Goosemoose Pet Portal

I have been letting my babies play with my 3 older rats and things have been going great.  They have been playing fine all last week and this week.  Yesterday I cleaned the cage and after playtime put the babies in with the bigger guys in the FF cage.  Oreo was able to get through the bars (which I knew would happen), but I wanted to let them play in the big cage to see how it would go.  I let them play out again together today and then put them back in the FF cage again.  There was a couple little scuffles but everything seemed ok.  They all went off to sleep in hammocks and I went to get some cleaning done and checked on them every once in a while. So, to the question:

I checked on them one of the times and Lily had a scratch on her nose, a little scratch above her eye and a bigger scratch on her belly.  No major bleeding but the scratches are there.  I cleaned her up and put on a little antibiotic ointment on her belly.  Her breathing seems a little raspy, do you think that maybe that is because of the scratch on her nose?  She has been fine before the fight.  I put her and Oreo back into their little cage because I need to go out for awhile.  Any suggestions about the breathing and about the intros?

anyone ???

I'm guessing the breathing is probably just due to stress. She'll probably be fine in a day or so, but it's good to keep an eye on it.

Had playtime again this morning.  They were out for about 1 1/2 hours in the playpen.  No fighting.  I cleaned the cage while they were together and put all back in the big cage again.  This time I put in extra houses, boxes and hammockes.  Oliver really likes them but Dora and Marshmallow still need to warm up a bit.  I'm pretty sure that they are just trying to be dominant.  No major fights so far this morning.  They have been in the cage for about 1 1/2 hours.  Last time I checked, Oliver, Oreo, and Lily were sleeping in a cube.  I just wish The babies couldn't get out. They are not trying but, I know they could if they wanted too! :)

Lily started breathing funny again.  It seems to start only when she gets picked on by the older guys.  Should I treat her like it is an infection?  It comes and goes so I don't know.  Last night she was really bad and I put her and OReo back in the small cage.  She sounds funny when she breaths and when I pick her up she seems it seems to be worse.

I'd strongly suggest bringing her to the vet to be checked.  If its a respiratory infection that is starting, you'd be better off getting onto the antibiotics right away and catching it before it gets worse.

Deb