How to Measure a Rat's Breathing Rate

Most people don't want rats in their attic, but domesticated pet rats are quite tame and are popular house pets. They are social creatures and prefer to live with at least one other of their own kind. Rats are easy to care for and don't require vaccinations, according to Dr. Sharman Hoppes, a veterinarian at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. Although rats are relatively healthy, one way to check your rat's well-being is to measure its breathing rate.

Things You'll Need

  • Stopwatch
  • Calculator
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Instructions

    • 1

      Position the rat so you can look down on it. If needed, use a piece of food to keep the rat busy but relatively still.

    • 2

      Watch the rat's ribcage expand and contract. You will be counting the number of times the ribcage expands to its full capacity.

    • 3

      Start the stopwatch. Count each time you see the ribcage expand. Stop counting after 15 seconds have elapsed.

    • 4

      Multiply the number you counted by 4 to calculate the number of breaths per minute.