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ATTN oot and other rat owning UFies... | by Baenlynn | 2014-05-16 06:00:21 |
| No need to worry yet, and probably not allergies |
by oot |
2014-05-16 16:52:21 |
Four days is still short enough for stress sneezing -- give 'em two weeks, then if they're still sneezing it's time to head for the vet for some antibiotics (or sooner if they seem to be getting worse).
Virtually all domestic rats (except certain specific-pathogen-free lab rats) are carriers of a bacteria called mycoplasma. It's a life-long infection, that's usually harmless, unless their immune system is weakened by stress/old age/other illness/etc.
Sometimes when the immune system is temporarily weakened by stress and the myco flares up, they get a secondary infection as well -- secondary infections are caused by other bacteria and are not life-long.
If the rats continue sneezing for more than two weeks, they may need some antibiotics to help them get over it. The most commonly used combination is baytril (which knocks down the mycoplasma population) + doxycycline (to deal with any secondary infections). The combination is much more effective than Baytril on its own, since if a healthy young rat is symptomatic for a few weeks that usually means there is a secondary infection, which baytril on its own won't get rid of. In cases where that fails, azithromycin usually does the trick.
Regarding bedding, paper is a good choice. Some people also use fleece (you put a few sheets in the bottom of the cage, pick up turds as needed, and wash or throw away the fleece sheets when they get smelly). Avoid cedar and pine shavings, both give off phenols which are not good for rats to breathe. |
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