I just got a little grey and white rat yesterday, I don't really have a normal cage, he's just in a blue bin. I had some hampster bedding in with him, but now I just have an old t-shirt and a couple rags. I have given him hampster food but can't find anywhere that says he can't eat it. But ever since I've had him he is constantly sneezing non stop, and has diareha. I'm not sure what he has or what to do? We don't really have money to take him to the vet.
Your rat is from a pet store and your rat has just moved to a new home. These are both important part of the answer. Rats have pretty sensitive respiratory systems and your pet store buddy probably doesn't have the most glamorous history or family tree. His parentage as well as his 'childhood' have probably encouraged this infection. He has also moved recently, which was stressful, AND lonely . He is living in a bucket all by himself (even though you love him it is not enough) on dusty wood-chips (?). A rat friend, dust free bedding and good aeration will improve things. Lastly, I understand that a vet bill is intimidating and likely cannot be afforded, but if you really don't want to return your rat you can treat him yourself. Tetracycline (purchase at a pet store for fish and birds) in powder form mixed well with plain yogurt (good bacteria for diarrhea) and oatmeal (filling and will keep stool together) for 10 + days should improve his condition. It may even be a really exciting way to bond with him as you bring him a yogurt "treat" everyday.
To save money on food, mix your own at the grocery store. Just go by what you see in their current food. Its like 40 cents a pound for flower seeds, peanuts etc. Then mix all your choices together and its like 2-3 bags of food you could have spent double on.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com As for the Sneezing and Diarrhea, it could either be that he's sick or stressed. Make sure he has a lot of water and food and give him a day or two, check on him regularly to make sure there is no blood around his nose, eyes or poo. If the sneezing continues after a day or two, you should take the rat to the vet or back to the petstore to get a different one.
Rats from petstores often turn out to be very sick or have bad temperments which is why people suggest you only get rodents from breeders.
When I first got my 2 rats I they both had diarrhea. It didn't really stop till they were settled in a cage and comfortable. If you wanna save money on food by the way, you should buy huge bags of wild bird food at walmart. They can eat that as well. My rat, Ronon, he sneezes all the time. It's a sign of a respiratory infection, which is very common in rats. Especially ones from pet stores. There's not much you can do about respiratory infections. Most rats live normally as any other rat would with respiratory infections. But I do recommend you get another rat for the rat you just bought, unless you already have some. Rats can NOT live without a partner. But anyways .. if the diarrhea continues for more than 3 days then I suggest you talk to someone at the pet store and see what they can do for you.
You need to order baytril and doxycycline off the internet. You can get the measurements for the meds off the internet once you get them. Until then give your rat bene-bac 2xs daily for the diarrhea and children's benadryl for the sneezing. I'd give them a little. I always just gave my rat less than 1ml in a dropper. You want to be very careful when giving a baby meds. You will want to do that 3xs a day. Also if hes having trouble breathing you can do a nebulizer treatment 2xs a day. If you dont have a nebulizer then use pro air inhaler. Hold 3inches from face and puff 2xs. This is all you can really do besides taking him to the vet, which for me is about $ 100 for myco meds and a check up.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Sorry.
Good luck.
It sounds like an upper respiratory infection-This could be serious. With most pets (depending where you bought him) you can bring him back and they will pay the vet bill then you re-adopt him. I would bring him to the vet ASAP they go down hill fast. Also try oatmeal for the diarrhea-Just plan oates will help with that. Good luck!
Repository problems are common in rats, unfortunately.
It is thought that there is a bacteria present in all rats which causes Mycoplasmosis, which is a respiratory infection that eventually develops into Pneumonia.
You cant cure the illness, but it needs to be treated with antibiotics-otherwise your rat will get worse very quickly. I would hazard to guess that a good majority of pet rats are permanent antibiotics. I know my 4 boys are.
We now know that certain rats are more susceptible to getting these infections, and breeders are trying hard to produce Myco resistant rats.
Keeping your rat on paper based kitty litter and not dusty clay based litter will help ensure that his respiratory problems do not get more severe than needed.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
Old t-shirts are fine to use as long as they are clean and have not been exposed to nasty chemicals.
