My rat makes odd chewing noises but acts normal. What's wrong?

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign might be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. 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!

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or eventually to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. 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.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with a severe upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). An immediate clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Nutritional support and antibiotics are likely to be needed. 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!

If he is eating, drinking and acting normal and he doesn't have any eye or nasal discharge then I wouldn't be concerned. I would also weigh him weekly on a gram scale to ensure he isn't loosing weight. This could be a normal sound for him. I would also make sure you aren't using an wood/cedar chips for a substrate as some are allergic to this. Care flesh or a cotton like material is the best substrate for their cages. If you continue to worry about it or anything with his behavior changes I would try to get the noise on video and let your vet listen to it. I think the next step would be for your vet to take some check X-rays if it gets worse. I hope this helps.

Thanks for reaching out about Chip. The most common respiratory ailment that affects rats, would be mycoplasmosis. This is a bacteria-like infection that could be managed by antibiotics but is rarely cured. Congenital malformation in the sinus could also explain the noises, but these are not treatable. Good luck.

Hello. It is possible that Lucius has a respiratory infection, which are quite common in rats. He should see a veterinarian & started on antibiotics, & anti-inflammatories. I may also include some neubulization to help break-up respiratory secretions, but do have him seen soon so the proper treatment can be started. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for reaching out about Bob. The most common cause of respiratory problems in rats are mycoplasma. Response to oral antibiotics is fairly good, but often difficult to totally clear with potential relapses. But treatments often improve quality of life. You would have to contact the local veterinarian for experience. Good luck.