Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had two pet rats here for a couple of days and it turns out they are very ill. They are at the vet now but I don't know what is wrong yet. Can my parrots contract anything from them? I think they have myco- something. Its a resperitory illness.

MOST illnesses are species specific. This means that if a mammal has a sickness it can be spread to other mammals if a bird has a sickness it can spread to other birds. The main time this does not hold as true is in the case of parasites or bacteria. Almost any animal can get ringworm, roundworm etc. And if a bacteria causes disease in one animal it may also cause it in another animal. As far as a viral disease it should not be able to be spread from rats to birds.

I do not know exactly what it is your rats have but if it is a virus your birds are safe, bacteria or parasite then you should quarantine away from the rats and have them checked by a vet. If you have not had a wellness checkup for your parrots it might be a good idea to have them checked out anyway.

Stephanie

I would get the name of the illness from your rat-vet, and then call your avian-vet to ask about it.

Thanks that is a good idea itdead.

And also thank you for the info steph.

My parrots can not catch what my rats have!!

Whew!!!

right about the virul vs. other types of illnesses? AND how are the rats doing?