Vincent and Theo are sick

[onegreynight]

Hey to all:
My two babies are sick.  I noticed last night that Vincent sneezed, so when I got up the morning, I made an appointment with my vet.  By the time I got them in to see the doctor at 4:30, Vincent had a full-blown cough.  Poor little baby boy. I owe it to you all that I got right on top of things and got my boys to the vet immediately.   My vet commended me on getting them in so soon.  She said most of her clients bring their rats in when it is very late in the stages of respiratory infection. I was proud, and I wanted to extend my pride on to you all.   I also want to thank you because I feel like your advice and this web site helped me to know just what to do.  Both my little babies got antibiotic injections and will get three more (one per week) just to make sure the infection is killed off.  I have a few questions.  I'm still worried about my boys.  Does this mean they will be chronically suffering from Mycoplasma? They are only 9 weeks old.  Is it normal for them to get an infection so young?  I keep my cage immaculate, so it can't be amonia fumes.  I wonder if something else caused them to develop an infection.  I want to do anything I can to prevent future problems.

Anyway, let me know if you all have any insights or ideas, and thanks again for your help and for this web site.  RATS RULE!  I love my little rattys, and you all too.
 
Kelly

[Sugarfoxx]

9 weeks is kind of young to be getting myco but it happens.  Probably a secondary infection from it. Sometimes its simply an infection and the culprit isnt always myco (but many times it is)

Sometimes it becomes a chronic problem and sometimes they get sick just once and it doesnt pop up ever again.  Sometimes, that is.

What kind of shot was it that they got that will last that long I wonder? If its baytril, they need more than just one injection per week.
I cant think of any antibiotic that requires just one dose that lasts longer than 12 hours......24 at the most.  I would feel better knowing the name of the medication they got if you can find that out by the invoice or calling the vets office.
Do  you have other rats?  How long have you had them and where did you get them from?

Sorry for all the questions.  I am real glad you got them to the vet as fast as you did too.  Rats go downhill super fast.   Also with babies, there are some things that they bounce back from real fast so hopefully this is one of them.
If you do not seem improvement in their condition within 3 days or if they get worse, contact the vet ASAP because they will need a change in antibiotics right away.  If after 3 days they dont start to recover, that means the antibiotic is resistant to the bacteria they have.
I am not a vet by any means but I have been there and back......and there and back.....too many times to count and not fair for one rat owner to have to endure.

Keeping fingers crossed that you see nothing but improvements from here on.  Dont forget to find out the name of that injection they got!

[onegreynight]

Sugarfox:
Don't apologize for the questions.  I am just happy to have someone with experience to point me in the right direction.  My vet gave each of my rats a shot of doxcycline.  She said that they will each need three more--one per week.  She listened to their lungs with a stethoscope and said that they sounded clear.  She did say that if they get worse in the next day or so to call her and come in asap so that she can put them on a different antibiotic.  I hope this was good advice.  Do you know anything about doxcycline?  I read in Debbie Ducommon's Rat Health Care guide that it is a strong antibiotic.  I hope it is and it works because I couldn't bare to lose my babies.  I got Vincent and Theo at Perfect Pet Rescue in Tulsa.  April runs it, and she is a Rats Rule! member.  They are both males and litter mates.  I have had them for almost a month now.  I do not have any other rats, just these two babies.  Let me know if there is something more I should be doing for them.  I am watching them closely.  However, tomorrow is my long day at work and class.  I'm scared something will happen while I am away.
 
Thanks for your reply and your concern.  I really appreciate it and so do my boys.
 
Kelly