Hiccups

[Velo]

So I've noticed that pretty much every single day lately, both Theia and Rizzy have gotten the hiccups (when I come wake them up to check on them after work everyday).
Is this incredibly strange or what? Should I get them checked out for URI? I know they won't be the best patients haha but still. What does everyone think? They normally sound like just a normal hiccup, although I have noticed a few "squeaky" ones.

 

[abby3089]

It can be an indicator of a URI, but sometimes it's not. I've known some rats who are hiccupy in general. Are the hiccups out of the ordinary for them? Do they have any other symptoms--- sneezing, whistling, grunting? Have you tried holding them up to your ear and "rat phoning" them. Hear anything unusual? I usually don't treat unless they have a couple symptoms. Especially sneezing and whistling/grunting.

 

[Velo]

I'd say that at least one of them has hiccuped from day one so wouldn't consider it "out of ordinary", just frequent or common?
I get a couple of sneezes but I wouldnt say more than the expected amount. Theia has a bit of poryphin staining around her eyes (it was hot on Saturday and she got the poryphin then, although she did clean it all off).
Cant say I've heard grunting. What constitutes as whistling? Sometimes when Theia sticks her nose in my ear I can hear her breathing, but I'm not sure its whistling?
I'll try and get some cooperation for a proper rat phone, they don't mind me sticking my ear up to their backs but get rather pissy when I try and get some belly action haha.

 

[jorats]

I would probably get those girls checked out, just to be sure they are healthy.

 

[Velo]

Okay so.
Brought the girls to the vet roughly a week after this. Namely because Theia looked sick, she started getting pory and looking generally crappy. The only symptoms that Rizzy & Pika had were the hiccups.
The vet said that Rizzy & Pika had clear lungs and didn't ~really~ seem sick. Theia had crackly lungs. So he put all 3 on Baytril & Doxy.

They've been on it for 26 days today.
Theia definitely improved the way she looked and seems much healthier.
The hiccups seemed to die down too. I heard Theia hiccup on 7/5 and Pika hiccup on 7/6 but otherwise didn't note much. So I figured by this Wednesday/Friday they'd be done with treatment... That'd be 28-30 days total.

But, suddenly, yesterday, all 3 of them hiccup. O_O;
It was in the morning, I came in to give them their medicine treats and kind of had to wake them up.
They all did it at the same time too, just 3 hiccuping rats.
They aren't silent hiccups, I've never actually seen them hiccup without noise.
So what now?
Do I medicate beyond 30 days? Just keep watching? Am I being paranoid about hiccups??

I'll also note that Saturday night we had two friends over... One had been on Lake Michigan fishing all day and they have a dog and use vaporizer e-cigarettes (we let them use them in our sunroom which has a glass door separating it from the rest of the house). They didn't really go near the ratroom but could the hiccups come from the mass influx of new/weird smells in the house?

@_@;

 

[dspch911]

Antibiotics should be given for about 6 weeks.

 

[Velo]

Ah, okay.
The doc said 3-4 weeks so I just assumed that timeframe was correct.

I probably only have another week of Doxy left but a ton of Baytril.
Would it be counterproductive to do 5 weeks of Doxy & Baytril and 1 week of just Baytril? ;o

 

[dspch911]

Ah, okay.
The doc said 3-4 weeks so I just assumed that timeframe was correct.

I probably only have another week of Doxy left but a ton of Baytril.
Would it be counterproductive to do 5 weeks of Doxy & Baytril and 1 week of just Baytril? ;o

Just call and tell them you need a doxy refill, we never have a problem getting refills.

 

[SQ]

Yes, treat with antibiotics for at least 6 weeks.
Also, if the doxy baytril combo is not doing the trick, you might try baytril + azithromycin (10 mg/Ib twice a day) for 6 weeks.

In my experience, whenever I have had rats with hiccups, treating them with antibiotics for a respiratory infection has always stopped the "hiccups'

Hope they are soon feeling better

 

[Velo]

Well I can honestly say that I'm frustrated... its hard thinking you're done getting meds into them twice a day and that they're all healthy and good to go and finding out it's not the case!!

But I'm really relieved that I did see a symptom again, otherwise they wouldn't have gotten a full treatment! And I'm glad I went for four weeks instead of three too for the same reason. @_@

Thanks to both of you for helping me out!

 

[dspch911]

Well I can honestly say that I'm frustrated... its hard thinking you're done getting meds into them twice a day and that they're all healthy and good to go and finding out it's not the case!!

But I'm really relieved that I did see a symptom again, otherwise they wouldn't have gotten a full treatment! And I'm glad I went for four weeks instead of three too for the same reason. @_@

Thanks to both of you for helping me out!

:lol: Try it with 9 or so on medication at the same time..... I think for the past year we haven't had less then 3 on medication. It never ending.......

 

[Velo]

:lol: Try it with 9 or so on medication at the same time..... I think for the past year we haven't had less then 3 on medication. It never ending.......

Haha I guess this is why I stick to my little colony.

Just waiting for the doc to approve me on more meds. Hopefully there isn't an issue. =_=;

I also need about ten million more syringes, I break those things like nobody's business. :?

 

[dspch911]

Haha I guess this is why I stick to my little colony.

Just waiting for the doc to approve me on more meds. Hopefully there isn't an issue. =_=;

I also need about ten million more syringes, I break those things like nobody's business. :?

Ha ha, we bought a box, but if you ask for a prescription you can get them for about $13 a box through drsfosterandsmith.com which is what I told the hubby, who of course did not listen to me, so I had to spend $40 since I couldn't not take them after he order them!!! :wantsome:

 

[Velo]

Omg 40$!
That's crazy!!
I did notice F&S sold them. It's so weird you have to have a prescription to get them in IL, but not all states?
I'd prefer them without the needle anyway, which is probably the only need for a script but of course they don't sell them that way. ;/

 

[Velo]

Hmm they must like you more than me.

They say I should have enough meds for 4 weeks and thats long enough and they won't give me anymore unless I bring all 3 in again and do 3 exams again. Rather irksome cause I called when they opened and they said they would call me back. Had to call them an hour before they closed because they still hadn't called.
Eh.

 

[dspch911]

Hmm they must like you more than me.

They say I should have enough meds for 4 weeks and thats long enough and they won't give me anymore unless I bring all 3 in again and do 3 exams again. Rather irksome cause I called when they opened and they said they would call me back. Had to call them an hour before they closed because they still hadn't called.
Eh.

Really, that is odd - are you seeing Dr. Ness? If so, make an appointment with Dr. Golan she is easier to work with.

 

[Velo]

I saw Torres but Golan is the one who said that 4 weeks is enough and I can't have more.

Which is weird cause she's never even seen my rats, she just happened to be the one around to mix the meds when I got the rest of the 4 week doses.

If I go back there I will request Ness and try him I guess.

 

[dspch911]

I saw Torres but Golan is the one who said that 4 weeks is enough and I can't have more.

Which is weird cause she's never even seen my rats, she just happened to be the one around to mix the meds when I got the rest of the 4 week doses.

If I go back there I will request Ness and try him I guess.

Ness is more holistic, less medication.... Torres just up and left, moved back to New York that creep!