Facts About Rats and Their Bones
WouterRats can break their bones, but this usually does not cause significant pain to the animal. A fracture can occur as a result of trauma, disease, or indirect leverage on a bone. Common causes of fractures in rats include household accidents, falling from heights, limbs caught in wire exercise wheels, or improperly sized cage flooring. Fractures below the knee are most common and are often the result of accidents where the limb becomes caught in the cage wire. Fractures at this location are often easily cured with pins, and they rarely require surgery.
A common misconception about rats is that they do not have bones. While this myth does come from the fact that rats are capable of squeezing themselves into tiny spaces, the truth is that rats have a complete skeletal system. In fact, X-rays of rats show a rib cage and spine, leg bones, and tiny digits on their feet.
Rats have a highly sensitive sense of smell. They use this sense to detect the presence of toxins in their food, which means that they can detect poison even in small quantities. In addition, rats have very sensitive taste buds. To avoid getting sick, they will eat very small portions of unfamiliar food. Unlike humans, rats also prefer not to wash their faces.
Rats are also adept at climbing walls, which is why they can climb walls and squeeze through small holes. Rats can use any surface as leverage, and can climb as high as fifty feet.
