Question about Quarantining

[Rattus]

besides doing it when you first get them to make sure they dont having anything, should you do this as soon as a rat has a resparitory infection or should you not? its hard to even know when they have it sometimes until its bad. Some of mine get signs frequently, heavy breathing and such and then need baytril etc..so what do you all do?

 

[Sorraia]

If the rat has a respiratory infection, there is no point in separating it from the other rats it has contact with. Those rats are already exposed, and separation could potentially cause stress, which can lead to worse illness. If the animal needs to be separated for treatment (say the animal is so weak it can't even get food because the others take it away), that's another matter.

If you do have sick rats, it is best not to bring any new animals home until at least 3 weeks after symptoms disappear. That way you do not A) potentially bring in another illness that everyone might catch while weakened by the first, and B) get the new animals sick.