my rats all sniffle around each other sometimes and once in awhile they sneeze, but they all don't have discharge from their noses or eyes. i also keep their cages really clean and i use rat friendly bedding (aspen NOT pine!). and i also heard that its okay if they're a little more noisy, but i'm not sure! all i know is that i can't afford to take them to the vet PLEASE HELP ME!!
Answers:
Mycoplasma pulmonis, the organism that almost all rats in the general pet population carry is the cause of the majority of respiratory and genital infections in rats. The organism is carried in the upper respiratory system and is transmitted by direct contact between mother and babies, by sexual transfer, through the air over short distances, and can even be passed to the babies while going through the birth canal if the mother is infected. PREDISPOSING FACTORS Stress or other illnesses can weaken your rat's immune system and cause your rat to break with an active mycoplasmal infection. If left untreated, this can lead to pneumonia. Therefore, it is very important to ensure a stress-free environment for your pet. This includes providing an uncrowded, well-ventilated, clean cage with a safe bedding product in which to live at all times. This will eliminate any chance for ammonia buildup from urine and feces, or phenols from cedar and pine, to damage the respiratory system's own protective capacity. It is also very important not to expose your pet to other rats who may be sick since a secondary bacterial or viral infection could allow the mycoplasmal infection to accelerate to pneumonia very quickly, possibly causing death. Some of the bacteria that may accompany mycoplasma pulmonis during respiratory disease and may worsen symptoms include Pasteurella pneumotropica, Streptococcus pneumonia, Bordetella bronchiseptica, CAR bacillus (cilia-associated respiratory bacillus), and Corynebacterium kutscheri. Viral infections such as SDA Virus (Sialodacryoadenitis) and Sendai Virus in combination with mycoplasma may also quickly lead to death. SDA Virus is frequently seen in the pet rat population, so be especially careful about quarantining any new rats you bring into your home for a least two weeks. SYMPTOMS The symptoms of the upper respiratory disease, which involve the nasal passages and middle ears, can include sneezing, sniffling, occasional squinting, rough hair coat, and porphyrin staining around the eyes and nose. If the inner ear becomes involved, head tilt (wry neck) and rolling may occur.
As the disease progresses, it will enter the lungs. If exacerbated by bacterial infections, viral infections, or ammonia, symptoms may include lethargy, rough hair coat, hunched posture, porphyrin staining, chattering, weight loss, labored breathing, and eventually death. If the mycoplasmal infection is not complicated by any other bacterial infection or viral infection, the terminal stage of the disease can last for weeks or even months.
There is no cure or vaccine for mycoplasma pulmonis. However, infection and symptoms can be suppressed with antibiotics in the early stages of the disease, but will most likely become a chronic condition requiring periodic or even constant treatment. This disease progressively worsens, eventually causing consolidation of the lungs and abscesses in the lungs, leading to death. Some antibiotics proven to be effective against mycoplasma are tetracycline, tylosin, gentamicin, amikacin, chloramphenicol, doxycycline, and enrofloxacin (Baytril). Doses are as follows: Tetracycline orally at 5 to 10 mg per pound three times daily for at least 14 days
Tylosin orally at 4.5 mg per pound twice daily or 66 mg per litre of water for 14 to 30 days
Gentamicin (best used in combination with Cefadroxil) at 1 to 2 mg per pound injected twice daily for 7 to 14 days
Amikacin at 5 mg per pound injected twice daily for 7 to 14 days
Chloramphenicol at 15 to 25 mg per pound injected twice daily for 7 to 14 days
Doxycycline orally at 2.5 mg per pound twice daily for 14 to 30 days
Enrofloxacin (Baytril) orally at 5 mg per pound twice daily for 14 to 30 days. Baytril and doxycycline also work extremely well in combination. In the advanced stages of the disease, or in cases of wry neck and rolling, a corticosteroid such as Prednisone (given in addition to an antibiotic) may be helpful in reducing inflammation. By reducing inflammation in the infected lungs, the rat may breathe easier, resulting in less frequent gasping attacks, allowing the rat to live an extended life more comfortably. In the case of wry neck and rolling, reducing inflammation in the inner ear will stop the rolling within a few days. Prednisone dose: .25 to 1 mg per pound once daily. Normal use of prednisone would be only for a few days, but in terminal cases where comfort of a dying rat is the goal it can be used longer. Another drug helpful in severe cases of pneumonia is Aminophylline. This drug relaxes and expands bronchial tubes, helping the rat to breathe easier. Dose: 2.5 to 5 mg per pound orally or injected twice or three times daily. Good husbandry, breeding only from mycoplasma resistant rats, and early treatment are the only things we can do to fight this deadly disease at this time. Someday, maybe we'll be lucky enough to have a drug company develop an effective vaccine. We can only hope.
And since you said you couldnt afford the vet try a few of these things:
My rat is sneezing, what should I do?
All pet rats carry mycoplasma. This is the bane of all rat fanciers. Hopefully, your rat's immune system will be strong enough to fight it. However, certain factors in your rats life can significantly lower the immune system and allow the myco to take hold. When this happens you'll notice sneezing, perhaps some red discharge around the nose. This is poryphin, not blood. It's the normal color of rat tears and nasal discharge.
