sneezy, congested *panic!*

[tara_jean]

As much as I've read and read on these boards about what to do when these things happen, now that I'm being tested I CAN'T REMEMBER ANY OF IT! :gaah:

I have a routine vet appt for my dogs (gotta leave in a about 15-20 min). I went to give the ratties their weekend banannas and I could hear Sam breathing before I even got in the room!! He is one of the little guys I'm keeping. He's never been one I've been concerned about so this was totally unexpected! No answer when I called the vet so I think I'll just pack him up and take him along with the dogs (should be an interesting drive!). He's not super experienced with rats. Should I ask him for Baytril (sp?).

I have a couple excited sneezers but they have never shown any other signs so I have just kept watch on them. They only sneeze when they get a treat or when they know it's time to come out and play. I haven't been too concerned since my excited sneezers have been doing it pretty much since they could walk. But Sam has never done that!

Any advice on what to ask for or what to avoid at the vets would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

 

[eagle]

Is Sam doing any wet sneezes? How long has this been going on or was it just discovered this morning? How long have you had him?

 

[tara_jean]

I've had him since birth. They are wet sneezes. I learned this when I held him up to listen and he sneezed on me. It looks clear though.
This was just discovered this morning. Now that he's had his bannana, I can't hear the congestion anymore but he's still sniffly/sneezy.

 

[eagle]

OK ,it can't hurt to take him to the vet. I know some of my ratties are congested in the morning and improve over the day. It does make a difference on how humid or dry my house is. Better to go with a vet visit and at least have them listen to his lungs. You can also go to www.ratguide.com and print off the information about meds and dosage and take it with you.
Good luck

 

[tara_jean]

Thanks!! I wondered since he doesn't seem as bad after eating if it is just a morning thing (I woke them up to feed them). But I wake them every morning and this has never happened.

 

[tara_jean]

Vet said Sam's lungs sounded good and the congestion seems to be concentrated in his nose. He gave us SMZ TMP (I think, bottle not in front of me). He said he chose that to start with because it's less likely to cause stomach upset. He told me to let him know in a few days whether there's improvement, worse, same, etc. Then he'd try Baytril next, depending on how this works. He also gave me enough to give it to my excited sneezer, just to see if it helps.

 

[jorats]

It seems to start in the nasal cavity and works it's way down so keep an eye on him. I don't know if the med will do anything, it's not really effective on URIs. So make sure you go back to the vet for Baytril if within a few days there's no improvement.

 

[tara_jean]

I'm picking up Baytril today. The vet said he would mix it with something that starts with a 't'. Tektinic? I've googled and can't find a thing. Is that another antibiotic or just a flavoring?

I'm going to make my husband ask when he picks it up but I was just wondering if anyone here had heard of it.

 

[jorats]

I can't see it being another antibiotic, that wouldn't very smart to mix the two. But it could be to give it flavoring and consistency. My vet now mixes her own baytril which makes it cheaper for me.

 

[tara_jean]

It was flavoring. It still smells nasty but they are taking it well so that's what matters! (Miles started sounding sniffly too, so he's also taking it)

 

[jorats]

Nip it in the bud. Hopefully they will recover well.