HELP a question about intros

[julztoni97]

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?

[julztoni97]

anyone

[artemish]

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.

[julztoni97]

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!

[julztoni97]

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.

[Addicted2Rats]

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