My rat is pulsing and seems as if he cannot breathe?

Hi, my oldest rat, Russell, is kind of pulsing? He sounds as though he cannot breathe well and his abdomen/sides and moving in and out similar the way way dogs do when they're about to throw up. I plan to take him to a vet in the morning, but I'm kind of scared because he was fine this morning. Any idea what could be wrong?

He is definitely older.but I'm not sure how old since he was a rescue. He's never been find of being held but tonight he's laying on me and has no intentions of moving..

Can you post a video of him.? (upload it to YouTube and link it here) it could help us determine what's going on and how to help

Sounds like he's really needing some vet help soon as you can. I'm sorry, I hope he'll be ok..

I took him to the vet yesterday as soon as I found one in my area, got him on 3 medications, but because of his age she said there wasn't much we could do

How is he?

Can you post a video to youtube and then put the link on here?

What medications? Strength (mg/ml) and dose (ml) of each, weight of your rattie.
Was he an adult when you got him (how large) and how long have you had him?

I'm sorry, it didn't sound good.. But there's a lot you can do, like what you already did for him, and just loving him and making the rest of his life as good as it can be. I'm so glad you both have the comfort of him wanting to be close.

Kye said:

Can you post a video of him.? (upload it to YouTube and link it here) it could help us determine what's going on and how to help

Click to expand...

No video needed. He had advanced URI infection and needs a vet immediately. If his mouth is open to breathe, he is gasping and will need immediate antibiotics, or possibly even too late and euthanasia is safest bet so he doesn't suffocate to death. Please consult an exotics vet immediately.

Rocket!! Where ya been?!? Loving on all your special ratties?

Taco had a uri a few months ago. He was open mouth breathing, and I thought gasping, but the neb didn't help him. It ended up all being nasal, and the vet said it looks weird because rats are used to using their noses for everything, and not used to breathing out of their mouth so much, so that's why it looked so bad. I put a video up on YouTube the day we went to the vet. He was already on ciprofloxacin, and vet added doxy or Zithromax. Can't remembe. 2 days into the combo, and taco was good as gold!

Wrote you a long reply but then backed out of it and lost it. It says it saves drafts, but without being signed in I guess it doesn't work. So now I just want to say thank you for your reply. That's why I love this Forum, when I am wrong, as I so often am, lol, I will be corrected in a nice way that makes me glad to be corrected. As for my absence, I've been working long hours and then spending the rest of my time caring for one of the many hospice cases I be had in recent months. Notably, I lost Silver, and my beloved Gollum, my double Rex who developed an infection around his Preputial Gland which turned into an ugly abscess. After many vet visits and several cleanouts to remove all the hardened buildup that was causing pressure which was very painful. Unfortunately, he never fully recovered and the cleanouts became a month recurrence, and $1500+ over several monr later the decision was made to end his pain. I was devastated. But didn't have time to mourn with all the rats needing my help.

So sorry to hear about your loss! No matter the reason for having to let go, it never is easy....at least you know you did all you could for him.