HELP! Lots of sneezing and funny breathing

[uglycupcake]

When I moved my 5 girls in together, they were all doing fine. A few days later, I felt like there was more sneezing, but I just assumed it sounded that way because there was now 5 rats instead of just 2. WRONG. There was definitely more sneezing. :wallbang:

Aside from the sneezing, when they're on my shoulders, I can actually hear their breathing, and it sounds wheezy... I can also hear their lungs?

I'm not sure what could be the case, but I thing it MIGHT be because this time around, when I was doing their laundry, I used tide (I normally use a very gentle detergent, but I ran out), AND I'm pretty sure I forgot to select the extra rinse option. I don't know if they're having a reaction to the detergent, or if they have a cold (the air conditioning is not working right now, so the temperature in the house does fluctuate about 5 degrees).

I've rewashed their bedding and hammocks, and I'm hoping for some improvement, since it's a long weekend so I can' call the vet until Tuesday. I'll be taking them to the vet regardless of whether there is an improvement or not, but any suggestions on what to do if there isn't?

Any foods/drinks I can give them that will help, or anything like that? They're still as active as ever and don't seem to be discomforted, but the noise when they breathe is very noticeable.

 

[purinpurin]

Try giving them about half a dime-sized drop of Manuka Honey every day; it works wonders for my dogs (I give a little bit to my rats too), as well as myself. Manuka Honey is great for colds, and is a very healthy treat.

You can also warm up the shower and when there is enough steam, put them into a box and sit in the washroom with them so the steam might clear up the mucous in their lungs a bit. You absolutely can't leave them unattended in the shower, as the steam sometimes makes their breathing worse, which will panic the rat. If they show signs of being overheated or discomfort, remove them from the washroom immediately and cool them down slowly.

Hmmm. If you have any echinacea tincture at a health store near you, you can also mix in one drop with the Manuka Honey.

I think if the sneezing started after you did the laundry, that could be why; I myself always sneeze when my mum does the laundry and she switches detergent brands. Your rats might be the same?

I guess the only other thing I can suggest is to get your rats to the vet on Tuesday. :3

 

[jorats]

I'd rewash their stuff in the milder soap and if it doesn't clear up immediately, I'd bring them in the ones that sound really bad to a vet, get them started on meds.
Is the cage big enough for 5 rats, sometimes overcrowding will do that to rats.

 

[rattytat]

I don't feel that I have enough experience with ratties to be offering anyone advice - however, one of my boys was showing similar symptoms to your girls. I took him to the vet and was told his lungs were clear but it seemed like something was irritating his nasal passages and sinus area. These are the things that seemed to help - having a vaporizer in the room all the time, switching from store bedding to fleece, changing laundry detergent to ABC Free, and recently removing the carpet from the room. The vet did not prescribe any meds, because he wanted me to try those suggestions first. If they didn't work, he was going to prescribe Baytril.

The thing that made the fastest improvement was the vaporizer. If the room is not big, you can get a Sunbeam one at Canadian Tire for about $20.00 That's what I'm using.

Good luck tomorrow. Hope it's nothing serious. Your girls are gorgeous!

 

[uglycupcake]

I'd rewash their stuff in the milder soap and if it doesn't clear up immediately, I'd bring them in the ones that sound really bad to a vet, get them started on meds.
Is the cage big enough for 5 rats, sometimes overcrowding will do that to rats.

I redid the laundry yesterday, and I'm hoping they'll sound better today. As for the cage, they are in a double unit CN, but only use the top unit. A couple of them will venture to the a few times a day, but only to look for the treats that I put there to try and get them to use it more, lol. Then they go running back up.

So if over crowding is an issue, I really don't know what to do =/ ... because separating them would be the only option, and I feel that would depress them.

 

[uglycupcake]

Try giving them about half a dime-sized drop of Manuka Honey every day; it works wonders for my dogs (I give a little bit to my rats too), as well as myself. Manuka Honey is great for colds, and is a very healthy treat.

