Is it because he's getting old?

[Chevalrose]

I haven't had an older rat in a while. Tobi no longer makes noise when he breathes but I think he might be breathing kind of hard. I don't know if it's just because he's getting older (hes 20 months, already started to get that old-rat look to him) or because there might still be something respiratory going on. I would think that if it was a respiratory thing, he would be grunty or wheezy or something though right? It doesn't look like he's really laboring to breathe or anything, but it's deeper and more noticeable I guess? He still has appetite as well (although he's thinning out). What do you think?

 

[Rachael]

There doesn't have to be a noise for their to be a respiratory. If it gets any worse or something changes then you might want to see a vet just incase. However, when Gus got older, and others, they did breath a bit differently. And Gus maded grunting noises from 6 months until 28 months and didn't have a respiratory. ;/

 

[Chevalrose]

Well he's been on Baytril for a while...(his last dose is tomorrow) and is permanently on Benadryl, my vet says he has allergies (checked for myco). He defiantly improved from when we first started meds, I'm just wondering if he might need to be on Baytril for a little while longer.

I think I recall my older rats breathing to be more pronounced...perhaps from the weight loss of old age.

 

[eagle]

My oldies seem to breath different also. Some almost seem to snore.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

Well he's been on Baytril for a while...(his last dose is tomorrow) and is permanently on Benadryl, my vet says he has allergies (checked for myco). He defiantly improved from when we first started meds,

If he made an improvement when first going on baytril but then his breathing went back to the way it was he might need an abs combo to fully get rid of it. However if he did show signs of a resp infection and they went away and your concern now is just the heavier breathing then I would think its just old age.

 

[Chevalrose]

However if he did show signs of a resp infection and they went away and your concern now is just the heavier breathing then I would think its just old age.

That's it exactly. All he's doing now is breathing a bit deeper with no other symptoms...so I think it's just old age settling in.

 

[jorats]

I wonder if perhaps the Baytril or the Benedryl or a combo might be a little bit upsetting to his tummy which might explain the old manrat look.
Take note how he is after he's done his Baytril.

 

[Rattus]

My one boy willy breathes faster then all the rest..he had a bad res.infection when he was a baby.. and that was a LONG time ago and hasn't had one since.. I wonder if its just him or maybe he just has slight lung damage and thats why.. =/ everyday I go and watch his breathing to see if their is even a slight change.. Im always so paranoid it makes me crazy..