New guy...Ear infection maybe???

[MadamBelladonna]

So in my other thread I mentioned that I thought my new guy may have a head tilt. Well, I wrote that literally after sitting with him for just a minute or two before I had to get up and get ready for work. Upon further observation, I noticed that he does NOT have a head tilt, but rather that he continuously shakes his head slowly back and forth every time he stops moving. It does not seem to affect his balance at all and I have read that red and pink eyed rats do that sometimes to see things better, but his eyes (though red) are fairly dark and he does it EVERY TIME he stops walking, nonstop. I'm thinking he may have an ear infection, any thoughts?

PS, I think I may end up calling him Dusty. He's all beige with one little white strip down his nose, if you can't tell from the pics.

 

[jorats]

He's such a cutie. I'd probably treat for an ear infection as well.
I'll move this to the health and general care section.

 

[Unepuce]

Did you say in your other thread that he had problems breathing when you first saw him? I only had one experience with slow back and forth head movement, and it's hard to say whether he's doing the same thing without a video, but my Mimi was doing something similar when she really had a hard time breathing (but no open mouth breathing), and I lost her that very night. If you suspect he has a URI, I would recommend taking him to a vet.

Then again, this is my only experience and it might be a completely different movement... but I thought I should share.

 

[MadamBelladonna]

Did you say in your other thread that he had problems breathing when you first saw him? I only had one experience with slow back and forth head movement, and it's hard to say whether he's doing the same thing without a video, but my Mimi was doing something similar when she really had a hard time breathing (but no open mouth breathing), and I lost her that very night. If you suspect he has a URI, I would recommend taking him to a vet.

Then again, this is my only experience and it might be a completely different movement... but I thought I should share.

Actually I haven't had a single sneeze or wheeze out of him. He seems pretty healthy and clean other than the head thing.

 

[Unepuce]

That's a relief then! Mimi was a chronic URI, so I guess those two things are completely different! I hope your little guy gets over what is bugging him fast!

 

[MadamBelladonna]

Haha it bothers me more than it seems to bother him. He just goes about his business...maybe he's shaking his "no" because he doesn't like my messy apartment and is trying to shame me into cleaning up. lolx Pretty sure it's an ear infection, I'll get on it.