How many hiccupping jags before I bring on the abs?

[Godmother]

I've notice Cookie hiccupping two days in a row. I don't want to put her on abs for nothing, but neither do I want to risk her having untreated lung infection.

How do you all decide when to put a rat on antibiotics?

Cookie's hiccups were soundless, but they went on for a long time (about a minute). She looks fine otherwise: lively, no porph, good appetite.

 

[jorats]

I myself have never found a link between hiccups and respiratory illness so I would answer not yet, not unless you have other symptoms like loss of appetite, change in energy levels, change in defecations and such. Or if your gut is telling you something is off with your rat then it might be time to start abs or better yet a full exam by your vet.

 

[Godmother]

OK. Cookie is looking pretty lively, as usual. I am so afraid of things getting bad before it is obvious.

Meanwhile, maybe it's time I got my act together and started nebulizing young, healthy rats.

 

abs?

god I feel stupid haha

 

[Godmother]

No need to feel stupid! I adopted that abbreviation from Shelagh, I think, probably because I work in a place that speaks in acronyms! I have forgotten how to talk "normally".

Abs = antibiotics

 

oh haha okay. I was like okay, I am missing something ..haha

 

oh yeah and to answer your question. I would wait it out. My girl Bella hiccups but nothing has become of it.

 

[Godmother]

I'll wait and see then.

I get hyped up when the least little thing looks off, because of feeling guilty that I did not treat Maude (RIP) early enough when my gut told me something was wrong. Her lungs sounded clear to the vet, but I knew there was a change. She died of respiratory illness.

 

I'll wait and see then.

I get hyped up when the least little thing looks off, because of feeling guilty that I did not treat Maude (RIP) early enough when my gut told me something was wrong. Her lungs sounded clear to the vet, but I knew there was a change. She died of respiratory illness.

I'm sorry to hear that, it's always hard when that happens.
But if you have thought that something is wrong you should take a trip to the vet, mommas know best!

 

[Rattus]

My willy is one year and about 4 months. He has always been a hiccuper lol. When he was a baby he got very ill for a few months, I almost lost him twice but he was strong and pulled through! he hasn't been sick since but he has always hiccuped.. after hearing people say it means they may be getting sick it scared me.. but again.. he gets the hiccups a lot and nothing has ever happened.. so maybe some rats just get the hiccups often?

 

[LadyGray]

I think there's something wrong with my girl now :-( she was hiccuping the other day and gets moments where she doesn't want to do anything, like today - she won't even eat, and she has watery eyes, the vet said this is nothing to worry about but it's been going on for sooo long now. what exactly should I do?

My girls are sisters, and have always got on, apart from the occasional fight over food and bedding etc. But now I have a fear the other two may be picking on the one not feeling too well? is that likely?

sorry, should I start a new thread for things like this?

edit: There's crusty fluid around her nose as well and she's not eating or doing anything, what could it be? is it an emergence or shall I make an appointment first thing tomorrow?

 

[jorats]

It sounds like she has porphyrin and this can indicate illness or stress. Some rats might pick on the sick ones but it's not all that common.
Can you find another vet, one experienced in rats? Maybe you could bring all your rats in to the vet so he/she can see the difference and listen to the lungs as well.

 

[Godmother]

A drop in activity, and porphyrin on the nose are definite signs that she is not well. I hope that you can find a rat-savvy vet. Meanwhile you might want to print out some info from the Rat Health Care guides on the web to take into the vet on your visit.

Good luck!

Cookie seems fine, although I will keep watching her. I wonder if it was because their cage needed a clean. They pee a lot on their fleece, and they don't drink as much as I wish they would, so their cage gets smelly very fast.

 

[jorats]

Godmother, have you tried echinacea? I haven't been a strong supporter of it in the past but lately, I've started using it on myself and I swear it works.
I might start it on my sickies, help them boost their immune system. I'm thinking of just doing one drop a day for them for a week on with 2 weeks off.

 

[LadyGray]

Thanks Guys. Rachael reccomended some vets in the area who are great with Rats, so i'll be getting an appointment with them tomorrow
I can't think that she's stressed - the others are as happy as ever and running around like maniacs! but then that makes me think Queenie's not getting on with her sisters all of a sudden...i'm wonder whether we should try and seperate them. We'll wait and see what the new vet says

 

[Moon]

Godmother, have you tried echinacea? I haven't been a strong supporter of it in the past but lately, I've started using it on myself and I swear it works.
I might start it on my sickies, help them boost their immune system. I'm thinking of just doing one drop a day for them for a week on with 2 weeks off.

One vet I have used really pushes echinacea use. I've never tried it but I keep thinking I should!

 

[Godmother]

Hey, maybe Cookie and I can do Echinacea together! I could use it, after a winter of swine flu and colds.

 

I have ben using Echinacea now for the past 3 months. I find it works well. Females get 1 drop per day, males get 1 1/2 for a week, then two weeks off. They love it too.
But i read somewhere that Echinacea should not be given while on antibiotics because it interferes with the medication.

 

[SQ]

A drop of echinacea for a week, every 4 weeks is given to hopefully boost the immune system.
It is not good for treating ill rats, just for helping to prevent illness.

Rat "hiccups” are a symptom of myco and if occur frequently then the rat is treated with antibiotics for myco.
Godmother has posted in the past that when she did this, the hiccups disappeared.
I have had similar results on many occasions.

 

[jorats]

Good to know no echinacea for sick rats.