Is Dead Rat Smell Harmful To Health? - Project Multi Pest

Contents show 1 What are the signs of a dead rat in my home? 2 Potential health risks from dead rat smell 2.1 Headaches and nausea 2.2 Allergic reactions 2.3 Bacterial contamination 3 How long does dead mouse smell last? 4 How to get rid of dead rodent smells 5 How long does it take for a rat to decompose into a skeleton? 6 Dead rat smell comes and goes 7 Dead rat smell for months 8 Should I call pest control for a dead rat? 9 Why contact Project Multi Pest? 9.1 Can you get sick from a dead rat? 9.2 What do you do when a rat dies in your wall? 9.3 Will vinegar get rid of dead animal smell?

There are few odours worse on this planet than that of a decaying animal. But multiple dead rats, either actively decomposing or even long-removed from a dwelling can give off a particularly foul stench. Dead rat smell can also be potentially harmful to your health. With this in mind, how exactly is a dead rat smell hazardous to your health?

The smell of a dead rat can be harmful to a person’s health due to the toxic gases and microscopic compounds of the dead animal that are constantly being released into the indoor air. Since most homes are not consistently ventilated, the gases permeate into the respiratory tract and can potentially cause illness.

Getting rid of a dead mouse or rat odours can be difficult. This is even true if the decaying rodents have been removed from the home since the site of death and decay can still contain the smell. But with proper cleaning and disposal of any saturated items, the odour can be eliminated.

Read on to find out more about this problem, including wellness risks associated with rodent decay, and discover how our rat control specialists, can help save you from dealing with this disgusting smell.

What are the signs of a dead rat in my home?

If you have a dead rat in your home, you’ll soon know about it. The biggest indicator is the smell of a dead rat, which is a strong, pungent odour that is sometimes described as rotting cabbage or ammonia.

You may also notice:

• The unpleasant smell worsens over time or with heat and humidity
• Rat droppings
• Chewed wires or wood
• More insects than usual around your home or in a certain area
• Visible signs of decay

Potential health risks from dead rat smell

When a rat dies, the decomposing process releases toxic gasses and particles into the air, which can cause illnesses and other health hazards.

Headaches and nausea

A dead rat smell is far from pleasant! It is a strong, foul odour that can seep through wall cavities, floors, and vents. The smell itself can be so strong that it may cause headaches and nausea.

Allergic reactions

If you have asthma or allergies, being exposed to the dead rat may increase symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose, or watery eyes. It’s not necessarily the smell that causes these symptoms to worsen but the rat’s fur and body fluids.

Bacterial contamination

Dead rats can contaminate the air with harmful bacteria and particles that, when breathed in, can make you ill. They carry a number of viruses and diseases, such as leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), hantavirus, and rat-bite fever (RBF). Symptoms vary and can be similar to the flu, so talk to your doctor if you’ve been in contact with a dead rodent and start to feel unwell.

How long does dead mouse smell last?

Humans have a strong sense of smell, which means that odours like decay can linger long after the source of the smell has been removed.

Rats and mice often die in the most inconvenient places. When a dead mouse dies behind a wall, for example, it can be impossible to reach the carcass to remove it.

Since the decaying matter has a putrid smell (like rotting meat but much worse), homeowners either have to live with the smell until it passes or possibly tear into the walls to remove the carcass. This is costly and time-consuming, but it is typically the only way to remove a dead mouse.

If you choose to wait it out, it can take up to 3 weeks to a month for the stinking odour to pass. After this time, the carcass has had enough time to completely dry out, and the rotting process has passed through its most noticeable phase.

A decomposing mouse smells like propane gas or rotting meat. This is a very strong, putrid smell of chemicals released by the decaying body.

These chemicals include sulfur dioxide, methane, and some other compounds. If you had spots in your home where multiple dead rodents died and began to rot, the odour can also last for quite a while if the area has not been cleaned completely.

How to get rid of dead rodent smells

When deciding how to get rid of dead rat odour, you should first investigate where the smells are coming from.

If you currently have or have recently had a rodent infestation, and rodents were frequently dying throughout the home, these smells can be eliminated by thoroughly cleaning the areas with a bleach and water solution to kill any bacteria and diseases the rats have left behind.

It is important to use a chemical as strong as bleach since rat and mouse diseases can easily be spread to humans. Also, it is important to wear rubber gloves when cleaning rat nesting sites or surfaces where rats decomposed.

Properly opening any vents in the home will also go a long way toward ensuring that the dead rat scent dissipates fully. Try to leave oven vents and bathroom vents running throughout the day. Also, consider opening windows and placing a boxed fan against the screen, with the front side blowing outside.

If you happen to find a decomposing rat or mouse carcass, you can remove it with rubber gloves, and keep in mind you may also want to wear a PPE mask so you do not breathe in the decomposing body and associated bacteria or something as dangerous as potentially deadly hantavirus.

