Hello! Hope everyone is safe and is doing well 
Would like some advice and/or thoughts on some unusual behaviour that my rat has been displaying I've already booked a vet appointment for Monday but I'm hoping to see if anyone has any experience with this and offer advise for anything I could do to help him feel better meanwhile.
My boy is a rescue rat, 1 year and 2 months old now and has been suffering from respiratory issues on and off for the past 5 months. Recently (past 2 days), he's become very lethargic, is constantly slouched over, barely moving but thankfully still grooming and somehow his face looks larger?? It's almost like he gained alot of weight on his face overnight but there are no visible lumps or bumps. He barely eats his regular feed and I've been feeding him Ensure in hopes that he's getting enough calories and liquid. He is also frequently bruxing on his right side and constantly nibbling and pulling on a towel that he sleeps on. The tugging isn't the playful kind of tug rats normally do... it's very short and repetitive. Already I tried looking for issues with his molars but couldn't find any (or maybe I'm just too inexperienced).
Other things noted would be that his fur does feel sort of rough and that he's constantly squinting.
And regarding his respiratory issue he actually doesn't wheeze as much as he used to but if he did make noises it sounds lower and more gurgly than it used to. He is still on antibiotics and has been for about the past week.
Sorry for the long wall of text. I tried googling and looking through forums but couldn't find a clue as to what might've happened to him... Any advice or insight will be appreciated!
Here's the squinty boy:
Would like some advice and/or thoughts on some unusual behaviour that my rat has been displaying
I've already booked a vet appointment for Monday but I'm hoping to see if anyone has any experience with this and offer advise for anything I could do to help him feel better meanwhile.My boy is a rescue rat, 1 year and 2 months old now and has been suffering from respiratory issues on and off for the past 5 months. Recently (past 2 days), he's become very lethargic, is constantly slouched over, barely moving but thankfully still grooming and somehow his face looks larger?? It's almost like he gained alot of weight on his face overnight but there are no visible lumps or bumps. He barely eats his regular feed and I've been feeding him Ensure in hopes that he's getting enough calories and liquid. He is also frequently bruxing on his right side and constantly nibbling and pulling on a towel that he sleeps on. The tugging isn't the playful kind of tug rats normally do... it's very short and repetitive. Already I tried looking for issues with his molars but couldn't find any (or maybe I'm just too inexperienced).
Other things noted would be that his fur does feel sort of rough and that he's constantly squinting.And regarding his respiratory issue he actually doesn't wheeze as much as he used to but if he did make noises it sounds lower and more gurgly than it used to. He is still on antibiotics and has been for about the past week.
Sorry for the long wall of text. I tried googling and looking through forums but couldn't find a clue as to what might've happened to him... Any advice or insight will be appreciated!
Here's the squinty boy:
