The tragic death from "rat-bite fever" of a 10-year-old San Diego boy highlights the risk carried by the pet rodents, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rat bites, often accidental, can introduce harmful bacteria. Prompt cleaning with soap and water is crucial to reduce ...

More than 250 pet rats were rescued from an Ohio home last week. On April 11, the Medina County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals rescued 255 pet rats from a “neglectful situation,” ...

In a first, the CDC recently reported an outbreak of a type of hantavirus called Seoul virus among pet rat owners. The first case was in a “patient who owned and operated an in-home rattery,” or ...

Dear Pet Talk: I’m not allowed to have a cat or a dog but my parents will let me have a smaller pet, like a gerbil, hamster, or even a mouse. What do you recommend? Animal Lover Dear Animal Lover: ...

A California girl is recovering after she was diagnosed with rat-bite fever, which doctors believe she contracted from one of her pet rats. Cali, whose last name was not revealed during a press ...

A California girl is recovering after she was diagnosed with rat-bite fever, which doctors believe she contracted from one of her pet rats. Cali, whose last name was not revealed during a press ...

The Medina County SPCA said the rats are not yet up for adoption. Screengrab from Medina County SPCA Facebook post More than 250 pet rats were rescued from an Ohio home last week. On April 11, the ...