Need opinon from you guys after vet visit yesterday...

[Angelfyr9]

Last weekend, I noticed the boys seemed sneezy.  I decided to watch them for a few days to see if it was an irritation (I had the window open and they explored the sill for the first time... which I have since cleaned, but was rather dusty when they first went up there) or if they were getting URI's.  During the week Mr. Henry & Obie got "clicky", had more porph nose crusties and Puck developed a porph ring around the collar...  I tried holding them up to my ear to see if I their lungs were clear, but they didn't really want to hold still to LET me listen.  So I made an appointment yesterday to see the vet.

He checked all four thouroughly and determined their lungs were clear.  He said it he would rather not give them antibiotics at this time because the ab's themselves can sometimes cause gi problems (i.e. diarrhea & stomach upset)... that since they were not lethargic and were all eating I should just watch them for now.  That it could be some sort of virusy thing or irritant (the pollen is horrible here) that wouldn't respond to ab's anyway.   

Am I just being a paranoid Mommy?  I keep reading how the little guys can go downhill so quickly.  While a part of me is relieved that they are okay, another part is second guessing what he said and wondering if they should be on something.  Do they make rattie sinus meds?

[JR1030]

Hmmm...hopefully someone else will chime in here, but as far as I know, rats don't get viral respiratory infections.  However, if their lungs are clear, and it's just a bit of sneezing, I might wait a day or two and see what happens.  Is your vet an exotics specialist?

[Angelfyr9]

He treats exotics... I started working with him in 1991, and he was always my favorite vet at the hospital.  He left the practice in... 1995, or 6 to start his own practice.  He goes to all the seminars and keeps up on the latest technology and such.  However, he treats everything... dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, small animals... I think he was even the resident vet for the Emu farm out near where he is now for a while.  There is a fancy exotics specialist in the area, but he charges $77.00 per rat just for the exam.

[JR1030]

It sounds like he's got lots of experience...just keep an eye on your ratties, and call the vet back if they develop more symptoms.

[hairless_love]

I also vote for just keeping a REALLY close eye on your rats for now. I've only dealt with a resp. infection once ((pneumonia)) and when Dexter had it it was very obvious he was sick. He was extremely lethargic, wouldn't eat or drink, and I could hear his raspy breathing without even getting close to him.

[Dearpie]

It is disconcerting when the vet doesn't appease us with antibiotics, isn't it!  But, I always try to believe my vet when he gives this advice.  However, did your vet mention perhaps using some benedryl?  I've given a bit to my rats if they sound a little congested, but not necessarily 'sick'.  I give .2 ml of liquid benedryl and it's helped on several occasions.  But, definitely keep a close eye and ear on your rats,and don't hesitate to call the vet if things begin to progress.

[hairless_love]

It is disconcerting when the vet doesn't appease us with antibiotics, isn't it!  But, I always try to believe my vet when he gives this advice.  However, did your vet mention perhaps using some benedryl?  I've given a bit to my rats if they sound a little congested, but not necessarily 'sick'.  I give .2 ml of liquid benedryl and it's helped on several occasions.  But, definitely keep a close eye and ear on your rats,and don't hesitate to call the vet if things begin to progress.

Do you use the children's formula, or the regular stuff?

[Angelfyr9]

Thank you for all your reassurance.  I guess I should be happy that he isn't just throwing ab's at them, what with resistance that can develop from too frequent use... I would like to get some Benedryl to have on hand (no he didn't mention it, but I wondered if there was anything like that which would be safe for them and forgot to ask him).  I second Hairless_love's question though... children's or regular?

[Suebee]

I think he gave very sound advice. As you said, the pollen is on the increase, and that can certainly affect them like it affects us.

The children's would be just fine. I've used it before, too, though not in a while...

[Dorasmommy]

how old are they?  my rat, Pip was a feeder rat who was so little her mother had been fed to a snake before she was even finished weaning.  when she was about three weeks old she developed a sneeze and my vet said it was from the suebees diet I was supplementing with.  She said that when rats are that little that they can develop nasal polyps from dusty food types.  I switched to blocks alone and the sneezing stopped.  

[Dearpie]

Yep, children's benedryl.

[strangeduck]

I think your vet gave you pretty good advice.  I was up all night last night after losing my sweet Benny girl and spent tons of time reading stuff about repiratory illness trying to figure out if I missed some sign last week that would have told me that Benny would have passed this weekend.  While I read the usual stuff about Baytril and Doxy, stuff we've all heard of and used at least once, I also read that according to the lab research done on lab animals that it doesn't help since they're all exposed to Myco from birth and that it simply affects some worse than others, that the effects range from no symptoms at all to heavy symptoms from birth.  I've had some success with antibiotics, but I've also had rats pass away despite repeated courses of antibiotics.

Definitely keep a close eye on them.  If they seem at all different from the way the usually act, take them back.  Also, keep an eye on their temps.  If they start to feel colder than usual, that's a sign that they aren't doing well and must see the vet right away. 

But your vet is right, just like in humans, every little sniffle is not cause for antibiotics.