JenD
Well-Known Member
Hi everyone - I'm totally new here and new to the rattie world (trying to post a general message to the group, but not sure how). I really need some advice. A few weeks ago, we adopted two male babies who are now 9.5 weeks old. We got them from a breeder who was listed on the AFRMA site and she was very nice, but very young. She had several litters going at once. When we picked up our boys, one of them was sneezing and that night, made some scary sounding noises. I eventually took him to the vet and he checked out ok, but the next night, he was grunting so I captured it on video and emailed it to the vet. He and his brother are now on baytril.
Meanwhile, we are supposed to adopt two more babies from this breeder, but I don't have another large cage to house two more males in for a long period of time. Does anyone know how long it takes to get rid of an infection? Even though he's on antibiotics, is he still contagious? I think it is tied into mycoplasma (?) somehow as the vet mentioned some rats have to remain on a low dosage of antibiotics their whole lives. Does that mean he will always be contagious? Will he always need his own cage with his brother? I just want to do right by our babies and I am disappointed that one of them came to us sick because it will complicate adding to the colony. Will the new babies be sick, too?
I'm torn as to whether or not I should cancel the adoption until the boys get better or tough it out on a long quarantine. Any advice would be appreciated...Thanks in advance
Meanwhile, we are supposed to adopt two more babies from this breeder, but I don't have another large cage to house two more males in for a long period of time. Does anyone know how long it takes to get rid of an infection? Even though he's on antibiotics, is he still contagious? I think it is tied into mycoplasma (?) somehow as the vet mentioned some rats have to remain on a low dosage of antibiotics their whole lives. Does that mean he will always be contagious? Will he always need his own cage with his brother? I just want to do right by our babies and I am disappointed that one of them came to us sick because it will complicate adding to the colony. Will the new babies be sick, too?
I'm torn as to whether or not I should cancel the adoption until the boys get better or tough it out on a long quarantine. Any advice would be appreciated...Thanks in advance