squishy
Junior Member
Hello people,
I have two rats (one castrated male Marthe who's 2 years old and one female Blanchette who's 2 years and 3 months) and both have respiratory infections at the moment
Blanchette has had chronic rhinitis ever since I adopted her (every few months or so it flares up a bit: she sneezes from time to time & her breathing sounds like a pigeon cooing... 10 days of baytril clears it up usually and she's fine for another few months).
She finished her most recent course of baytril 5 days ago.
But this time, Marthe caught it!! He'd never been ill before and he went downhill really fast; noticed he was ill on friday at lunch (hardly any cooing or sneezing, but he was hanging his head over a ledge in his cage which I know is a sign of breathing trouble, was very lethargic and very warm to the touch); I didn't think he'd survive the night friday-saturday he looked so ill. Got him to a vet on saturday (a different vet than I normally go to--usual vet isn't open on saturdays) and the vet gave me chloramphenicol.
I'd never heard of it, was a bit upset at first because baytril always works for Blanchette. But I just read about chloramphenicol and apparently it's a miracle antibiotic for rats with myco!
So far Marthe seems ok, better than he was but still a bit poofy still and generally tired and sticky-looking (needs a wipe down but I don't want to put him through that until he's better). He's eating fine though and has more energy.
When should the chloramphenicol start to take effect? (He's had 6 doses so far out of 20). Is it a really strong drug? Internet says wear gloves & wash hands after touching it; the vet never mentioned any of this and neither does the leaflet that came with the bottle... (I kiss my rats all the time so this is worrying to me haha).
And should I get some for Blanchette? Would it be good for her rhinitis?
Can Marthe have it with Metacam?
Should I get Marthe some of those tablets that help restore gut flora or is yogurt enough?
I suppose I'm just looking for any info about this chloramphenicol because I know nothing about it.
Thank you =)
I have two rats (one castrated male Marthe who's 2 years old and one female Blanchette who's 2 years and 3 months) and both have respiratory infections at the moment
Blanchette has had chronic rhinitis ever since I adopted her (every few months or so it flares up a bit: she sneezes from time to time & her breathing sounds like a pigeon cooing... 10 days of baytril clears it up usually and she's fine for another few months).
She finished her most recent course of baytril 5 days ago.
But this time, Marthe caught it!! He'd never been ill before and he went downhill really fast; noticed he was ill on friday at lunch (hardly any cooing or sneezing, but he was hanging his head over a ledge in his cage which I know is a sign of breathing trouble, was very lethargic and very warm to the touch); I didn't think he'd survive the night friday-saturday he looked so ill. Got him to a vet on saturday (a different vet than I normally go to--usual vet isn't open on saturdays) and the vet gave me chloramphenicol.
I'd never heard of it, was a bit upset at first because baytril always works for Blanchette. But I just read about chloramphenicol and apparently it's a miracle antibiotic for rats with myco!
So far Marthe seems ok, better than he was but still a bit poofy still and generally tired and sticky-looking (needs a wipe down but I don't want to put him through that until he's better). He's eating fine though and has more energy.
When should the chloramphenicol start to take effect? (He's had 6 doses so far out of 20). Is it a really strong drug? Internet says wear gloves & wash hands after touching it; the vet never mentioned any of this and neither does the leaflet that came with the bottle... (I kiss my rats all the time so this is worrying to me haha).
And should I get some for Blanchette? Would it be good for her rhinitis?
Can Marthe have it with Metacam?
Should I get Marthe some of those tablets that help restore gut flora or is yogurt enough?
I suppose I'm just looking for any info about this chloramphenicol because I know nothing about it.
Thank you =)