wet sounding sniffing?

[odduckOasis]

Okay, I have a young rat, he's about... hm, 10 weeks old? Lately, I've noticed occasionally he'll kind of do a 'squeaky' breathing, sounds like he might have some water up his nose or something. Tonight, after giving him this mineral block to munch on, I heard him cough, almost like a gagging cough- it was wet sounding. He did it twice. And when I picked him up, he would sniff and again, it would sound kinda wet, like he had water up his nose. He doesn't sound like this constantly, so I haven't worried until I heard the strange cough/gag from him tonight.

Do you think it's something I ought to take him to the vet over? Does it sound like a respiratory thing? Or just that he's not coughing it out well enough? I only worry because we're short on money and I know vets are expensive. I'm sure I could raise some money, but I'm not completely sure especially if it ends up being worse than I think... any advice would be great. Because he doesn't do it all the time, I doubt I could get a recording of it, but the sound from him has been off and on for about a week or so.

I just worry cuz he's so young and I'm quite attached to him. He was bought from a pet store, but he was completely fine until recently.

Thanks again.

 

[jorats]

Have you had him long? Or within a couple of weeks? I'd probably hold off for a few days and monitor him. If it continues though, he'll need to see a vet for antibiotics. If it gets worse or there's more of it, then I'd bring him to a vet sooner.

 

[odduckOasis]

I've had him for about 4 weeks now. I was watching him today and he coughed a bit this morning, but he hasn't done so all day and he didn't make his weird breathing, like he had water up his nose.
I wonder if he got some water in his nose when I had them fishing for peas- cuz he'll dunk his nose into the water when he gets frustrated when he can't get a pea- so I figured I'd not give them peas in water for like a week and see how he's doing, that might be what it is. Hope so at least, but it still freaked me out, and I'm still concerned, but not as much. He has a good appetite and he runs around as usual, so he's not acting sick at least.

I'll keep an eye on him. Thanks.

 

[PuzzledBTs]

I have one baby doing the same wet sniffling, i gave them a small shallow dish with water, and since i put it in she had a wee bit of a wet sniffle... she seems alright now, but just when she drinks from the dish (or bathes herself from it) She gets those sniffles again...

 

[odduckOasis]

I worry cuz he'll do like a wet sounding sneeze too, but he doesn't act sick, so I'm just wondering if it's just cuz he's breathing in the water. I hope it doesn't turn out to be serious.... 8( He was fine seemingly all day today until the night time and he started sneezing and sniffing funny again, so I guess we'll see.

 

[odduckOasis]

Today, he wasn't sneezing the same as before. It seems to be clearing up a bit now, but I'll keep watching him all the same. No peas in water for a little bit.