Baby Rat in Resp. Distress

[MadamBelladonna]

Yeah I know what you mean...I don't really like Carefresh much (messy and smelly) and I've heard plenty of bad things about with regard to the dust. Hate to take it away from them though, they have so much fun with it! They carry it up from the aquarium one piece at a time and stuff it into the little rattie bed I got for them (rat bed is currently overflowing lol).

I felt almost as bad for my roommate as I did for her rat...she completely freaked out when she came home from work to find me fogging up the bathroom with her baby, thought she was going to cry :sad3: Her bf was really opposed to her getting the rat in the first place, even though she's in one of MY cages (so Kiley-my roomie-didn't even have THAT cost). I don't get it...it's not like HE has to take care of her, and I don't think a trip to the vet that's not even 10 minutes down the road was too much to ask...oh well, at least she's doing ok now and with luck I'll find my keys and take her myself

 

[Joanne]

Little girlie is doing splendidly! We were not able to get her to the vet yesterday: my car keys have miraculously disappeared (still MIA) and her boyfriend wouldn't take us, as he is of the mindset that she can just go spend $3 for another rat rather than $40 for a vet visit. Still going to try to get her in asap, just to be sure, but as of right now she is breathing normally, no gasping or wheezing whatsoever :thumbup:

Actually this kind of confuses me...I was expecting her to be in pretty rough shape (or not even there :shock: ) when we woke up that morning, she was still pretty bad when we went to bed...Anyone know anything that could cause such severe respiratory distress and then appear to go away completely the next day?

PS, she's still eating and drinking and everything. I was worried for a while because I didn't see her doing either but then last night I saw her chewing on a lab block and this morning she was drinking.

Perhaps she was actually choking instead of a lung problem? Because once the blockage clears, they are usually OK.

 

[jennifervb]

Yeah I know what you mean...I don't really like Carefresh much (messy and smelly) and I've heard plenty of bad things about with regard to the dust. Hate to take it away from them though, they have so much fun with it! They carry it up from the aquarium one piece at a time and stuff it into the little rattie bed I got for them (rat bed is currently overflowing lol).

I felt almost as bad for my roommate as I did for her rat...she completely freaked out when she came home from work to find me fogging up the bathroom with her baby, thought she was going to cry :sad3: Her bf was really opposed to her getting the rat in the first place, even though she's in one of MY cages (so Kiley-my roomie-didn't even have THAT cost). I don't get it...it's not like HE has to take care of her, and I don't think a trip to the vet that's not even 10 minutes down the road was too much to ask...oh well, at least she's doing ok now and with luck I'll find my keys and take her myself

Guys don't care if they have nothing to do with the pet. Just chalk it up to his testosterone overload problem. Most guys suffer from it. One symptom is this grandiose idea they acquire which makes them think they are in a position to dictate.

The best remedy is a drop kick to the curb and a certified, return receipt letter from your attorney saying that he will move out before the rats do. :bunnydance:

The boyfriend needs to get over himself... get a job... a hobby... a neuter. :thumbup:

 

[MadamBelladonna]

Little girlie is doing splendidly! We were not able to get her to the vet yesterday: my car keys have miraculously disappeared (still MIA) and her boyfriend wouldn't take us, as he is of the mindset that she can just go spend $3 for another rat rather than $40 for a vet visit. Still going to try to get her in asap, just to be sure, but as of right now she is breathing normally, no gasping or wheezing whatsoever :thumbup:

Actually this kind of confuses me...I was expecting her to be in pretty rough shape (or not even there :shock: ) when we woke up that morning, she was still pretty bad when we went to bed...Anyone know anything that could cause such severe respiratory distress and then appear to go away completely the next day?

PS, she's still eating and drinking and everything. I was worried for a while because I didn't see her doing either but then last night I saw her chewing on a lab block and this morning she was drinking.

Perhaps she was actually choking instead of a lung problem? Because once the blockage clears, they are usually OK.

Plausible, but she sounded congested so not sure...same symptoms? Never seen a rat choke...plus this lasted for HOURS, it was terrible

 

[M0onkist]

Choking can actually last for hours - I've had a couple of cases of that, one with Princess and one with Mr. Honeycomb. Princess started maybe around midnight - I stayed up until 5 AM, sure she was going to die at any minute, and then all of a sudden she was weak but okay. Same thing with Mr. Honeycomb.

So the lung sounds are okay? Obviously she's eating food again, which is VERY positive...

I find giving them paper bags or shredded paper lets them have fun nesting, without the dust and danger of Carefresh. They absolutely adore the crinkling sounds of the paper bag, and they'll drag it (fully puffed up) all the way up to their nest sometimes, even if they don't succeed in stuffing it inside!

 

[MadamBelladonna]

Choking can actually last for hours - I've had a couple of cases of that, one with Princess and one with Mr. Honeycomb. Princess started maybe around midnight - I stayed up until 5 AM, sure she was going to die at any minute, and then all of a sudden she was weak but okay. Same thing with Mr. Honeycomb.

So the lung sounds are okay? Obviously she's eating food again, which is VERY positive...

I find giving them paper bags or shredded paper lets them have fun nesting, without the dust and danger of Carefresh. They absolutely adore the crinkling sounds of the paper bag, and they'll drag it (fully puffed up) all the way up to their nest sometimes, even if they don't succeed in stuffing it inside!

Lungs are sounding fine, got her out to check again about ten minutes ago. That's weird, maybe it really was choking then...This lasted from about 5 in the afternoon to well after midnight, and she was still breathing weird when we all went to bed. I know how you feel with that, I was convinced I was going to wake up to a dead baby, though I was admittedly trying to be overly positive for my roommate's sake... :cry:

Will let you guys know when I get her to the vet, THANK YOU EVERYONE for all of you help! You guys are awesome!

 

[hopefloats]

I have a girl that will sounds horrible for one day, then ok for the next. The weather always makes her worse. She will be ok for most of the day, then wheezy and congested sounding for the rest of it.