Grunting and vomiting?

[shimikeo]

Hi. I am new to this forum and joined shortly after one of my girls, Thora, got suddenly ill and passed without warning. But tonight my other sweet girl, Babe, has begun acting a bit strange and it's freaking me out. She began making audible grunting noises, and moments ago she crawled up on my chest, her mouth opened tongue out like a yawn, and did what I could only describe as vomited about 3 times. Could this be fluid from the lungs not stomach? Is that why she's grunting? She is also clenching her fists like her Thora did right before she died. Babe has just come off a 2 week cycle of antibiotics and is a month clear or a spaying and growth removal surgery. She seemed to be at her peak of health.

I realized that the breeder I got them from lied to me about so much, that I assume she lied about their age as well (I think she was just trying to dump them on someone). Can anyone tell me if there are some tell tale signs of old age? Is there anything I can do/give her to help if her breathing worsens and before I could speak to her vet? Any guidance would be immensely appreciated.

Maja

 

[hopefloats]

Is she leaving liquid? And how long has this been happening?

 

[eagle]

Rats can not vomit, is it possible she was choking. If she is choking she will drool and work the food out herself. It is hard to watch.

 

[jorats]

It could be chocking, in which case, she should do a full recovery. But if she's 18+ months old, it could be a pituitary tumour.

 

[lilspaz68]

It definitely sounds like choking to me, she will work it out on their own and the fluid is usually saliva mixed with the stuck food item. The saliva is used to break it down. Do you know what she ate just prior?

 

[shimikeo]

I understand they can't vomit, that's why I was so freaked out. She ate some yogurt and a couple pieces of baby cereal. Could it be because the baby snacks are designed to melt in the mouth? Maybe a similar situation as with peanut butter? She seems ok this morning, I on the other hand... Thank you all for writing back.

 

[mamarat]

Anything like peanut butter can't be given to our rats unless it's very diluted. It sounds like she was choking to me too, so glad she's better this morning.

 

[ratkin412]

Many years ago something similar happened to my special rat Cherry.

In addition to "dry heaves", she also would rub her face on the ground like she was wiping her mouth. She was not able to eat.

We took her to a Cat vet and the vet convinced us to put Cherry to sleep without a thorough exam to determine the problem.

I am still wondering what happened and I am still upset. I feel like I let my rat down.

(Cherry was such a special agouti rat. She was my ex-boyfriend's first pet, and she was a real character. She would steal things from around the room and specifically drag them over our feet (for permission, or to taunt us, I don't know). One time, our friend was laying on the floor under a dresser and she climbed up on the dresser and lept down square on his face. She did this on purpose. She also organized great escapes into the hallway - she and our other two girls would all do a mad dash for the door when it opened - we could only pick up two rats at once, so the third would run down the hallway.)

I miss Cherry.

 

[EDK]

Sad story ratikin, im sure she's in a better place though. As for this other incident, I never experienced this so i'd listen to those who have or know a thing or two about ratties