Sneezing among other things.

[MissKitty]

First off, my father recently purchased a baby girl for my 9 year old brother. I promised to take care of it while I'm still living at home for all intensive purposes. However I'm currently looking for a job and paying off student loans, definitely not in a position to put much money into a pet that is not even my own.

Regardless, I've fallen for this little lady. The store from which she was purchased told us that a 10 gallon terrarium would be ok for her. We already had one at home with a stand. I never thought this was true. She is on Kaytee lavender bedding, my baby brother or I remove the raisins daily, as well as wet spots. She has some strips of old cotton sheets to nest in too, in a plastic box. I've been totally dumping the bedding at least once a week. And she just received her first bath yesterday with some locally made goats milk soap - no added chemicals. I use this soap for my face, because I am sometimes highly chemical sensitive.

Previous to the bath she seemed a little dull and maybe a little itchy, but super friendly and active as always. She seemed a little more comfortable after the bath. She has been sneezing a bit the past few days, and I am mildly concerned - my parents are not willing to pay to take her to the vet, and I am genuinely not in a position to assume that responsibility. I wanted to know if there is anything I can do at home, holistically to help her. I've read about the benefits of dark chocolate in small doses, and fresh garlic, and echinacea - but really just mentioned here and there. I'm not sure what is safest and best to try to help her.

My parents do seem to feel guilty about the underwhelming size of her habitat, so I do believe they will be willing to purchase a new habitat. I would also like some insight in that department. I full well know that rats are typically housed in pairs, again this is not my pet to make a decision and I don't think that is something my parents want either. So we have our single little lady, who does get lots of love, attention, and play time daily. The point of that statement being, we aren't looking to house more than our lovely and absolutely no more than 2.

Additional notes: She is an avid wheel runner at all times of the day or night! This does not seem to have been affected. She always reaches up to get out if anyone enters the room or talks to her. Her name is Kitty. She is on a diet of lab blocks, with treats of fresh fruits, veggies, and other yummies. I always make sure to check different forums before allowing a new treat.

Aside from the sneezing, she has no discharge at all. Her breathing did sound just a tiny bit rattly today, but that may have been paranoia.

 

[victoria]

You already know that rats should be housed in pairs, so I won't get into that too much except to say that she would be a million times happier with a buddy regardless of how much time and attention you give her. She's not technically your pet so I will also skip the obvious, if you get a pet you need to be prepared to provide them with basic medical care.

A terranium, even a large one, is an awful habitat for a rat. She needs to be moved into a wire cage ASAP, this is probably at least partially responsible for her respiratory issues. A rule of thumb is 2 cubic feet of space minimum per rat but that is assuming you have more than one, so I would start looking for a cage that is at least 4 cubic feet, doesn't have wire floors, 1 cm bar spacing (young girls would be able to slip through 1 inch bar spacing), and that has space and shelves (can be homemade) for her to climb. You should also avoid galvanized wire as it soaks urine and is impossible to keep clean. Feel free to post any cages you are considering here, someone will be familiar with it and we'll be able to give you some opinions. You can also make hammocks and the like out of old jeans, fleece blankets, or dollar store baskets filled with fleece scraps to add some more enrichment. The wheel you have in a 10 gal terranium is likely too small, adult rats need wheels that are 12 inches in diameter, not the kind with horizontal bars, otherwise they can injure their backs, feet, or tails.

The bedding you're using is ok, but you should use the unscented variety, the lavander may be irritating her respiratory tract. Yesterday's News is also fairly cheap if you buy it in the big bags and it absorbs ammonia better than most other beddings.

Rats, especially baby females, do not need regular baths. Sometimes boys get really greasy and people bathe them, but girls shouldn't need baths. It may even dry out her skin, so you really shouldn't do it very often. It sounds like she has mites, which you can't see and won't be able to wash away. Ideally, you should take her to a vet and get her some Revolution but if that's not an option, you can get Invermectin from a horse supply store and use that. PLEASE NOTE THAT INVERMECTIN IS VERY DANGEROUS IF OVERDOSED, so please double and triple check the dosage before you administer it. Rat Guide is an excellent resource for rat medication dosages, and you can always come here and someone will double check your math.

