Pepper_rat
Well-Known Member
We just got home and our rat Bean is breathing heavy and is lethargic. She’s got puffed up fur but she’s not sneezing just breathing fast. Please help!!
Last edited:
Please help!!
- Thread starter Pepper_rat
- Start date
Help Support The Rat Shack Forum:
Pepper_rat
Well-Known Member
She seems to have gotten worse over the last half an hour. I'm going to call the emergency vet but I don't think they will have knowledge of rats. I fed her some baby food which she slowly licked up and some water but she's not doing well. I'm so scared she's going to die before I can get her to a vet.
lilspaz68
Well-Known Member
I'm so sorry. Your video is private not public so I can't view it.
How old is your girl?
It sounds like a sudden respiratory infection but it's just a guess without the video. They do breathe fast when in pain. Can you hold her sides to your ears and listen to her breathing?
How old is your girl?
It sounds like a sudden respiratory infection but it's just a guess without the video. They do breathe fast when in pain. Can you hold her sides to your ears and listen to her breathing?
Pepper_rat
Well-Known Member
She passed away last night. Is there any way to keep this from happening or stop it once it starts? It was heartbreaking to watch her struggle at night and die 
Big Schpog
Well-Known Member
OMG how awful.
Learning how to do 'rat phone' is a must. You just pick up the rat and hold her sides to your ears and listen for clicks and congestion sounds. Now sometimes rats do get congested and it's not an infection but it's always better to be safe than sorry. Trust me, it cost me 320.00 dollars one night to find out that both my congested rats were totally fine. Boy, that was a kick in the bank account!
If she's fuzzed up (piloerection), not eating or drinking, lethargic, has congestion sounds, then it's time to go to ER.
Most ER vets don't have any knowledge of rats. They are simply a stop gap until you can see your rat vet. They are quite the expensive stop gap but they will try their best to keep your pet alive and comfortable until they can see the rat vet.
Unfortunately, rats can develop respiratory problems VERY fast and can die from them quickly and they can be very good at hiding symptoms. However, it could've been a stroke or a heart attack and so don't blame yourself. Sometimes these things happen. You can learn from these things and gain knowledge. It's so hard when a rat suddenly passes like that. I've been through it as have most everyone on this forum. You had a rat you loved and cared for to your utmost ability and that's all anyone can ask. Think of all the good things you gave her and the beautiful life she lived. She is not in any pain now. She is at peace.
You can get a necropsy performed to find the cause. Shadow the rat sometimes does this with her rats.
You're in our thoughts.
Learning how to do 'rat phone' is a must. You just pick up the rat and hold her sides to your ears and listen for clicks and congestion sounds. Now sometimes rats do get congested and it's not an infection but it's always better to be safe than sorry. Trust me, it cost me 320.00 dollars one night to find out that both my congested rats were totally fine. Boy, that was a kick in the bank account!
If she's fuzzed up (piloerection), not eating or drinking, lethargic, has congestion sounds, then it's time to go to ER.
Most ER vets don't have any knowledge of rats. They are simply a stop gap until you can see your rat vet. They are quite the expensive stop gap but they will try their best to keep your pet alive and comfortable until they can see the rat vet.
Unfortunately, rats can develop respiratory problems VERY fast and can die from them quickly and they can be very good at hiding symptoms. However, it could've been a stroke or a heart attack and so don't blame yourself. Sometimes these things happen. You can learn from these things and gain knowledge. It's so hard when a rat suddenly passes like that. I've been through it as have most everyone on this forum. You had a rat you loved and cared for to your utmost ability and that's all anyone can ask. Think of all the good things you gave her and the beautiful life she lived. She is not in any pain now. She is at peace.
You can get a necropsy performed to find the cause. Shadow the rat sometimes does this with her rats.
You're in our thoughts.
Pepper_rat
Well-Known Member
Thank you Big Schpog. That means a lot and it helps to have all my other babies. Also this forum has been so helpful to me so thank you
