How Do Rats Use Their Lips?
WouterRats can use their lips, but not in the way you might think. They use their mouths to eat and to explore their surroundings. Rats don’t have canines, which are conical points on the end of their teeth. Instead, they have premolars (grinding teeth) behind their canines and molars (tooth-shaped teeth) in front of them. This leaves a long space in their mouth called a diastema.
Rats are born with an undeveloped nervous system and are often uncoordinated. When they are three weeks old, they begin to get better coordination. This is because their nervous system is still developing. If you’ve ever seen an infant rat sucking a feeding tube, you know how hard it is to get it in its mouth.
Rats’ skin is often infected by Staphylococcus bacteria. These bacteria live on rat’s skin and can spread to other areas of the body if scratched or bitten. If you think you have a rat with this infection, it’s important to get it diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible. If your rat doesn’t respond to treatment for more than five days, you should consult with your veterinarian. Depending on the severity of the infection, alternative antimicrobials may be prescribed to reduce the risk of bacterial resistance in your rat. Some of the recommended antimicrobials include azithromycin and tylosin. However, these drugs shouldn’t be given to pregnant or nursing rats.
Rats use their lips to groom themselves and explore their environment. However, while licking their mouths is a common sign of affection and startling, it is rare to get bitten by rats. Most rat bites don’t come from an injury, but if you accidentally get bitten by a rat, it’s best to avoid touching it if possible.
