Rat won't eat, is lethargic, and has ear discharge. What should I do?

Hi, and thanks for your question. This is a quite generic but concerning presentation. Differentials are many, from gastrointestinal or respiratory diseases (infection/inflammations) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example) like infection, and anything that can cause pain/discomfort. A check up is needed if the signs last for more than 24hours. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hello. It sounds like Yuki would benefit from the antibiotics, too. Baytril is a very good, broad spectrum medication. Ask your vet if you can start giving Yuki the medication. The unknown here is whether this is viral or bacterial, or if this is even something more insidious like a fungal infection or even cancer. You might try some steam therapy or nebulization with saline. The next step would be to obtain chest x-rays to evaluate what is actually going on in the lungs. A change in antibiotics is a possibility & I would recommend Doxycycline possibly with the addition of azithromycin, & especially for Dambo, you might need to add theophylline to open up the respiratory passages. Personally, I would try to stay away from steroids for now. Contact your veterinarian to discuss what other options are available for your little pets. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Rick! The staining you are describing is porphyrin, which is a normal discharge that gets groomed off. However, when rats are not feeling well it can be produced in larger amounts and lack of grooming causes it to accumulate. If Rick is having trouble breathing, he should be seen by his vet immediately as he may need oxygen supplementation. To keep him comfortable, you can moisten his food slightly or provide a gel diet which is easier to eat.

Rats have a gestation period of 21-23 days. Have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating pocket pets. He or she may be able to confirm pregnancy or diagnose illness or injury. Check her teeth to rule out overgrowth or malocclusion. Either could cause her to go off her food. The antibiotic (Baytril?) may also cause some GI upset.

I'm sorry to hear that Willow isn't feeling well. Unfortunately, if you want to try to treat her, she really needs to see a vet who treats exotics. They will listen to her heart and lungs and may take an x-ray of her chest. She could have an infection, or could have an issue with her heart or lungs that is causing respiratory distress without an infection. Cost depends wildly with location, but if you call the clinic they can give you a price for an exam and then an estimate for full diagnostics/treatments as they have more information. I would except the final cost to be at least 2-4 times the exam price (more if she's more ill). There is really nothing to do at home for respiratory issues, especially having no idea what's causing it.

Thanks for reaching out about Rita. A common respiratory disease in rats is mycoplasmosis, a bacteria-like organism that causes chronic upper and lower respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, sneezing and congestion. Antibiotics can improve condition but might not cure. A veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

I hate to hear that Jerry is sick. I’m not sure what this syrup is that you are giving her but rats who have respiratory symptoms typically respond well to doxycycline. It is important to have a veterinarian who is comfortable treating pocket pets such as rats. I recommend to call your veterinarian and discuss your concerns. That is the best way to get appropriate treatment. You may also look online for veterinarians who treat small animals. I hope she starts feeling better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.