If you are currently trying to clean out dead rat odour, then you should consider a full house clearance as a solution for items and furniture that were sites of rat infestation.

Having items removed, such as previously infested furniture or stacks of papers, books, or magazines that may be covered in rat waste, can go a long way to improving your health and eliminating the lingering smell.

For more information on our house clearance services, please contact us for rubbish removal of any shape or size.

How long does it take for a rat to decompose into a skeleton?

With several dead rat carcasses in the wall, your house could smell horrid for two or more weeks. The odour won’t go away entirely until the corpse is mummified or decomposed into a skeleton.

It could take anywhere from 3 to 4 months for a rat to fully decompose into a skeleton. All the flesh has to rot from the body first, and the decomposition process is not quick.

In most environments with high humidity, rats could decompose in a faster process, but you can expect the stench to fill the air inside the room and the winder parts of the house until the skeletal stage is reached. Gross, right?

Dead rat smell comes and goes

If you have a large house, or perhaps if rats have died in the attic, you may notice that the stench comes and goes or rises and falls in intensity.

This all relates to the decomposition process, which takes place the very second after the animal dies. Gases and enzymes immediately start breaking down the organic matter, and there could be environmental factors that are slowing down the process, such as shifts between dry and moist indoor air.

It could also be that rats have died somewhere in the house that you cannot easily access, such as behind walls, and the wall or ceiling is blocking most of the stench, but trace amounts seep through the structures.

Whatever the reason, the most important thing to remember is to put on protective gear if you find the corpse and properly dispose of it. If you are squeamish or would prefer someone else to dispose of the rat or mouse on your behalf, then contact us at Project Multi Pest.

Dead rat smell for months

If you notice the stench for months on end, then you may need us to come and do a thorough inspection of your home to see if you have an infestation.

We will check for hole tunnels along the walls and use bait to draw rats or mice out of their hiding places to confirm an infestation. Our beautiful rat-catching dogs Gracie and Monty will be called in to do the rest.

With infestations, somewhere along the way, you will begin to smell either faeces or decaying corpses. If the scents come and go over the course of months, you cannot ignore this since it likely means you have an active infestation that has to be eliminated completely to save you from facing this issue.

Should I call pest control for a dead rat?

Yes, it’s a good idea to call a professional pest control team like Project Multi Pest if you suspect you have a dead rat in your home. We can remove the deceased rat safely, causing little disturbance to you and your household.

We don’t recommend removing a dead rat yourself as they can have diseases or bacterial infections that could become a health hazard. Plus, it’s not a very enjoyable job! However, if you do choose to do it yourself, make sure to wear the correct protective gear.

Why contact Project Multi Pest?

If you would like advice on rat and mouse-related pest control or removal services, please contact PMP today.

We have some amazing rat-catching dogs who can sniff out rodents and get rid of them without the use of poison. Additionally, we can use strategically placed food sources to lure out any stubborn or deeply hidden rats.

It is important to check for signs of an infestation to ensure you do not have to deal with decaying rats or mouse stench if the animals die in the home. Additionally, our services can help eliminate the smell of a dead rat or a lingering stench from an eradicated rat infestation.

Call us at 0800 1933351, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Frequently asked questions about pest rats

Can you get sick from a dead rat?

Yes, you can potentially become very ill simply from breathing in the air around a dead rat. Just like with rat droppings, which are also dangerous and equally as nasty, it is important that you get a professional pest control company with the correct protective clothing to come and dispose of the decaying corpse on your behalf.

Decaying rat and mouse matter can almost be thought of as poison since the particles and pathogens released into the air can severely affect your respiratory system.

Although this is alarming, it is important to remember that every time we smell something, we are tasting the microscopic particles that emit from the organism, causing the scent. This is why dead rats can potentially make a person sick.

What do you do when a rat dies in your wall?

When rats die in the walls of a house, this usually means the only way to remove the scent is to tear it into the walls to remove the corpse(s). This should be done with the utmost care, and once the decaying animal has been removed, it should be placed into a sealable bag for disposal.

If you do not wish to excavate the structure, you will have to use masking agents near the source to try and cover up the scent as much as you can until the corpse reaches the point where it becomes a skeleton.

This is why it is crucial to address rats or mice as soon as you notice the animals to save you from having to deal with this secondary rodent problem.

Will vinegar get rid of dead animal smell?

Vinegar is not a great substance for eliminating the scent of dead animals. If you want to get rid of this stench, you first need to dispose of any corpses found in a sealable bag. You should consider using bleach or another strong and potent cleaning chemical to thoroughly sanitise the area. That said, you should be mindful of using chemicals around children and pets.

Vinegar may help to cover up some of the scent, but the smell will not fully dissipate until the area and all its associated pathogens have been removed through thorough sanitation, which will require a chemical agent.