You can also warm up the shower and when there is enough steam, put them into a box and sit in the washroom with them so the steam might clear up the mucous in their lungs a bit. You absolutely can't leave them unattended in the shower, as the steam sometimes makes their breathing worse, which will panic the rat. If they show signs of being overheated or discomfort, remove them from the washroom immediately and cool them down slowly.

Hmmm. If you have any echinacea tincture at a health store near you, you can also mix in one drop with the Manuka Honey.

I think if the sneezing started after you did the laundry, that could be why; I myself always sneeze when my mum does the laundry and she switches detergent brands. Your rats might be the same?

I guess the only other thing I can suggest is to get your rats to the vet on Tuesday. :3

I only have the echinacea capsules with the powder... I'll see what's open today though. Also, what stores carry Manuka Honey? Where do you get yours from? Thanks!!

Also, when I looked it up... they apparently have different "levels". As seen here: http://www.manukacanada.com/manuka_activity.htm

Which one do you get?

 

[MumsyRat]

Don't forget that dark chocolate helps open the airway. Dark chocolate - the higher % the better. Give them a piece the size of a regular chocolate chip.

 

[uglycupcake]

I don't feel that I have enough experience with ratties to be offering anyone advice - however, one of my boys was showing similar symptoms to your girls. I took him to the vet and was told his lungs were clear but it seemed like something was irritating his nasal passages and sinus area. These are the things that seemed to help - having a vaporizer in the room all the time, switching from store bedding to fleece, changing laundry detergent to ABC Free, and recently removing the carpet from the room. The vet did not prescribe any meds, because he wanted me to try those suggestions first. If they didn't work, he was going to prescribe Baytril.

The thing that made the fastest improvement was the vaporizer. If the room is not big, you can get a Sunbeam one at Canadian Tire for about $20.00 That's what I'm using.

Good luck tomorrow. Hope it's nothing serious. Your girls are gorgeous!

Unfortunately, I do have a big room

I will try the vaporizer though... I'll just put it near their cage and see if that helps. I'm hoping they won't need meds. I could just picture a few of them being very stubborn about it. But that's what treats are for :giggle:

 

[uglycupcake]

Don't forget that dark chocolate helps open the airway. Dark chocolate - the higher % the better. Give them a piece the size of a regular chocolate chip.

Will do right now! Thanks for the advice, I was never really sure what amounts to give it in. Because I'm always told "a little bit" is good for them and helps the airway. But I was never quite sure what "a little bit" was.

 

[jorats]

For chocolate to be effective it needs to be 70% cocoa and even then, it's not all that effective, it helps a little. Anything under that % and you can actually create phlegm and make things worse for the rat.

 

[jorats]

I'd rewash their stuff in the milder soap and if it doesn't clear up immediately, I'd bring them in the ones that sound really bad to a vet, get them started on meds.
Is the cage big enough for 5 rats, sometimes overcrowding will do that to rats.

I redid the laundry yesterday, and I'm hoping they'll sound better today. As for the cage, they are in a double unit CN, but only use the top unit. A couple of them will venture to the a few times a day, but only to look for the treats that I put there to try and get them to use it more, lol. Then they go running back up.

So if over crowding is an issue, I really don't know what to do =/ ... because separating them would be the only option, and I feel that would depress them.

Oh no, overcrowding is not an issue with 5 rats in a double CN, even if they only use the top. They still have the bottom if they want. The reason overcrowding is an issue is because it creates a lot of stress for those rats who need their own space and can't go anywhere to get it.

 

[purinpurin]

@cupcake: I recommend at least +15 to get any real benefits from Manuka Honey. I used to get mine from well.ca... I checked recently because my jar is about 2/3 empty, and it seems that the one that I normally get (+30) isn't being sold anymore. :/ They also sell echnicea tincture on well.ca. I'm not sure about capsules, and how much to give, unfortunately. :S

 

[*Rebel_Angel*]

Hope ur fur kid's feel better soon!