Sneezing And Hiccuping?

AmandaLovesJon · Feb 25, 2012

Okay, so i got a rat from petsmart the other day. I saw him hiccuping in the area they had him in. Today he has been sneezing more and hiccuping again. This is my first rat so i don't really know if that's a bad sign or not? I looked it up and people keep saying pneumonia or take him to the vet. So i was wondering if anyone on this site could tell me if its just normal or allergies? Or something bad?

hopefloats · Feb 26, 2012

It is hard to say, sneezing can be new home sneezing. I have rats that hiccup and it means nothing. Pneumonia is labor breathing and very little sounds. If he is making a crackling/coughing noise he needs a vet. If he seems tired and looks it, he may need to go.

trihkal · Feb 26, 2012

I've heard rats hiccup but that it's silent so if you're hearing noise from him as he hiccups it's more likely he is actually chirping. Chirping is a sign of a respiratory illness. I would definitely recommend that he see a vet. Good luck.

hopefloats · Feb 26, 2012

alot of my rats make a hard hiccup noise, if the motion is there it is hiccups if not then others. It is all depending on what happens around the hiccup.

jorats · Feb 26, 2012

Keep an eye on other symptoms like lack of appetite, porphyrin, wet poops, wheezing. If those are present, then it's time for a vet visit.
But if your gut is telling you something is not right, then I'd say get him vet checked.

AmandaLovesJon · Feb 26, 2012

He has been sneezing constantly, And still having hiccup fits. He is still a really young rat. Going to get him a vet appointment for this Thursday, gonna watch him and make sure no other symptoms pop up. Thanks for your replies!

ratluv · Feb 26, 2012

My ratties sneeze and hiccup all the time. I took them to the vet a few months ago and after a thorough checkup, the vet said they're fine. What sort of bedding are you using? When I have to wash their blankets with scented laundry detergent, it always seems to give them extra sneezes.