If the sneezing is light and dry: (occasional sneezes are normal...we're talking about continual sneezes)
IMPORTANT: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DRY SNEEZES. IF THE SNEEZES ARE WET AND THERE IS A LOT OF THE RED STAINING AROUND THEIR NOSE AND/OR EYES, OR IF YOU HEAR CONGESTION IN THE CHEST, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO AHEAD AND GET THEM TO A VET FOR SOME ANTIBIOTICS. THEY CAN GO DOWNHILL SO VERY FAST.
You can use children's Benedryl. Read the label and make sure it doesn't contain Tylenol. You will give .05 cc (about 3-4 drops) to an adult rat twice a day.
Liquid Echinacea and Goldenseal. (available at health food stores like GNC) It has to be liquid form.
2 drops twice a day for 2 weeks. Or you can put 2 drops per 2 oz of water in the water bottle. (in the water to prevent...by mouth if there are symptoms) If you have 2 rats and one is sneezing and one isn't. I treat the sneezer with meds and put the echinacea in the water to help boost the immune system of both rats. try the site below
http://www.rmca.org/
i sneeze and dont get sick
My rat sneezes once in a while, and I think it has to do with dust. My apartment tends to be dusty. But other than this he is healthy, so I don't worry. Good luck and I hope yours are fine otherwise.
as long as there is no discharge, and their lungs sound clear i would not worry about it i have had many rats over the years, and even named one sniffles because it sneezed alot...she lived for 3 1/2 years
yes it is possible for a rat to sneeze.
Of course it is possible. Animals are like people.
Does it meen you're sick everytime you sneeze? no.
animals can sneeze due to different scents in the air,dust, many different things. Don't be too worried about it.
If you do notice discharge then take it to the vet, because thats a true sign of sickness or a cold.
GOOD LUCK!
Can't they get a tickle on the nose without you getting worried? Come on, you sneeze when you're not sick, just try the pepper if you don't believe me. My dog sneezes when she grins 'cause her whiskers are stiff and she tickles herself. When a rat's busy inhaling the universe, he's going to sneeze once in a while. Maybe even every day.
I have had Rats for years and they do sneeze from time to time. As long as there is no discharge from their nose or eyes it is not a big deal. AAAAACHOOOO. Sorry. I sneezed !!
I think all animals sneeze just like we do different things in the air dust what ever just keep an eye out for discharge.OH and be careful there are people on here who will so rudely judgmental because you can not afford a vet.They think people who are not rich or have a degree do not deserve a pet .but I think everyone deserve the love of a pet.there is an antibotic you can buy over the conter at a feed store not a pet store buta farmers store it is for cows but you can use it on other animals also I was told this by an animal rescuer in Indian they use it b/c there is not always enough funds for every pet they have to rescue.It works great on upper respitory infedtions it is in a yellow and white bag cost about 5.00$.oh and they rescue agency was told it was safe by a vet .
Yep =) It could be early signs of an upper respitory disease, but that doesn't mean they'll get one any time soon either.
If you can afford it (I know it's pricier) try carefresh bedding. I use it for my rat, and it stops the smell better, your rats may be sensitive to wood shavings in general.
But my rat sneezes quite a bit at times, started when he was about 4 months old. I panicked at 1st, sued to it now. He's 9 months old now btw, and healthy :D
So don't worry, easy as it can be! Currently I'm saving a little "vet fund" for my rat, or any other pets of mine who get ill, I always have some money put back for emergency treatment. Of course with current rates, it won't go far.. so I hope none do get ill.
:)
Okay. First of all, you need to calm down a bit. Now read this carefully: IT'S OKAY IF ANIMALS SNEEZE! The question is, are they sneezing all the time? From your discription, it sounds like their not. Don't worry! I once had a very sick guinea pig who was sneezy and wheezy and he had crust all around his eyes! He's still alive now! As long as your rats don't have crust around their eyes and nose, their fine. I even have a guinea pig right now who sneezes A LOT, but doesn't have that discusting crust around his eyes and nose. Just don't worry, chill out, and remember to say "bless you" when they sneeze!
Hope that helped! Good luck!
The odd sneezing is normal and may not mean anything more. But if you see other symptoms like porphyrin (red staining around nose and eyes) congestion, wet sneezes, then it would be time to bring them to a vet. Start a vet fund immediately so you aren't stuck when there's an emergency.
no don't be worried a rat is just like a human it has feelings just like you and me all rats sneeze its natural all animals sneeze as a matter of fact. so i wouldn't worry to much.
yeahhh!! i sneeze. that doesnt mean im sick. rats sneeze when their nose tickles.
my rat sneezes a lot, and I dont think hes sick. Ive heard that every rat sneezes, some more then others. sometimes it means that there sick but most of the time its this thing that all rats get. im not sure wat its called through. look it up on google
actually rat sneezes are pretty serious. but that being said, it doesn't mean they can't live long happy lives and they may have respiratory problems for their whole lives.
if you really want to keep your rats around for a long time, take them to a vet that really really really knows rats. just any old vet is pretty useless when it comes to rats.
pick up your rat, roll him on his back and put his tummy up to your ear. if you hear crackling or wheezing, he's probably having respiratory problems. you can take him to the vet and get a baytrol Rx (get them to flavor the drug with syrup) but it probably won't do much.
rats are just prone to these issues. if the rat starts to seriously wheeze and hold his mouth open for a long time trying to get air, its probably time to put him down. otherwise, get used to the super cute achoos coming from your babies.
also, aspen is great but carefresh is better, handsdown. you can also try torn up clothing and washing it when you change the litter. this means absolutely no dust.
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