New Rat - sneezing, mild honking

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Morrigan

New Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2018
Messages
2
Location
Ontario, Canada
I recently got a new rat. I did the wrong stupid thing and got a feeder rat I felt bad for. Now, when I went into the store I knew they sold pet rats and feeders. I just didn't know they came from the same cage. I'd just been window shopping after the death of my recent pet rats and this white little dumbo was licking my hand, and when I heard them ask about rats and say 'youre lucky we just got some whites in' and shove one of the white rats in i got nervous and reserved the little dude. One of the little rats there had an abscess on his neck i checked over because I was worried he had a tumour, which is a whole other thing...

Anyway I picked up the guy and a buddy from somewhere else for him. Now I'm wondering 1) how old do you think this little guy is? 2) he's been sniffing and some occasional but rare honking. Should I wait and see, is this fairly normal for rats in a new place (I know they sniff more)? or has that entered unusual territory?
 

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You should be aware that rats sold as pets and rats sold as feeders are often from the same litter. There is no difference, the rats they think are more attractive get sold as pets. Or all rats get sold as feeders unless the person buying wants them as pets.

Cute little top eared boy. He is very young but I am not good at guessing age

New home sneezes are normal and should not get worse and should disappear in a few days - if they are new home sneezes, but honking isn't normal.
If he was mine I would take him to a good vet asap because he may need antibiotics - and secondary infections kill very fast
 
I’m certainly no expert but I’d say he’s around 2 months old.
I’m not sure if this is rat terminology that I just didn’t know about, but what do you mean by honking?
 
@SQ
I was aware of that, but I guess my issue is more that I wasn't emotionally prepared to walk into a situation where I'd have to look at rats and know if I didn't buy them they'd end up snake food. I wanted to be calculated about my next decision, but I ended up feeling really bad for this guy.

You think he's a top ear? I thought he was a dumbo, but I might be wrong because of the size of his ears on his little head. Here's another pic, frontal. I think he's a handsome boy either way.

wriggly.JPEG


Mm, yeah I was worried. I'll see. He's very active, but... I don't know. I'll keep an eye on him the next two days and if it's consistent I'll get him checked out on Saturday when I have time to go in.

@Luna&Ralph
The honking is like this


With my little guy, it's not as bad as the rat in the video. I've only heard it from him occasionally. But hearing it makes me worry...

You think two months? I don't think he's quite that old, I'm a bit worried about his age truth be told. I don't know if my hand gives a good size indicator, but he's very tiny... I could close my whole fist around him easily.
 
@SQ
I was aware of that, but I guess my issue is more that I wasn't emotionally prepared to walk into a situation where I'd have to look at rats and know if I didn't buy them they'd end up snake food.

Yeah …… I do not normally buy anything at stores that sell animals because I do not want to support their practices (In the past, I have been told, If people didn't like what we do they wouldn't shop here)
So I do not see the rats they have for sale, ..... I don't know how I would be able to walk away and leave any behind - it would be so hard and so painful ……. so instead of buying, I choose to rescue rats - often they are former pet store rats that people are getting rid of :(

Your boy looked top eared in your first post, but that last pic, yes, definitely dumbo eared

I would definitely have him checked by a good vet asap
He is very fortunate to have you
 
Oh! I had a boy who was a very loud breather later in his life. I took him to the vet and found out that his lungs sounded clear. My vet said that sometimes their breathing sounds louder and more extreme to us than it actually is, but he also wasn’t making that noise at the vet’s office, so I’m not sure.

I’m certainly not suggesting that you don’t go to the vet though, any abnormal sounding breathing should be checked out as soon as possible just in case they’re sick so they don’t get too much worse before treating.
 
Your little one looks about 4 to 6 weeks old. I'd give him a bit of time to settle down but if you continue to hear his breathing, I'd get that checked out.
 
@SQ
Yeah I understand that perfectly well... The fact I was considering getting some rescues was part of why I didn't want to step in. I guess ultimately either way there's so many rats that need help everywhere it's about not putting your money where they're not being taken care of. But my heartstrings got tugged.

@Luna&Ralph
I wonder with this guy what it exactly is... I haven't had many loud breathers, but I'll keep that in mind

@jorats
Thanks, that sounds right but I wonder if I should make any special adjustments for him then. I usually pick up older rats...

That being said, I did end up taking him to a vet. They said his lungs sounded clear, but he's very sneezy and wheezes occasionally so they gave me some doxy to give him for a bit.
 
I hope he is soon feeling much better
Yes, I think most of us have bought pet store rats at some time …… I know I did,
and they were wonderful ratties
 
Never finished up this thread. I did get him some baytril from the vet I visited at the time, and he recuperated quite well. Also used some amoxicillin I had left over to help him out.

He's grown up nicely, with his two rat buddies.

upload_2019-1-20_20-55-5.png
 
I have a couple of rats who are "noisy breathes" from time to time. I have taken them to the vet, and was told their lungs are clear, and she thought it was all nasal. They didn't appear to be in distress. They still "honk" from time to time. It reminds me of the happy "honking" sounds bunnies make. Sounds just like mine, Gracie. Or a chicken clucking. They'll do it a few times, sneeze a couple of times, then it goes away. I figured it was like having boogies in our nose that will make a whistle sound sometimes, but as soon as we clear them, the sound goes away? ;) Mine will especially do it when the weather changes, or when they see me and get over excited. My older male, cookie, does it nearly every time he sees me or hears me. After a couple of mins, he settles down. It's strange. If I don't pick him up, he will get louder and louder until I do. I still occasionally get worried, and play "telephone" with them, and I have a stethoscope I can listen with also. But it's always nasal....so far anyways....:) But your little dumbo....OMG!! I want another so bad! :rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
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