Rat dropping dead

[fjanefff]

I am a first time rat keeper and don't have much experience unfortunately. About two weeks ago a friend of mine gave me a 8 months old rat that she adopted from the RSPCA as a surprise present. It seemed fine and active but was sneezing a lot, but I read that this is normal for a rat entering a new home due to dust etc. After having it for about a week it suddenly dropped dead. I was feeding it and when I looked in the cage a couple minutes later I found it dead laying on its back. The only symptoms of disease it showed was sneezing but it didn't have trouble breathing or anything. It also had red discharge around its nose. I got a new baby rat yesterday from a breeder and now it is showing signs of respiratory disease, it is sneezing, seems to have trouble breathing and has some discharge around its nose. Is it possible that the first rat died from mycobacteria or another respiratory disease and the baby rat got infected with bacteria from it that were still in my house ? I have kept the baby rat in a cardboard box with bedding etc because I was worried that there still might be bacteria in the other cage. I let it run over a table though that the other rat ran over as well.

 

[SQ]

yes it is possible the first rat had an airborn illness.
It is also more likely that the baby was ill when you bought it
The red discharge is porforin and means the rattie is feeling ill or stressed

Please take the baby to a good vet knowledgeable and experienced in treating rats ASAP!
Contact the breeder as they should be able to help.
Since the baby is having trouble breathing this is an emergency and the baby was likely already ill when you bought it ....... btw, your breeder is not a good breeder because rats need to live with other rats and a good breeder would never sell a baby by itself.
By the time you notice that a rat is ill, you are well into a medical emergency.

I hope you get the baby on clavamox today in case it is a secondary infection - they kill very fast
Azithromycin (10 mg/Ib) will also help if it is a myco flare up
Both of the meds I mentioned are safe for babies, given orally twice a day, and if they are helping are given for 4 to 6 weeks
Your baby may also need other medications
Baytril (enrofloxacin) is also used to treat myco, is only given orally to rats, and is used with young rats if necessary as it is not recommended for young babies .... however your rat may be old enough for it not to be a concern

http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_agents/clavamox_amoxicillinclavulanate.php
http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_agents/azithromycin.php
http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_agents/enrofloxacin_baytril.php

 

[jorats]

I would definitely go to the vet ASAP!