Help New rat sneezing!

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bluerose

New Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2018
Messages
3
Location
Ky
A week ago I got a rat ( raspberry so named by my granddaughter ). I did some research and seen that they get lonely if by them selves so I went back to the pet shop. I got a rat from a different litter as I got the last female in her litter. The owner thought it was a feeder rat and brought her out by her tail :(. She placed her in a box and she was in it for about 10 minutes on the ride home. The pet shop lady said the only time they held her was when they changed the litter. I got her home and got her out and with in a few minutes she started sneezing A LOT. I noticed she had some discharge from her eye and she sort of squints her eyes. I put her in a little tank instead of putting her with Raspberry I was afraid of infecting her. I gave her food and water and turned the light off to see if it is stress. I called the pet shop and they said they didnt have any that was sick but if she kept doing it to bring her back and they will exchange her. There is no vet with in an 100 mile radius that sees rats so I am in a pickle here. Please help me save this sweet girl.
 
The baby could just have new home sneezes - if so the sneezing will stop within a few days and will not get worse,
or she could be having a myco flareup (all rats have myco) or she could have a secondary infection.
If she has a red discharge from her eyes or nose, that is porphyrin - all rats have some and it can be an indication of stress or illness
How long have you had her?
Do you know how old the baby is?
How is her breathing?
What are you using for bedding (btw tanks are not good for rats)
What are you feeding the girls?
Can you post some pictures and a video? (Post the video to youtube and then post the link on here)

If it is not new home sneezes, clavamox is good for secondary infections, and azithromycin (10 mg/Ib, available from human pharmacies) is good for myco. Both are safe for babies. When antibiotics are helping, rats need to stay on them for at least 4 to 6 weeks - in my experience rats need to be on antibiotics at least 6 weeks

I will message lilspaz68 as she is extremely experienced

http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_agents/clavamox_amoxicillinclavulanate.php
http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_agents/azithromycin.php
http://ratguide.com/health/eyes/porphyrin_secretions_red_tears.php
http://ratguide.com/health/bacteria/mycoplasma_mycoplasmosis.php
http://ratguide.com/health/lower_respiratory/pneumonia.php

The most important thing when having pet rats is to have access to a good vet All rats get ill and require vet care and medications, etc Rats become ill and die fast without medical care. If you do not have a good vet willing to treat rats and willing to learn, or a good vet that has the experience and knowledge to treat rats near by, than you will need to find one further away and travel.
 
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I had just got her home from the pet store. The woman brought her to me hanging by her little tail. She also wasnt used to being held or around humans. I literally got her home got her out of her box and was holding her and she was sneezing alot. I dont plan on leaving her in the tank it was just a quick thing to put her in to make sure she wasnt contagous to my other healthy rat. Her breathing seems to be ok I didnt hear any wheezing. She seems to be a couple months old. I got them oxbow rat food and I give them fruit and salad greens. I will try to load a video of her sneezing. I have them in a dark room so she can relax a little since I had just gotten her home.
 
I would give her some time to settle down. Good food, clean habitat and good air circulation will be important for her. If she's sneezing a lot, you could even try benedryl.
 
If she wasn't sneezing previously, it may just be new home sneezes.
Good that her breathing seems ok :) …. keep an eye on her
What are you using for bedding?
We will be looking forward to seeing the video
If you decide to give Benadryl, Jorats and lilspaz68 can help with the dose

Oxbow is good. Daily vegs are important too as are healthy treats (there is a forbidden foods list)
 
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