Star just can't catch a break! Honking/wet breathing.

[hsm]

So, I have posted before about Star having mange mites... Well, now he has some weird breathing noises!
All of my rats tend to get random sneezes, which I always attributed to my being a smoker - smoke clings to my clothes, so I assumed it irritated their little noses. The sneezing normally only occurs when I held them right after coming inside from having a cigarette, and when I've just put on perfume.
I noticed a strange honking noise while Star was playing on my shoulder two nights ago. It does not always happen. However, he's playing in my hood right now, and I can HEAR him breathing. It sounds wet. Once in a while, he makes a honky noise.
Does this sound like an upper respritory infection?
I was reading the local exotic vet's website, and it sounds like RI's never truly are cured, only treated to reduce symptoms?
I don't know. I have school finals coming up next week, and now I need to make time to take Star to the vet. anic:

My question is, should I look for a new cage to keep him in while he's being treated? He's been living with the other three boys for about three weeks now, I don't understand if RI's are contagious?

 

[TorachiKatashi]

URIs aren't contagious. It wouldn't matter if it was, though. If he had something contagious, moving him to another cage would be pointless because your other rats are already exposed to it. Unless he has an illness or injury that puts him at risk by being with his cage mates, I wouldn't remove him. It will only stress him out and make him even more sick.

Edit: Also, it wouldn't matter even if they were in separate cages to begin with. It's my understanding that most contagious rat disease are transmitted through the air, so if he did have something contagious would already have spread to any other rats in the same air space (i.e. your house) and any rats you were in contact with within a couple of hours of being in contact with him.

I could be totally off the mark, though, so any of the more experience guys can correct me in that case.

 

[handmeafish]

sometimes mites can sort of lead to a URI, mostly from the rat being stressed, and the presence of mites sometimes indicates a lowered immune system.
You really don't want to separate him from his buddies, because that can cause even more stress. Rats get depressed when away from their friends. You want to get him to the vet ASAP, especially if its sounding wet. Pneumonia is no good.

 

[hsm]

Thank you for your replies!
My mother thinks I'm a worrier, because I'm always pointing out things that could be wrong. But I was right about the mites, and was right to treat all my boys. I think she just wants everything to be peachy keen (she loves my boys almost as much as I do) and refuses to believe that they could be sick. Her reaction every time something has been wrong is always "No, you're just worrying too much." :wallbang:

I won't separate him from his buddies, and will be taking him to the vet as soon as possible. I need to call and make an appointment. Hopefully, antibiotics will clear up his breathing.

 

[TorachiKatashi]

Thank you for your replies!
My mother thinks I'm a worrier, because I'm always pointing out things that could be wrong. But I was right about the mites, and was right to treat all my boys. I think she just wants everything to be peachy keen (she loves my boys almost as much as I do) and refuses to believe that they could be sick. Her reaction every time something has been wrong is always "No, you're just worrying too much." :wallbang:

I won't separate him from his buddies, and will be taking him to the vet as soon as possible. I need to call and make an appointment. Hopefully, antibiotics will clear up his breathing.

I know exactly what you mean. Every time I tell Mom that one of my guys needs to see the vet (like Whiskers will on Thursday), she tells me they're fine and I'm wasting my money. It's pretty annoying.

 

[temblabamomo]

You might consider off things like perfumes around your rats. If it is something you apply before work, for instance, maybe wait until you are our of the house and in the car to apply fragrances.

 

[hsm]

Thank you for your replies!
My mother thinks I'm a worrier, because I'm always pointing out things that could be wrong. But I was right about the mites, and was right to treat all my boys. I think she just wants everything to be peachy keen (she loves my boys almost as much as I do) and refuses to believe that they could be sick. Her reaction every time something has been wrong is always "No, you're just worrying too much." :wallbang:

I won't separate him from his buddies, and will be taking him to the vet as soon as possible. I need to call and make an appointment. Hopefully, antibiotics will clear up his breathing.

I know exactly what you mean. Every time I tell Mom that one of my guys needs to see the vet (like Whiskers will on Thursday), she tells me they're fine and I'm wasting my money. It's pretty annoying.

Right!
It's frustrating, because something small can get really bad very quickly! It's better to be safe, and certain.
I can only imagine her reaction about my needing to take Star to the vet for his breathing. She doesn't hear very well, so she can't hear the difference.
And then, the fact that I need to get Blue to the vet to get a small lump checked out. :sad3:

 

[jorats]

I was going to mention as well that the stress of having mites can cause a myco flare up.
Of course having smoke on you doesn't help either... mmm, maybe a goo reason to quit? :cheeky:

 

[hsm]

I was going to mention as well that the stress of having mites can cause a myco flare up.
Of course having smoke on you doesn't help either... mmm, maybe a goo reason to quit? :cheeky:

Actually, their sneezing when I handle them after smoking is one of the big reasons I'm planning to quit when my semester ends. :wink2:
My boys' comfort and health come first! and then my own. :giggle:

 

[SQ]

Just for your info.:
URIs do get cleared up.
Antibiotics clear up secondary infections.
All rats are assumed to have at least one strain of myco. There is no cure for myco, so symptoms are treated when they flare up.

When rats develop respir infections they need to be treated fast because rats die fast.

 

[hsm]

Well, Star has an appointment for tomorrow at two! I had to go out and buy a smaller cage for travel, because the vet is quite a distance from where I live. Hopefully I will be able to report that Star is healthy sometime soon, like he deserves!

Now to detail this cage so he can be comfy while he travels. :3

 

[dan2333]

Wash your hands with soap after you smoke. Then you can handle the rats. Try a natural soap without fragrance or chemicals.

If you have an air purifier you can put it in the room where they are and remove any pollution/allergens in the air. That might help him/her too.

 

[hsm]

Wash your hands with soap after you smoke. Then you can handle the rats. Try a natural soap without fragrance or chemicals.

If you have an air purifier you can put it in the room where they are and remove any pollution/allergens in the air. That might help him/her too.

I always wash my hands after I smoke, especially before handling them. But the smoke still clings to my clothes, and that's a big problem, but once I quit it won't be anymore.

An air purifier is a great idea, though! I'll have to look into one of those.

 

[Spork]

Wash your hands with soap after you smoke. Then you can handle the rats. Try a natural soap without fragrance or chemicals.

If you have an air purifier you can put it in the room where they are and remove any pollution/allergens in the air. That might help him/her too.

I always wash my hands after I smoke, especially before handling them. But the smoke still clings to my clothes, and that's a big problem, but once I quit it won't be anymore.

An air purifier is a great idea, though! I'll have to look into one of those.

Smoking jacket?

 

[handmeafish]

no, don't give her ideas, quitting is the only way!!!
you can do it

 

[hsm]

no, don't give her ideas, quitting is the only way!!!
you can do it

Quitting IS the only way.
Imagine all the money I'll save to spoil my boys. Bwahaha.

 

[temblabamomo]

Honestly, rats were one of my number one reasons for quitting. I never smoked anywhere around them or inside the house at all, and always washed up really well after, but the smell kinda lingers, ya know? I was so so paranoid about them getting a whiff of the smell and getting sick because of it. At the time I also had a boy with chronic resp issues...he didn't have any choice about having breathing troubles, and there I was lighting up every day choosing to put myself at risk for breathing troubles. Everytime I wanted a cig I'd just think about that, and the urge would go away. One of the better choices I've made for myself.