If you get her into a healthier habitat and treat for mites very soon, she may get over the sneezes before it becomes serious. People use some homeopathic treatments, but usually as a boost to vet care. Echinacea (alcohol free) is used by many people usually one week on, one off. Dark chocolate is usually used as a brochilator when a rat can't breathe, but it's only a short term solution at best, until you can get to a vet. Hope that answers some of your questions and I hope a healthier environment is all she needs.

She will need to see a vet at some point in her life, and should have a companion, so either you or your parents are going to have to make some decisions... if no one is going to take her to a vet ever and going to leave her alone, you should probably consider finding her a home that will. It would be the best thing for her.

ETA: I think fresh garlic is on the forbidden foods list for rats, I will check and update later if someone doesn't beat me to it.

 

[MissKitty]

Thank you for your response. I would just like to iterate, aside from the deep feelings of empathy this is not a little critter I decided to bring home. I am well aware of my current situation, and recognize that it would be irresponsible for me to agree to pet ownership. Though I have spoken to my father in particular about the fact that I do feel it was irresponsible to bring her home if he didn't feel that he wanted to pay for a vet, its quite honestly out of my hands at this point.

My father made the decision to bring her home based upon inaccurate information provided at the local pet store.

My best option is to become best informed and encourage better behavior on the part of my parents. For both the sake of little Miss Kitty, and my 9 year old brother who absolutely adores her. If freshly graduated architecture students were readily desired in the work force, I would have no issue taking on such expenses.

I did read about the galvanized wires, but I couldn't find any one answer about the sizing. I used to keep mice who could escape anything! Which is why I had a terrarium to begin with. Also, I picked her out the largest wheel at the store - but its definitely not a full foot in diameter. It has the tiny gridded bards. Is there any specific wheel that is best. They did not have the silent plastic ones at the store at all.

 

[Godmother]

Hello, and welcome to the Rat Shack. You came to the right place. Those pet stores are really frustrating, the way they give misinformation to well-meaning people.

I hope that you will be able to find a suitable cage on craigslist or kijiji or ebay. That would save money. If your parents are not too strapped for money, you could save time and aggravation by getting one of the Martins cages for rats. www.martinscages.com There are some small cages that work for two rats and don't take up a lot of space. Just make sure you get a powder-coated cage, though. The extra $10 is really worth it.

You may be able to find a wheel cheaper online than at a pet store. One of the best is the Silent Spinner -- they are very safe. Rats need the largest size (12").

Good luck helping this little ratty girl. I hope that she will work her way into your parents' hearts, so that they will work with you.

I really hope that your parents will let your brother get a companion for the rat; she will be happier and healthier having a friend.

 

[PitLuvs]

I also want to add, the heavy scents in the goats milk could be aggitating her resperatory system, I am allergic to scents myself and goats milk anything sends me into a fit. We use Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo for our boys when they need a bath, its mild and tear free. You can purchase scent free baby shampoos as well for about $5, and they are always good to have for other pets or cage cleanings. This is just personal experience.
Also I have to stress having those mites removed. The stress from itching can make her sneeze a lot, A LOT and I bet she would love it if you removed that discomfort hehe Imagine having lice, crawling all over your head and body and no way to remove them, biting and tickling your skin. Thats how I explained it to my fiance and he turned green lol Maybe the best way to get your Dad to take her in.
Lots of rats get new home sneezes, but with all the stuff added that you posted, she could become really sick. Thankfully, although you are limited, she has you to look out for her. I can't count the ammount of times I have taken over minimal care for an animal that wasn't mine, only to get no thanks from the human but lost of thanks from the pet :heart:

 

[lizmo1221]

I agree with and reiterate everything posted here so far, and I want to add that 95% of what you read here as advice from us is better information and advice than 95% of things you will read on other websites and especially from pet stores. Most people on here are truly experts, and know from experience what is best.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

Ditto what everyone else said but also what brand of lab block are you feeding? I'm just worried because you use Kaytee bedding so I'm hoping you aren't feeding Kaytee food. This is a great thread about lab blocks viewtopic.php?f=38&t=12402

 

[MissKitty]

Thank you everyone so much for quick responses. I am glad to hear that the silent spinners are safe for rats. As stated before I used to keep mice and the seams in the plastic can come apart just enough on the silent spinners to catch their tiny tails! Kitty loves the wheel and its sooo noisy! Its about 10 inches.

