Ellie Mae is rattling when she breathes...

[Joanne]

Last night I had everyone out to play and after a bit I could hear this loud, rattling sound, like someone had a chest cold and needed to cough. I tracked down the culprit and it was my young girl Ellie Mae. I started her on Baytril right away, so she's had two doses so far.
Today at lunch I added Clavamox as I read that Amoxicillin is the drug of choice for respiratory problems in young rats.
I boiled the kettle in the room last night, and again now at lunch to increase the humidity.
What else should I be doing?
I have an appt booked with the vet for 6pm, but that may get cancelled because of the weather.
Ellie doesn't make the sound all the time, and she still seems bright and will eat her medicine mixed in some yogurt, so she's not on death's door yet, but I got the impression she could crash at any time.

 

[MomRat]

Have you done the ratty phone? Hold her chest up to your ear and listen for sounds.

 

[jorats]

You are pretty much doing it.
Where did you get the info on Amox. being the drug of choice for young rats with URI?
We've used Zithro in young rats with great results.

 

[Joanne]

Have you done the ratty phone? Hold her chest up to your ear and listen for sounds.

You don't have to be anywhere near her to hear her breathing. It was quite loud.

You are pretty much doing it.
Where did you get the info on Amox. being the drug of choice for young rats with URI?
We've used Zithro in young rats with great results.

I got the info and the dosages from the "Rat Health Care" guide by Debbie Ducommun. SQ gave me a copy when I adopted the girls a couple of years ago.

Ellie Mae is sounding a bit better. Still a bit congested, but nothing like last night and this morning, so I think the antibiotics are helping.

 

[SQ]

A cool air humidifer is good to keep in the rat room.
I have a honeywell and can set it to the level of humidity I want the room to have.

I find the baytril + clavamox is a good combo to start with for rats with respir. problems.
Baytril is esp. great if it is myco., while clavamox is great especially for secondary infections that kill very fast.
If this combo isn't making a difference within 3 days, then other combos such as baytril + doxy, or baytril + zithro are tried.

Hope Ellie Mae is soon feeling better.

 

[Joanne]

Thanks! She was feeling a bit better until Casey bit her toe in a tussle tonight... *SIGH*
Someday they'll all get along, right?

 

[SQ]

Thanks! She was feeling a bit better until Casey bit her toe in a tussle tonight... *SIGH*
Someday they'll all get along, right?

Absolutely !!! :thumbup:

 

[jorats]

I find the baytril + clavamox is a good combo to start with for rats with respir. problems.
Baytril is esp. great if it is myco., while clavamox is great especially for secondary infections that kill very fast.
If this combo isn't making a difference within 3 days, then other combos such as baytril + doxy, or baytril + zithro are tried.

I'm going to see if I can try that next time. :thumbup: