Can My rat get the disease tuberculosis?
While it is biologically possible, I very much doubt your rat has contracted tuberculosis. It would have had to be given to him. (Furthermore, if you have ever received vaccinations, the TB would have been first on the list.) Are you sure it’s coming out of his mouth, and not his nose? The blood you’re seeing is very likely not blood at all; it’s probably porphyrin. Porphyrin is a fluid produced by a the Harderian Gland in rats, which dries the color of blood. It can be startling to those who are unfamiliar with rats (or in the unlikely event the person has owned rats before and has never seen it or researched it). Occasional low levels of porphyrin staining are normal, but regular large amounts of porphyrin indicate stress, sickness (mycoplasmic infections), or poor diet. If there is a large amount of the substance, I strongly encourage you to bring your little guy into the vet. He’s two years old, so his health isn’t what it used to be. Rats’ health can dwindle and snuff out *very* q
