I have two young rats sneezing and conjested.. will honey help?

[Ratlovingkippy06]

I just got 2 new females and they seem to be sick, Is baytril too strong from them at 6 weeks?  i was going to put down a heated blanket under them. It seems like a upper respiratory which i have the baytri here but i don't want it to be too strong.

[QueenRat2007]

I'm not sure.
Anyway I think that it's a start by putting a heated towel/blanket, also I think "honey" can be ok? Though maybe not so young.
I hope you find the answers to your questions.
~Rae

[italianqt]

Honey? I haven't heard of that before, but considering it is kind of "thick", it may be similar to peanut butter where you have to dilute it with something very watery. I think the best short-term solution is to take them in the bathroom with hot water running and try to have the steam open them up a little. That, and a little piece of high cacao content dark chocolate.

[Ratlovingkippy06]

Honey? I haven't heard of that before, but considering it is kind of "thick", it may be similar to peanut butter where you have to dilute it with something very watery. I think the best short-term solution is to take them in the bathroom with hot water running and try to have the steam open them up a little. That, and a little piece of high cacao content dark chocolate.

I kno i have heard of honey before either. Isn't chocolate deadly to rtas?

[Rattiemama]

I kno i have heard of honey before either. Isn't chocolate deadly to rtas?

That's a common misconception. I used to think it was deadly too, but not so. In fact dark chocolate (the darker the better) can help dialate their bronchioles and help them breathe better.

I've never heard of the honey, but steam and chocolate can help. I would call your vet and ask if they think the babies are too young for baytril. There are other antibiotics that might be safer for them.

[RWS]

Baytril shouldn't be given to rats under 3 mths. There are other combos though that are safe, so ask your vet.

Honey can help relieve symptoms - mix 1t with boiling water to dissolve it and pour it into a standard drink bottle topped up with water (about 250 mL). It's better mixed with some liquid echinacea as well. Not a cure though. Steamy room is good to for temporary alleviation, along with a little dark chocolate (the darker the better).

RW

[Ratlovingkippy06]

My rat vet that i normally talk to isn't in till sat. so i will see how they are, i have been giving them baby food and i see them eating.  I guess i will be
getting them a dark chocolate bar. I will also put the honey in the water and put the heat pad on. Does anyone know any other thing i can do?  I thought they were breathing fast but i went over and watched the adults and it was normal. I will just talk to me vet about meds.

[QueenRat2007]

I would just keep her real comfy
Is she still with other rats? If so, maybe you should move her, to a smaller warmer cage

[Ratlovingkippy06]

I would just keep her real comfy
Is she still with other rats? If so, maybe you should move her, to a smaller warmer cage

They are sisters that i just got yesterday both are sick, one is a little more conjested than the other. I got them based off personality, i knew there was a chance of a cold going around because petsmart got sall but 2 were sick with the same thing. So i know what it is  im just trying to make them feel better till i can talk to my vet.

[QueenRat2007]

Ah

[scout]

It's thought that baytril shouldn't be given to young rats because it may cause joint problems (documented by the manufacturer in puppies). There are other antibiotics that can safely be given to young rats.

Please be sure that the heating pad is only in one part of the cage. The rats need to be able to move to another cooler part if they get too warm.

[lilspaz68]

Depending on how sick your girls are.  If they are really sick, give them the baytril anywaysand take a chance, but they'll be alive.  How soon will you be able to see your vet?

I took in a sick 7 weeker and gave her baytril (she was pretty sick)..she's a nice solid 13 monther now. 

If you can see your vet soon, wait and get pediatric friendly abs, if they are going to have to wait then I would get them on the baytril asap.

How sick are they?  What are their symptoms?

[LOTR_Ratties]

I have a fairly young rat, about 4 months old, who has been sneezing and sounding congested, and I took him to the vet today and found out he's in the beginning's of bacterial pneumonia. So as soon as you can get in to see your vet, please do. Can't be too careful, ya' know? They've got me giving him Baytril and Doxycyclene by the way. He weighs 245g, and he's taking 0.1 ml twice a day. As for the honey, I don't have any knowledge about that. Hope your little girls will be okay.

[Scubbs]

Zithromax is safe to use in young rats. 

I really wouldn't suggest giving honey to your rats.  It's (very) sticky texture could potentionally cause some choking, like peanut butter.

[JR1030]

I've also heard worries about honey based on botulism...same reason human babies shouldn't have it.

[Ratlovingkippy06]

The babies are young the one that sounds the worse is the most active and is jumping around the cage. I have been giving baby food, i guess I'll try the dark chocolate since everyone has said it would help. I looked at noise of the one and there is a little mucus so i think it should bad cause he can get it out while the other one is clear and just sneezing. I can try to get them in on sat if not Tuesday. IF things do start to go downhill i will rush them to the doctor. Right now its sneezing a lot and a little conjested in the one.

[lilspaz68]

dark chocolate is only good during a gasping attack as a bronchodilator.  It won't keep the airways open, its a stopgap measure.

[RatDude55]

chocolate contains stimulants. but i wouldnt use it unless you used a honey steam bath. Like boil water, and put it into a mug and then put honey in.. the honey in human tea acts to smooth out the throat, and since its natural we can process it better than 'a spoonful of sugar.'


So I'd do the honey steam bath, so it lubricates the lungs and then chocolate to stimulate the expulsion of the phlegm.

if it's an infection, there are little things that can kill the bad germs. I know Ginger tea, and garlic are good antibiotics. You could add them to the Tea bath.


Just put your sick ratty in a box or basket, put the tea in and put a tea towel over top to humidify the small space.

EDIT: homeopathics aren't a Doctor's advice. If it gets worse, or continues see a vet.

[Squeeky]

As lilspaz68 said, a very, very tiny piece of dark chocolate is something you use in an emergency to try to keep airways open.
If you separate a rattie from her sister it will cause stress and probably make her sicker.
As previously stated, if you heat the cage, only heat one side so ratties can get as far away as they need for a comfortable temp.
A cool air mist humidifier will help breathing if the air is too dry for ratties.
Rats do not get colds.
You might want to make sure their sneezing isn't being caused or made worse by other factors such as bedding.
As previously stated, honey has been linked to serious medical concerns in children.

Your rats need to go to the vet and be put on antibiotics asap.
As others have said, probably zithromax or if necessary, baytril.

good luck