Rat In My Pigs Run!

squeakypigs01 · Oct 20, 2016

Hiya, I have literally just seen what looked like a rat run in and then out of my guinea pigs run

It was quite thin and brown with a long tail and seemed to fit through the bars, go into the hidey that the pigs were in and thed run out and into the fower bed. Are they dangerous to pigs and should we now put them away?

piggieminder · Oct 20, 2016

Unfortunately rats have been known to attack piggies, it will be after their food. If they were mine I would put them away somewhere rat proof now it's found an easy source of food it will be back (I assume they have food in their run). Rats also carry a nasty disease called weil's, I know it can be passed to humans and dogs, not sure about piggies, hopefully someone better qualified than me will be along soon.

Pawz · Oct 20, 2016

Wild rats can be a walking encyclopedia of bacteria so the bites will almost certainly become infected, they can also be very aggressive towards pets. I would definitely try and rat proof the run as you don't want your piggies getting a nip from one of those. Sounds like the one you saw was quite young still, but even when they get VERY large (trust me I've seen some freakishly big ones) don't underestimate their contortionist skills.

As for diseases they can pass onto piggies, I do not know for certain. I am more familiar with what they can transfer to humans.

Pet rats of course don't carry such a high risk due to the domesticated rat having its long breeding roots in many generations of lab rats, just clarifying so no one paints them with the same stick

Although neither should be socializing with other pets.

Mother Hubbard · Oct 20, 2016

Crikey, I didn't know that much about Rats. Hope you can secure your piggies safely.

eileen · Oct 21, 2016

I

with the comments above.I'm very sorry you have rats,maybe a professional person may need to take a look if problem persists.Can your run be placed in shed/garage/outbuilding to provide a secure enviroment?just a thought. :hmm:

squeakypigs01 · Oct 24, 2016

Thanks for all the replies! I haven't seen the rat since and have moved the run away from the flower bed where it was. Is there any way of making the run TEMPORARILY rat proof (we are borrowing the run so don't want to damage it in any way) or keping the rat(s) away as I can't put the run inside?

Wigwig · Oct 24, 2016

Rats can carry Rat Bite Fever, which guinea pigs can also carry (does not affect them) BUT if they have it and bite you, then its a very nasty disease.

Pawz · Oct 29, 2016

Mother Hubbard said:
Crikey, I didn't know that much about Rats. Hope you can secure your piggies safely.

I find one of the most fascinating facts is the construction of the rib cage, which is basically hinged in it's attachment allowing them to collapse it down in to small proportions. Basically anything they can get their head thru the rest of the body can follow... don't believe me check here

And don't all go freaking out about your toilets now!