Old Age & Heavy Breathing

Another question about old age.

Since Oscar has started showing his age much more, I have found his breathing has gotten a lot more heavy ..his sides move in and out much faster than the others ..his lungs are clear, etc (I noticed the breathing when he developed a bad resp infection 6 weeks ago on which he was put on baytril + doxy ..which he finished tonight)

Is this something I should be concerned about?

 

[jorats]

It's always a concern when you see them labouring more when breathing. But then when you listen to the lungs you can't "hear" any reason to put them on meds. This is when you start to trust your gut instinct and do what feels right. He may need a maintenance dose of baytril indefinitely. You'll need to take each day as it is and gauge how he's doing from it.

 

Thanks! tonight was his last dose of his 6 week course ..but he was like it through the whole course ..it never went away ..should I see how he dose not on anything now?

 

[jorats]

Ya, wait before continuing it. I've noticed that in some rats, it's the meds that seem to make them have a harder time. Keep a close eye on him and the minute he gets worse, start him back up.