Young rat has recurring snuffle/wheeze

[Alison118]

I have a 5 month old rat who was treated by a vet for a sinus infection about one month ago. She was given a 10 day course of antibiotics and her snuffle was gone by around day 4. I’ve noticed it slowly coming back over the last week. I still think it’s only in her nose because I don’t hear it constantly as she breaths, only when she seems to be “sniffing around”.
There is no discharge. She’s just as active and playful. No change in appetite or pooping. No sad, squinty, sickly eyes. It’s just this snuffly wheeze and she will sneeze several times in a row, and it’s quite a loud wheeze for such a small nose.
She has one cage mate that has no symptoms. They live in a large wire cage lined with fleece and a puppy pad which is changed every week. They are completely litter trained and litter is changed at least twice a week. I also have a small air purifier in their room (it does have an ionizing option but I always have that turned off).

What could this be? Do these symptoms ever resolve on their own? Do rats have seasonal allergies (I know season has been terrible for me)? I don’t want to make another $100 vet trip if it isn’t something serious. And I don’t want her to have another round of antibiotics unnecessarily. The vet said something about a test they could run to see what strain it is, but it’s $180 just for the test, plus $80 just to be seen! I am not working due to my own health issues and my budget is very tight right now.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. She is just the sweetest girl and these snuffles have me worried.

 

[Vicki]

What antibiotics were prescribed??

10 days isn’t a long enough time for rats to be on antibiotics so any sickness will typically just come back. You will probably need to do a longer course of antibiotics.

 

[Alison118]

I would love to tell you the name of the antibiotic but, my other girl Penguin, found the empty bottle in a box under their cage and, before I could stop her she took off with it and I have not been able to find it. I guess she felt left out.
It was a thick, pink liquid. I was to give her 0.1ml every day for 10 days. So a total course of 1ml. She fought the dropper so I ended up just putting the amount in the palm of my hand and she happily licked it up every time.
I will call the vet tomorrow and ask what type and why it was such a short course.

 

[Vicki]

It was most likely baytril... you may also need a combination with another antibiotic as well... usually doxy or zithro. I would call the vet and see if they will give you a refill for a longer amount of time!

 

[SQ]

When rats have a respitory infection they need to be on antibiotics that are helping for 4 to 6 weeks.
(If the antibiotic is not starting to help within a few days, then it is important to contact the vet so that another antibiotic can be added or the meds changed)