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Sneezing Rats

Shadow4108 Mar 01, 2009 09:47 PM

Can anyone shed some light on why my rats are sneezing? What can I do about it? They are on Aspen bedding, I tried pine and made no difference. I clean their cage every week on Tuesday, but I moved them tonight so they were cleaned earlier. They were in a bit of a chillier room, so I moved them out to the garage. It stays about 75-85 out there year round.
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

2.0 chocolate lab (Harley) and basset (Capone)
0.1 leopard gecko (Nacho)
1.0 Normal ball python (Arwen)
1.0 pastel ball python (Merlin)
0.1 Spider ball python (Rogue)
1.4 breeder rats

Replies (6)

Bolitochrome Mar 01, 2009 10:11 PM

Rats and mice are very sensitive to dust of any kind. If you aren't seeing any kind of runny eyes or noses, then that's probably it. Aspen can be pretty dusty sometimes. The best fix is to *very* lightly mist the aspen after you clean to settle the dust. This might mean you'll have to clean the bedding a little sooner if it gets too wet.
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1.0 normal ball python
0.1 greyband hybrid kingsnake
0.2 crazy cats
1.0 husband

Shadow4108 Mar 01, 2009 10:26 PM

Glad to know they arent sick. I had pet rats years ago, but never have bred them, so don't remember much..
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

2.0 chocolate lab (Harley) and basset (Capone)
0.1 leopard gecko (Nacho)
1.0 Normal ball python (Arwen)
1.0 pastel ball python (Merlin)
0.1 Spider ball python (Rogue)
1.4 breeder rats

mykee Mar 02, 2009 12:49 PM

Sounds like Mycoplasma to me. It's a respiratory disease. Look it up.
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www.strictlyballs.ca

pitoon Mar 02, 2009 05:34 AM

could be two things........

dust

or

the rats are sick. how are the rats stance? you can tell when a rat is sick or not if you tend after them everyday.

Pitoon

PHLdyPayne Mar 02, 2009 01:47 PM

How often are they sneezing? Is there a lot of discharge around the nose? (probably be reddish but its not blood so no panicking..it just looks like it). Are they making any gargling noises or wheezing etc?

If its just sneezing it could just be dust or stress. If you have the wheezing, heavy discharge and gargling...then you are looking at a flare up of a upper respiratory disease (like myco mentioned in another post)
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PHLdyPayne

Shadow4108 Mar 02, 2009 07:29 PM

They eat drink and appear otherwise healthy, nice healthy looking coats. There is no discharge or other odd things. I do check on all my animals daily, even if it's just to say hi to them and give the rats a treat and fill their food bowl. one i think might even be pregnant, either that or I'm feeding way to well.. LOL (i've been thinking its the dust from my bedding) Has anyone ever used carefresh?
-----
This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

2.0 chocolate lab (Harley) and basset (Capone)
0.1 leopard gecko (Nacho)
1.0 Normal ball python (Arwen)
1.0 pastel ball python (Merlin)
0.1 Spider ball python (Rogue)
1.4 breeder rats

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