Respiratory infection?

[JJ&Harriet]

I have rarely been home over the last two weeks and my kids just told me our rat (female, just under a year old) has been acting strange for at least a week. When I checked on her she had laboured breathing, head was tilted, seemed very weak and was making pig noises. She can drink but only wants to eat papaya and not greens or all-in-one pellets. I read that respiratory infections don't go away on their own and need to be treated by a vet with antibiotics. I would really love some advice from anyone with experience. I live in Milton but can get her to a vet in Oakville/West Mississauga easily. Anyone know of any that treat rats if she requires medical care? My girls just lost their cat and losing another pet would devastate them. Thanks for any help.

 

[SQ]

Head tilt can be a symptom of an inner ear infection or brain tumour - both treated with antibiotics + an anti-inflamatory such as predisone for at least 6 weeks if the meds given are helping.

The breathing and noises sound like a respi infection. She needs imediate antibiotics. If they help, she will need to be on them for 6 weeks. otherwise you try diffferent antibiotics.
She may also need a steriod such as predisone, and a dieratic such as lasix.
If she is having difficulty breathing, steam in the bathroom may help or may made her worse.
A tiny piece of dartk chocolate may help to keep her airway open in the short term.

Please take her in to see a good rat vet as soon as possible tomorrow.
Rats get sick and die very fast so you can not wait.
Keep her warm and hydrated.
Ensure or soy infany formula mixed with baby cereal may help her to get some nutrition ... it may be difficult for her to eat and breath at the same time

If she is dehydrated: peditite from the drug store or viewtopic.php?f=26&t=11058
- if she is unable to drink then feed her one drop at a time by syringe into the side of her mouth so it does npoy go into her lungs

This thread contains some info on vets:
viewforum.php?f=24

I believe the best rat vet in the GTA is: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=326

 

[hopefloats]

It sounds to me like she may be on her way to Pneumonia, her head tilt could be from an ear infection as well. If she is making noises steaming her should help you really need to help loosen that up so she can sneeze it out of her lungs. A humidifier may help as well. Cover her cage so she dont get any breezes and get her to a vet. You need at least 30 days and baytril/doxy or baytril/zithro combo to help her through it.

I would feed her baby food and ensure as much as she wants try from a spoon or your finger if she wont take it out of a bowl. she will need all of the nutrition she can get. rats dehydrate fast and it is hard to get them back under control once it progresses. What ever she will eat give it to her, not a lot of junk but veggies and some fruit. Not to much fruit as most of it can give them diarrhea
and she dont need that right now.

This is how i deal with major infections it should hopefully have information in there to help you.
When your rats get sick.