So there’s no need to panic – although taking a few extra precautions is probably a good idea. And most of the studies available do suggest that the risk of becoming ill for healthy people is no higher than if you owned a dog or a cat, and probably lower. Certainly, you’re less likely to catch an illness from a rat than from another person. Well, the bottom line is that we don’t have much research on the topic. – Not introducing new rats until your know their health and disease status and have had them examined by a veterinary surgeon, in some cases a quarantine period is advisable How likely am I to get ill? A negative test however doesn’t mean your pet cannot catch this disease in the future. If you already have a pet rat and are worried that your rat may have diseases that could be harmful to you or your family, your vet can run a number of tests, often on blood and urine samples, to check for these diseases to give you peace of mind. So it is an important factor to discuss with your veterinary surgeon. While some pet rat breeders will routinely do health checks on their rats, others may not. It is advisable to talk to your veterinary surgeon before you get a pet rat as they can discuss with you where you are getting the rat from and help you decide if you need to do any tests to check for diseases. Your pet rat should be registered with a veterinary surgeon experienced with dealing with pet rodents. So it is important if you feel unwell at all that you consult your doctor and advise them that you keep pet rats so they can take appropriate action. You should always assume pet rodents are carrying disease until proven otherwise. Read more about diseases you can catch from pet rats here How do I know if my pet rat has any diseases? But severe illness from meningitis is also possible and pregnant women are at particular risk due to the risk of harm to the unborn infant. It often causes a flu-like illness in people. It can be passed to humans through contact with infected saliva, faeces, and urine. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a virus that can cause meningitis. In people, the infection can cause symptoms including a fever, muscle pain, headaches, and nausea. It can be transmitted from a scratch or bite, or through the urine.
This is caused by a bacteria carried by rats.
While serious disease is rare, some studies suggest that 34% of pet rat owners will test positive for previous hantavirus infection. Disease in people can range from no symptoms/mild illness to kidney problems, headaches, upset stomachs, and in severe cases bleeding from internal organs and the skin. HantavirusĪ group of viruses that can be passed on by inhaling particles from bedding, urine, faeces, or contact with rat saliva. It can cause mild illness or serious liver and kidney problems in people, a syndrome known as Weil’s disease. LeptospirosisĪ bacteria found in the urine and other tissues. Other diseases can also be transmitted but this list covers the key concerns. It is important to note that rats can carry a number of diseases and this list is not exhaustive. What diseases could my pet rat carry that may be harmful to people? The risk of catching a disease from a pet rat is much lower than the risk of catching disease from wild rodents. So it is important to know the health status of any new rats before introducing them to your current pets. Pet rats can also catch diseases from each other. Pet rats can catch diseases from wild rodents and then transmit these diseases to their owners. Therefore are capable of transmitting the same diseases as wild rats. Yes, pet rats have the same anatomy and physiology as wild rats. My rat is a pet and not wild, is it still a risk? Which can all potentially cause disease in people and some of which can be fatal.
Rodents are able to transmit a number of viruses, bacteria, and parasites to humans.
Including the bubonic plague, also known as the black death. Historically rats have been implicated in spreading some of the most talked-about diseases in history.
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