How to Treat Ear Infections in Rats

If your rat is tilting its head or circling around in its cage, it could have an inner ear infection. Fortunately, ear infections are treatable and the rats usually recover very well.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cotton balls or facial tissues
• One pint warm water
• One teaspoon salt
• Any medications your vet prescribes

1. Determine if your rat has an ear infection. Look for these symptoms: tilting of the head, poor balance, circling around, scratching at one or both ears, rubbing the head against the floor, or drainage coming from the ear. If your rat has one or more of these symptoms, it needs to go to the vet for treatment.

2. Take the rat to the vet. The vet will use an otoscope to examine the inner ear, looking for signs of infection. The vet will prescribe one or more of the following: an ear wash, topical medication (such as ear drops or ointments) or an oral medication (an antibiotic or a steroid, or both).

3. Clean the inside of the ear if the vet instructs you to do so. Don't use cotton swabs because you could damage the eardrum if you go in too deeply. Use a facial tissue or a cotton ball rolled into a makeshift pointed swab. Use any washes the vet prescribes. If the vet does not prescribe a wash, you can make your own saline solution using a teaspoon of salt in a pint of warm water.

4. Apply any topical medications the vet prescribes, either drops or ointments. These medications should come with instructions for application.

5. Administer any oral medications the vet may prescribe. Your rat might be given antibiotics or steroids, or both. Follow the instructions that come with the medications and make sure to give the full course, not just the first day or two. The vet will supply you with the syringes you need to administer the medicine.

6. Check for symptoms to clear up. If they do not, take the rat back to the vet again--perhaps it needs a different medicine. The infection could be fungal instead of bacterial, in which case antibiotics will not work.

7. Don't be alarmed if your rat's head tilt remains even after the ear infection is cured. The head tilt usually goes away, but some rats have been known to keep the tilt for the rest of their lives. These rats don't seem to be bothered at all by the tilt and they live out normal, happy lives.

Tips & Warnings

• Always give the full course of antibiotics-- don't stop just because your rat looks better. It is important to continue the medication for the full number of days, or the infection could return.
• If your rat won't hold still to have its ear cleaned, wrap the rat in a towel so that just its head is sticking out. You might also want to get someone to help you by holding the rat while you do the cleaning and medicating.

Resources

• Additional information about ear infections in rats