Can Rats Choke to Death?

Choking is not terribly common with rats. In fact, due to the arrangement of the rat's throat, true choking is rare, but it does occasionally happen and can be an extremely harrowing experience for the rat owner, not to mention the rat.

Can a rat choke?

Because of the arrangement of the rat's throat, true choking is rare. If your rat appears to be choking the most likely cause is a piece of food or other substance stuck in her throat. This can cause gagging and drooling. A rat who is gagging will open her mouth wide and pull her ears back.

What does a choking rat look like?

So when a rat chokes (often times on something like bread or peanut butter) the main things you will see is a gagging action where they bring their chin down toward their throat and flatten their ears. They can also produce a lot of drool. Their chin can get wet, and they may wipe their mouth on surfaces as well.