Do rats get hiccups?

[syrcaid]

Topic is the question. Occasionally, usually when very relaxed, I'll see one of the boys have a little jerking motion that involves most of their upper body. There is no noise. It just looks like a little spasm that happens every few seconds and then stops. They don't seem concerned at all and are usually half way asleep or just lounging. It is sometimes accompanied with bruxing, but I don't think that's what's causing it because they do that all the time and they only "jerk" sometimes. It's not eye-boggling either, it's very much how having a "hiccup" would appear in a person. Is that what this is?

 

[DadRat]

One of our boys gets the hiccups fairly often. Usually after bruxxing his little heart out about something, then starts the hiccup jerks. It usually goes away in a minute or two.

 

[SQ]

No, they don't. It is a symptom of myco. (Rat Health Care book)
If it happens frequently you can treat with antibiotics for myco and it will stop. (book, my experience, & Godmother's experience)

 

[jorats]

I have never seen it related to myco. So I don't agree with Debbie D.

 

[xxchelle]

I've also never seen it related to myco, some of mine just hiccup sometimes, with no myco symptoms. I honestly wouldn't be worried about it unless there's other symptoms as well.

 

[syrcaid]

Neat. Yeah, I've never seen any other "sick" symptoms. No sneezing or anything. Fortunately though, I work for their veterinarian so I can just bring them in any day if anything ever comes up. lol

 

[Rattus]

My boy willy "hiccups" quite a bit..after reading so many things about it.. I was very paranoid and scared for a long time, Id see him hiccup and was like ahh no! Im still kinda uncomfortable when I see them do it, one of my other boys does it very rarely. They've never gotten sick after doing it..and Im hoping it stays that way ..=/

 

[SQ]

I never heard anyone link it to further specific symptoms such as a myco respir. flareup.
However, the experiences of both myself and Godmother over many years, show that this does respond to antibiotics.
We all know that myco slowly causes unseen damage to body organs.
Since it responds to antibiotics, it is something .... even if you disagree that it is related to myco.
When it becomes frequent, I believe in treating it since it is a health problem (as demonstrated by its response to antibiotics).

Hopefully researchers will one day be able to give us information about this behaviour so we can stop guessing as to what it is and what effect it may or may not be having on rats.