Acute pain and stress are often associated with jumping, freezing, squeaking, biting, escape behaviour, and sunken sides (in case of abdominal painPain The negative sensory or emotional experience that indicates awareness in the animal of injury or the threat of injury to the body. This negative experience induces changes in an animal’s behavior and physiology, intended to limit the effect of, or avoid the injury, to reduce the chances of repeated injury and to promote recovery.).

Rats seldom vomit. They are able to passively cast up or regurgitate food. When a rat is ‘nauseated’, it may repeatedly lift its head in a motion resembling gagging. They can also display pica-behaviour, which is defined as eating bedding material or other strange, non-food objects.

When rats experience pain, they communicate by squeaking, whistling and screeching, and by producing ultrasound.