Sudden death in rats

Question
I had a black fancy rat that I bought from a pet shop in 2006. She died last night, her death was very sudden and quite a shock. Before she died she became lethargic and started wheezing. I had been holding her the night before she died and she seemed fine; she was full of energy as usual. When I went to clean her cage last night, I noticed her strange behavior. When I picked her up, I noticed the red mucus around her nose and eyes, I was told this was normal but I knew that the wheezing and lack of movement was not. She was always so energetic! I began to get worried so I held her and did some research on the Internet. I didn't find anything definitive though. After about 10 minutes I checked on her again and she was lying on her side and her breathing was worse, it looked like she was hiccuping, but I don't think that is what it was, it's just what it looked like. I picked her up and within two minutes she was gone. I didn't even have time to take her to the vet or do anything for her. Any ideas on what happened?

Answer
Hi Crystal


I am really sorry this happened. I can totally relate as this has happened to my rats several times over the years too. Its heartbreaking especially when you least expect it.

Unfortunately, this happens and its caused by several factors. What your describing sounds like a pulmonary embolism since it involved her lungs. Pneumonia caused by strep bacteria often  is acute, claiming the rats life within 8 to 12 hours of onset, often not allowing enough time for the owner to get the rat to the vet. Even with aggressive treatment, strep pneumonia is very dangerous and has a high mortality rate.

Sometimes sudden death is cardiac related, other times it is from a brain aneurysm.

Has your rat had any past illnesses you can tell me about?

As for the red mucus, it is NOT normal to see amounts around the nose and eyes both especially when this is something she doesnt usually have.  Some rats have traces around the nose after sleeping but if it comes on suddenly, it indicates stress due to illness.

I remember a few years back, I had an awesome rat named Peanut. He is the one I am holding in the photo of me on my profile. He was the best little boy and so sweet and loving. He was just about 15 months old.
One day he was out playing with me and it was time to put him back in his cage. I kissed him goodnight, gave him a yogi drop and off he scooted in his cage.  A bit later I heard this really strange noise coming from his cage and by the time I turned around, my favorite rat was dead. Eyes open, tongue out, mouth open.  Needless to say, I just lost it for a few hours and walked around with him in my arms with him wrapped in a blanket. I refused to put him down and in the box because I knew I would never touch him again once I put him down.
Necropsy results confirmed what I already had thought: heart attack.
This is just one in a few other heart breaking stories that sometimes makes me wonder why I own rats, with their short life span and sometimes devastating diseases that lead to their premature deaths.
But here I am, working on a semi-professional basis with other peoples rats in clinics as well as helping people on the internet plus dealing with my own.  I feel for each and every person that writes to me about the loss of their rat so when I say I am truly sorry for your loss, I really mean it. Every rat is special and each pet rat that passes has a special place in their owners hearts forever.