A dirty, unkempt coat is often suggestive of poor health or welfare.
Piloerection refers to involuntary erection or bristling of hairs.
A starey coat refers to piloerection of guard hairs.
Both the mouse and the rat have starey coats and a poor body condition.
Because both of these animals were considered to be experiencing significant distress they were humanely killed shortly after these photographs were taken.
