs an immediate call. Keep the surroundings as safe and quiet as you can, and follow the vet’s instructions rather than trying a home treatment.

Suspected poisoning

Move the rat away from the source if safe, contact your vet immediately and keep the packaging, plant or substance if you can do so safely. The RSPCA poisoning guidance says never to treat or medicate a rodent yourself and says to seek veterinary help immediately.

Choking

If you think your rat is choking, call an emergency vet service now. Do not attempt a manoeuvre or give anything by mouth unless the vet instructs you to do so.

Serious injury or a fall

After a serious injury or fall, call the vet and describe what happened and when. Keep the rat safely contained for transport. Do not try to straighten, splint or otherwise treat an injury at home unless directed.

Prepare for transport

Follow the practice’s transport instructions. Use a suitable secure carrier with familiar bedding, clean nesting material and a hiding place if possible. Keep the carrier stable and protect the rat from bright light, noise, vibration, heat and cold. Cover the carrier if that helps keep it calm, while keeping it ventilated and out of draughts, and secure it in the vehicle. If the rat normally lives with a companion, ask the practice whether that companion should travel too. The RSPCA rat health guidance has further transport advice.

What to tell the vet

  • The rat’s name and which rat is affected.
  • What happened, what you saw and when it began.
  • Whether the signs are changing and what the rat was doing at the time.
  • Recent food, medication, environment or cage changes.
  • Relevant health history and current medicines.
  • The packaging, plant or substance if poisoning is possible and it is safe to bring.
  • Anything already done before the call.

Prevent avoidable emergencies

  • Keep houseplants, pesticides, cleaning products, human medicines and other hazards away from cages and supervised exercise areas.
  • Keep cages secure and supervise rats whenever they are outside the cage.
  • Keep the enclosure out of direct sunlight and areas that become very hot or very cold. Provide shade, fresh water and ventilation without a direct draught.
  • Check each rat regularly for changes in breathing, appetite, drinking, movement, grooming, posture, eyes, nose, weight and social behaviour.
  • Arrange routine care with a vet who is comfortable treating rats, and keep the practice’s emergency route easy to find.

The RSPCA rat health guidance, RSPCA poisoning guidance and RSPCA summer guidance cover these prevention points.

Questions people ask

My rat fell. What should I do?

Call the vet, explain what happened and follow the transport instructions you are given.

What are the signs of possible heatstroke?

PDSA lists drooling, low energy, eating less or not eating, short quick breaths, lying stretched out, marked sleepiness, unconsciousness or fits among possible heatstroke signs in small pets. If you are concerned, move your rat to a cool, shaded place and contact a vet immediately. Read the PDSA small-pet summer guidance for the source list.

What if my rat is weak?

No home remedy should replace an emergency call. Do not force food or water or give medicine unless a vet specifically instructs you to do so.

What if poison is possible?

Move away from the source, contact the vet immediately and keep the packaging, plant or substance if safe. Do not try to treat or medicate the rat yourself.

Sources and review note

Reviewed 6 September 2026. This guide helps owners arrange urgent veterinary help. It was checked against the current RSPCA rat health and welfare guidance, RSPCA pet rodent poisoning guidance, RSPCA summer guidance and PDSA small-pet summer guidance.