Mouth breathing?

[Pauley]

Can/do rats breathe through their mouths? I have seen some gasp for air before, but I don't know if it is a normal (non distressed) behaviour.

 

[jorats]

No, they do not breathe through their mouth. But they will open their mouth is they are scared, worried or having some respiratory issues.

 

[Pauley]

Mrs. Paul (Charla) asked me this, I didn't know the answer. Now I just thought about yawning. You ladies are making my pretty little head hurt. :?

So I guess not normally, but under stress?

 

[user 78]

Rat's won't breathe through their mouths unless something is wrong. Resp. distress is the number one reason. Choking, overly stressed [which can cause resp distress], etc.. In the average day to day life, no open mouthed breathing and definitely can be a stressed behavior.