Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello all
my rat Paper has recently came down with a case of the sneezes nothing has changed in his enviroment except a female we got and had for less then a week. he looks to be in good health other wise, eats great, plays, no discharge, alert(when not sleeping of course.)
just woundering if anyone else has had a rat that sneezes?
thanks
eric

Just keep an eye on this. Rats often sneeze for a variety of reasons...it may not mean anything but it may mean the beginnings of a respiratory infection.
A little sneezing by itself doesn't mean much but if you start to also see a lack of energy, hunched position, dull fur- not acting like they usually act then it's time to see a vet.
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PHRatz

Here's a new story but may help you Eric.

I dragged my class to the pet store 100 miles away on Sept 6 so we could get rats & other rodents that aren't sick so what happens?
The mink colored baby girl rat is sick.... but I think we got to her in time & she'll end up ok.

It all began with her sneezing, the other baby is not sneezing at all.
The sneezing went on for almost 2 weeks but by watching her behavior we couldn't tell if this was an illness or just the sneezing that often happens to rats when you take them from a pet store with bad bedding material and move them to a new home with acceptable bedding material... we just had to wait & see.

The sneezing then went into hunched posture, dull fur, lethargic behavior, lack of appetite.
At first I told everyone we just need to keep an eye on her.

Day before yesterday when I was at school I took a good look at her then I listened to her. Huh-uh this is not good so I brought them home with me, consulted with my vet & she's getting twice daily nebulizer treatments. This morning when I got her up for that I did NOT hear any noisy breathing so it's working!

I can't let my layaway baby sit at the school & die.
We have a vet at school but because of budget constrictions... we don't have the right medications to use for the rodents when they get sick. So I said no way, I'll take her home with me because she is NOT going to die if I have anything to say about it.

I'll have to get photos, these babies are not dumbo but they are adorable!!! Both of them are very tame & very sweet.. I can't wait until I can bring them home for good.
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PHRatz