Puffy and irratated, uri?

[user 2700]

My boy Xin is a few month shy of a year. In the last couple of days he's been puffy and very grouchy with the other boys. (He's always been a bit of a grumpy alpha but this is something else.) Around his eyes looks irritated but not like porph or a scratch. I've been home all day for the last couple of days and I have only heard him sneeze a couple of times now. Rat phoned him and his lungs sound clear. Eating and drinking fine. Should I go ahead and get him treated a URI anyway? Something is definitely off.


Sorry for the poor quality of photo. Eyes are only squinty from the flash.

 

[Joanne]

Have you given him the full body massage, looking for lumps and bumps or owie spots?

 

[user 2700]

Have you given him the full body massage, looking for lumps and bumps or owie spots?

Yes I have, he has one small puncture near his shoulder, looks like it's a few days old and very small. I wouldn't think that would cause all of the symptoms. Should I take him in just to be safe? I'd hate to stress him out for nothing but I'd also hate to miss anything.

 

[hopefloats]

If you see oone check the other side for the other.

 

[user 2700]

I couldn't find it, so I tortured him and by that I mean I got his fur wet so I could see better. Looks like he has two small sets of punctures, one a little bigger then the other, both look to be healing and I can't feel anything under them nor do they look or smell infected.

He seems to be sneezing more, still not a lot but a definite increase over the last couple of days. Thinking maybe I caught it early? Guess I'll call the vet tomorrow and get him in.

 

[jorats]

I'd get him checked by a vet. They can listen to the lungs more accurately.

 

[user 2700]

Update: I had one of my vets check him out and he thinks URI as well. So twice daily battles to get Baytril into him it is. (He won't trust anything I try to mask with and hates meds.)

 

[jorats]

Poor buddy. Hopefully soon he'll start to feel better. After each struggle to get the baytril in him, offer him a piece of really yummy food. I would even go with chocolate. Just so he doesn't relate it completely to all things bad with meds.

 

[mamarat]

Sending healing vibes to your sweetie.

 

[user 2700]

Jorats I do that but after meds he won't take anything from me. So he's been getting treats before which isn't as effective but it's something. I have others that will take their meds without much fuss or no fuss at all because they know they get a high value treat afterwards.

Thanks for the good vibes. He's looking and acting like he's feeling better today and no more sneezing. (Of course he'll keep getting meds for another 10 days to make sure it's gone.)

 

[Joanne]

Thanks for the good vibes. He's looking and acting like he's feeling better today and no more sneezing. (Of course he'll keep getting meds for another 10 days to make sure it's gone.)

I'm glad he seems to be feeling better. Unfortunately most people recommend giving Baytril for an URI for a month. If you stop too soon, there may be resistant bacteria surviving, and then next time you use the Baytril, it won't work. (Happened to me on my very first rattie.) It's tough when he hates it, but it's pretty important to have a long enough course of antibiotics.

 

[user 2700]

Thanks for the information Joanne, I wouldn't want Baytril to stop working. I'll ask my vet for more. (If one vet says no there are others in the area I have used and can ask.)