Frosty isn't eating, and doesn't seem to have much energy

[CharliesRats]

Hello everyone,

Firstly I'd like to introduce myself! My name is Charlie, and I currently have 4 of the best rats I could ever have asked for! I've had four other rats in the past, who have since sadly passed away. In my opinion, I am quite an experienced rat owner, and I try to give all of my rats the best lives they could have! Also, I'm sorry if I post this in the wrong area or anything because I am new here

However, one of my rats, Frosty, has been acting very odd strange lately, and I'm very worried about him. This past Friday night (11:30 PM) he was completely normal and fine. He played, ate, drank, and was very perky. But Saturday morning (9:00 AM) he wouldn't come running when I opened the door like the other three did, so I picked him up and he seemed to be breathing faster than normal, and he was making some odd noises (Faint squealing, some popping & rattling) whenever he took a breath. Needless to say, I was worried, so I took him to the couch, and he lied down on my lap for a while, which he would usually never do. I tried to give him his favorite snack - Yogurt - but he only had a couple of bites, when he would usually eat the whole small spoonful that I give him (Frosty still continues to have small - medium portions of yogurt and bread, but he doesn't eat very often. What scares me the most is that he seems to be struggling to breathe. In particular, he is doing what another one of my rats did when he passed away, which is holding his head up in the air (I assume it's to try and breath better) and suddenly getting quick 30 second bursts of energy, and then slumping down. I would take this as him just passing, but Frosty is less than one-year-old (I should point out he is albino, and I know they have shorter life spans but my other albino lived two years) and he had absolutely no signs of being sick just 10 hours before we saw him.
Like my other rats, Frosty has had the common respiratory issues that seem to come with most pet rats, but we treated him with antibiotics, and it cleared up several months ago. Also, there isn't and red stuff around his eyes or nose which is usually the sign I look for.

My speculation is that he had some stroke or heart attack during the night which affected his lungs. However I hope that isn't the case, I want it to be something that is curable, the last thing I want to hear is the vet saying that there isn't anything she can do. (I will of corse still take him to the vet, just in case there is something she can do)

If anyone has any advice or anything at all, I would love to hear it. I would typically take him to the vet but it is labor day weekend, and the only rat knowledgeable vet near me is closed. Thank you so much to anyone that can help out, or just anyone that reads this
-Charlie

 

[SQ]

He needs a vet appointment with a good vet knowledgeable in treating rats asap.
Rats are prey animals so hide illness so by the time you notice that they are ill, you are well into a medical emergency
If sounds like he has a resp. infection and needs to be put on antibiotics immediately (he may also need Lasix short term) .... if the antibiotics help he will need to stay on them (orally, twice a day) for 6 weeks. It might be a secondary infection. He likely needs clavamox + baytril, or azithromycin (10 mg/Ib) + baytril

It does sound like he is struggling to breath ..... if he does not have fluid in his lungs then a steamy bathroom might help him breath better in the short term .... but if you try it and he doesn't seem a bit better or gets worse, get him out of there immediately as the fluid is buiding up in his lungs making it harder for him to breath

A tiny piece of dark chocolate (not milk chocolate) may help to keep his airway open short term, until he can get to a vet

The short bursts of energy may be him panicing because he can not breath

He really needs to see a vet now

(If you have facebook you can try Real Rat lovers want to know)

 

[CharliesRats]

Can't thank you enough for the quick reply, planning to call and make an appointment the second they open on Tuesday and try to squeeze him in on that day as they usually aren't too busy.

Thank you for the tips, I'll be extremely careful to make sure it doesn't get any worse while doing them, I'm with him ASAP just trying to get him going long enough to get to the vet.

 

[SQ]

you will need to try to keep him hydrated (dehydration kills),
and in addition to his regular food, offer him food that is easy to eat because it is hard to breath and eat at the same time

such as peas, baby cereal, organic soy infant formula thickened with baby cereal, ensure, blocks made into mush by soaking in cool water, etc

http://www.ratshackforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8730
http://www.ratshackforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5076

 

[SQ]

if there is a vet on call you might see if they will see him to prescribe some antibiotics to start him on until you can get him in to see your regular vet on Tuesday

http://ratguide.com/reference/ratmedhelp.pdf

http://www.rmca.org/Articles/dchart.htm

 

[jorats]

This sounds like acute respiratory infection. A vet asap and enrofloxacin as well as zithromax should help.

 

[CharliesRats]

Alright, will get him on those now and see if that helps. I Got him an appointment with a great rat knowledgeable vet tomorrow. Thanks for all the help everyone

 

[CharliesRats]

This sounds like acute respiratory infection. A vet asap and enrofloxacin as well as zithromax should help.

I thought when a rat was suffering from the respiratory infection he would get the red pigment around his eyes and nose, is that not always the case?

 

[SQ]

I thought when a rat was suffering from the respiratory infection he would get the red pigment around his eyes and nose, is that not always the case?

They can have a red discharge (porphyrin) when stressed or ill but no, they do not always have that and when they do, they may clean themselves so it isn't always apparent