She is using the Kaytee forti-diet blocks, but I also share bits of fruit and veggies with her every day. I have been trying very hard to check multiple sources about the safety of different food before I introduce or allow my younger brother to introduce a new treat. I have read that they can have a protein sensitivity that can lead to itchy skin too. Could that be a problem with the lab blocks? One of the reasons I decided to use the blocks is because I've read they are better for their ever growing teeth. Is there a better brand? She has some wood chews but is totally disinterested.

Good notes on the baby shampoo! I have a lot of chemical sensitivity but usually am fine with the goats milk with natural scents. My soap is rosemary lavender. I will get some baby shampoo for the future though. She did seem very pleased after being bathed and towel dried yesterday!

She actually seems less sneezy right now! I'll keep an eye on the itchies, and hopefully we can get everything squared away real soon! If I were currently working full time I'd have no issue taking on the vet expense for both the rats sake and my little brothers!

 

[MissKitty]

To specify on the blocks it is the "pro health" I noticed that link about rat blocks after I just posted. It does seem significantly higher in protein than some of the other blocks, but not otherwise dangerous.

 

[Godmother]

Luckily it is much easier to get good lab blocks now than it used to be. You are in the US, so you could order Harlan Teklad 2014 from Mainely Rat Rescue if you want to try a really great block.

If you have concerns about the Silent Spinner you might want to try the Wodent Wheel (biggest size).

Hey, soon you'll be sewing hammocks! Sounds like you are hooked.

 

[jorats]

Hi and welcome.
It's wonderful of you to be doing research and finding out what's best for your little one.

 

[xxchelle]

I don't recommend bathing rats at all. It can stress them out to the point of making them sick (they can get URI's) as well as if they get any water in their ears, they can get ear infections. Both of these things will need vet care and meds from a vet to be treated.

It also stresses rats out if they don't smell like "themselves". The only time I've ever bathed rats is with old rats who have HED, or with really sick rats who can't groom themselves. And even then, I never submerse them in water or even use soaps, I just give them a wipe down with a baby wipe. Bathing rats can actually make them smell more, as well. Boys will produce more buck grease when bathed, and girls tend to marinade after baths (sleep in their own urine).

All rats will need vet care at least once in their lives, even if it's just for humane euthanasia because of untreated illness. URIs (upper respiratory infections) are common in rats and the only way to treat them is with vet-prescribed antibiotics. Without treatment, URIs can develop into pneumonia and the rat can suffer and die very quickly, literally drowning in the fluid in their lungs. URIs can also be caused by being housed in aquariums, so I'd get her out of there as soon as possible, as already mentioned.

Another thing that can cause illness and depression is keeping a rat alone. Rats are such social creatures that keeping one alone can be very detrimental to their mental health, can cause behavioral problems, and can make them get sick faster. No amount of human interaction can replace a rat buddy, so I'd suggest speaking to your parents about getting her a friend as soon as you can. In my opinion, it is a basic necessity of rats to have the following: food, water, somewhere to sleep, and a friend. At bare minimum.

As for food, you want a high-quality lab block that's low in protein, as already mentioned Harlan Teklad 2014 is the best. It's readily available online. Stay away from almost any rat food found in pet stores, as they're complete crap for rats. Seed mixes are awful, and most blocks found in stores are much too high in protein. High protein damages rats' kidneys.

Finally, rats need mental stimulation to stay emotionally healthy and happy. Hanging bird toys, wooden chew toys, cat balls, foam blocks, and hidey houses are all fun and mentally stimulating toys for rats. You can search through cage pictures here on the forum to get some ideas for home-made toys as well, and even toys that can be bought at the dollar store! They don't have to be expensive, and in fact most rats will chose a toilet paper tube stuffed with kleenex and treats over a $10 wooden chew toy any day! Kinda like a kid with a toy vs. the box that the toy came in. :giggle: One thing that all rats enjoy is hammocks, and I recommend you get some as soon as you can. There's tutorials for do-it-yourself, no-sew hammocks online, and you can even use old t-shirts and the like, so again you don't have to spend a lot of money or have a lot of skill. If you do want to buy hammocks, there are many hammock makers out there, a lot of which are also rescues, so you know your money is going to a great cause, and you get nice hammocks out of the deal.

For now, I'll link to some of my cage pictures to give you some toy and housing ideas, however this post has been enough of a novel so I'll put the pictures in a spoiler!

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