went to the vet today

[Ziggy]

Attila again.
The baytril has stopped working again. The vet is now investigating a possible allergy. She gave him an injection or cortizone, I think it was, to see if that makes any difference.
If it does, he's got allergies or hay fever or something. If it doesn't, I don't know what to do. She said his lungs sound clear, his breathing sounds clear. It's just at night when he makes this really disturbing nasal snorting sound. He sounds so congested. And this is definately a nasal sound, not a chest or lung sound. No doubt about that.

But I wondered if he could have a tumour or polyp growing in his noes thats obscuring his breathing but then if that were the case, surely he'd snort all the time, not just at nights?
I'm stumped. I just hope todays injection works.

[ckhs]

Keeping fingers crossed for you and Attila. How long before you should be able to tell improvement?

[Ziggy]

I'm not sure. It was a straight up injection so I'd assume I'd see improvement fairly soon. I'm gonna go to bed in about half an hour, and thats when he makes these noises so we'll see tonight.
But if it IS something like hay fever, which to be honest I am thinking it might be, what then? He can't be on meds his entire life for that can he?
I am thinking hay fever for a few reasons. Firstly, this came on out of the blue and only started when we started to get some proper sunny days here in the UK. The week we got hot weather, and thusly high pollen counts, he began doing this. Secondly, he has never seen a summer before. He was born last september so I wouldn't have known previously if he had hay fever or asthma.
Thirdly, keeping the window closed SEEMED to help. Though thats not definite, could be coincidence.

But then theres a few things making me think it couldn't  be hay fever. The antibiotics he was on to begin with helped and stopped him making this noise. They lost effectiveness eventually obviously but they did help initialy. Surely antibiotics would have no bearing on something like an allergy?

I don't know. But it keeps me awake hearing him make these sounds. It's so odd. The noises definately come in time with his breathing. as he breathes in and out you can hear it. But then the noises will stop for a few minutes. He's obviously still breathing in this time but not making noise. Then they'll be back. Odd odd odd.

[ckhs]

Have you considered a sinus inection?
My Walter had sneezies due to allergies and an over the counter eye drop helped alot. I just use them when i think its allergy related...i can tell the difference. I know exactly what you mean by nasal sound, there is a difference.
Im thinking possible sinus infection because that would account for antibiotics helping.
Something to consider.
Good luck.

[Ziggy]

that sounds quite possible.
I'll definately look into eye drops.
 I'm glad she ruled out a nasal tumour or something. She said if it were that, there'd be a lot of sneezing (and he doesn't sneeze much at all) aswell as a discharge. She also said that to find out about something like that, they'd have to refer me to a reptile specialist since those are the only people with tools small enough to see up a rats nose. And even they may not have small enough ones.

Reptile specialist sounded expensive to me  

[Ziggy]

Last night I didn't hear a sound out of him. Whatever she gave him has done the trick. So, does this mean allergies then?

[scout]

Boy, that sounds SO MUCH like MY OWN allergies that I'd bet that's what he's got! You might have seen some improvement while he was on antibiotics because he might have had a concurrent infection (I frequently do). The best treatment for allergies is to remove the offending source - which in this case sound suspiciously like pollen. I have a HEPA filter running in my room all the time for my own allergies and it makes a huge difference. Of course, you have to keep the windows closed. If the room gets too hot that way, try closing the drapes/blinds/shutters during the day. If it still gets too hot, a room air conditioner with a HEPA filter might work.

You can ask your vet about antihistamines for him, like Benadryl.

[jatango]

Can rats get sleep apnea? Since it's only at night, maybe it's a rattie form of snoring?

[Ziggy]

Can rats get sleep apnea? Since it's only at night, maybe it's a rattie form of snoring?

well, I rarely see him sleep. It happens when he's lying down, as if he's trying to go to sleep but he still has his eyes open. But the injection the vet gave him really seems to have worked. I haven't heard a sound out of him all today or last night.

[SuzanneR]

Cortizone is kind of cheating (but is a great releif). It cures just about everything, so you still may not be able to ID the problem.

That's not advice from the rattery, that's my own experience.

I have a history of non-allergic rhinitis which triggers migraines. That is, I got swollen, empty sinuses for no reason that turned in to the headaches from (you know where). Passed all the allergy tests, but benedryl helps. (that's cause it reduces swelling, just like the cortizone.) Well, 20 years later it turns out I have an overeveloped muscle in my neck, pulling my vertebrae out of whack. Got that neutralized, no more anything bothering me... But cortizone helped. It helps everything.