AmeliaJ013
Member
Hi!
I'm still a first time rat owner but would like some advice, as I know vets can be quite limited with knowledge when it comes to rats. I have three rat boys, all from a bad breeder (a mistake I will not repeat). They were kept in bad conditions from birth so two out of three of them have exhibited constant chronic respiratory infections since I can remember. I've tried a number of things, metacam, baytril and doxycycline together, loxicom, nebulizer with F10, humidifier and bisolvon. Not all together obviously, on different courses. When administrating medicine that can be eaten I would mix it in with yoghurt and some sugar to encourage them to eat it. I've always kept a close eye on them and tried more medicine if they seemed to be getting worse (although they don't seem to get better so I don't know if they actually get worse either).
Admittedly my vet tried to be very helpful but she still was not an expert with them. Also, to be totally honest there were times when I did miss doses and extended the course to make up for the missed doses. I know antibiotics can be funny in this way, could I have not seen a response to them because of the few times I missed doses in the various courses I've tried?
My two boys have been side sucking for as long as I can remember. Porphyrin when they wake up around their noses is common. Sometimes (multiple times a day with one of the two) they will make wheezing/honking sounds. The other one seems completely unfazed and I've never seen him have respiratory problems, perhaps is just a bit sneezy. I can't even tell you if there's been any difference following anything I've tried, if there was it was minor. The vets have listened to their lungs and said they can't hear any problems with their lungs so they assume it's just an issue with their upper respiratory systems and it just hasn't progressed further yet? I'd rather nip it in the bud though and not be constantly in fear they'll get leukaemia if I can. I'm constantly worrying over them and the sickest rat has a tendency for choking on food so it's obvious there's a restriction to breathing somewhere. Everytime I hear them making sounds when breathing it pains me.
Could it be another problem? Like a heart issue? The vet listened to their heart and couldn't hear any problems either, and their lungs aren't wheezy so they should be able to hear their heartbeat clearly. Has anyone had a similar experience or could it just have been the occasional times I missed a dose then extended the course to make up for it that would have stopped the medicine from working? Surely even with some missed doses I should have seen some improvement?
They are happy it seems in every other way. Granted the one that is the sickest of the three is a bit more lethargic (they are two y/o now as well so are slowing down somewhat) and always has been. But they all still want to eat and interact with me and will run around when I get them out and interact with toys I leave out for them even if it's just for five minutes then they sit for the rest of the time. The one who is not sick runs around and plays almost non stop unless he's in the cage. I try to keep their cage regularly cleaned and my room is not particularly dusty either. I use dust free bedding and litter and wash their hammocks twice a week.
Any advice would be appreciated, thank you!
I'm still a first time rat owner but would like some advice, as I know vets can be quite limited with knowledge when it comes to rats. I have three rat boys, all from a bad breeder (a mistake I will not repeat). They were kept in bad conditions from birth so two out of three of them have exhibited constant chronic respiratory infections since I can remember. I've tried a number of things, metacam, baytril and doxycycline together, loxicom, nebulizer with F10, humidifier and bisolvon. Not all together obviously, on different courses. When administrating medicine that can be eaten I would mix it in with yoghurt and some sugar to encourage them to eat it. I've always kept a close eye on them and tried more medicine if they seemed to be getting worse (although they don't seem to get better so I don't know if they actually get worse either).
Admittedly my vet tried to be very helpful but she still was not an expert with them. Also, to be totally honest there were times when I did miss doses and extended the course to make up for the missed doses. I know antibiotics can be funny in this way, could I have not seen a response to them because of the few times I missed doses in the various courses I've tried?
My two boys have been side sucking for as long as I can remember. Porphyrin when they wake up around their noses is common. Sometimes (multiple times a day with one of the two) they will make wheezing/honking sounds. The other one seems completely unfazed and I've never seen him have respiratory problems, perhaps is just a bit sneezy. I can't even tell you if there's been any difference following anything I've tried, if there was it was minor. The vets have listened to their lungs and said they can't hear any problems with their lungs so they assume it's just an issue with their upper respiratory systems and it just hasn't progressed further yet? I'd rather nip it in the bud though and not be constantly in fear they'll get leukaemia if I can. I'm constantly worrying over them and the sickest rat has a tendency for choking on food so it's obvious there's a restriction to breathing somewhere. Everytime I hear them making sounds when breathing it pains me.
Could it be another problem? Like a heart issue? The vet listened to their heart and couldn't hear any problems either, and their lungs aren't wheezy so they should be able to hear their heartbeat clearly. Has anyone had a similar experience or could it just have been the occasional times I missed a dose then extended the course to make up for it that would have stopped the medicine from working? Surely even with some missed doses I should have seen some improvement?
They are happy it seems in every other way. Granted the one that is the sickest of the three is a bit more lethargic (they are two y/o now as well so are slowing down somewhat) and always has been. But they all still want to eat and interact with me and will run around when I get them out and interact with toys I leave out for them even if it's just for five minutes then they sit for the rest of the time. The one who is not sick runs around and plays almost non stop unless he's in the cage. I try to keep their cage regularly cleaned and my room is not particularly dusty either. I use dust free bedding and litter and wash their hammocks twice a week.
Any advice would be appreciated, thank you!