Why is my rat still sneezing after antibiotics and eye discharge gone?

Poor Dambo! Rats are noterious for having bacteria in their lungs that can affect them all their lives. Some rats will have more issues than others. Antibiotics help but often they cannot clear the whole infection. Any time she starts to have problems, she should see the veterinarian. Baytril and Doxycycline are commonly used for these infections. Practicing good husbandry can also help. You definitely want to use a dust free bedding such as Carefresh or Aspen pellets. Use a cage with bars and not a glass aquarium the holds all the air debris in. Run an air filter near the cage and keep the cage away from air vents and windows (as this will blow more dust). Feed lots of dark leafy greens and blueberries as well as a balanced rat food. The idea is to try to maintain a healthy immune system. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for reaching out about Gerat. The most likely cause is mycoplasma, which is a bacteria problem. Antibiotics can often improve clinical signs, but often is not curable, so this could be an on-again/off-again problem. A veterinary visit is required to prescribe to appropriate antibiotics. The website for the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV.org) might help you find a vet. Stress is often associated so review diet and husbandry and correct problems. Good luck.

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.

Hello, and thank you for your question. The reddish discharge from the eyes is called porphyrin, which usually occurs in rats due to stress, often due to medical illness. Has she been feeling unwell lately? Common causes of illness in rats include upper respiratory infections (colds), systemic infections, diarrhea, skin problems, or skin tumours. If her energy or appetite are decreased, I would encourage you to take her to the vet to pinpoint the underlying cause. At minimum, they can provide supportive medications for pain or antibiotics if needed. In the meantime, make sure you are keeping Enni's living area clean, and cleaning out any soiled bedding daily. I hope this helps, and that Enni feels better soon.

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.

Keep them warm and as stress free as possible. Stress can complicate any illness in rats. Use a dust free substrate. Some sneezing is normal and you may see a red tinge (porphyrin staining) which is also normal in small amounts. A URI will likely require antibiotics. Do not give any other medications to your rats without the advice of your veterinarian. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite or increased discharge from the eyes nose or mouth. If you see any of these symptoms, have them examined at the nearest veterinary ER. As long as they are behaving and eating normally, you can likely wait until Monday.

'chromodacryorrhea is the term for the red tearing that is commonly seen in rats. This is not blood per se, but a secretion of porphyrin from the gland. This happens commonly when your rat is very ill or stressed and is indicative of a serious condition. If he is sneezing and showing this, it is time for a trip to the vet. Your rat may have a treatable respiratory illness or something more serious like a tumor. I would urge you to take him in as soon as possible. Hope this helps.