Baby rats from Petco sneezing and breathing rapidly - are they sick?

Question

I bought baby rats from Petco a week ago - a brown hooded dumbo and a chocolate berkshire.

Behaviorwise, they act fairly normal - one's a bit shy but takes treats from my hand; the other is very friendly, enjoys head scritches, and has taken naps in my jacket while I read.

I got them a fairly spacious cage - the bottom level is a 10 gallon aquarium, which has a ramp leading up to two and a half more levels with wire sides. There's a wheel, hammock, rope climb, and plenty of tubes and boxes with holes. I use carefresh bedding and they have fresh water, two kinds of rat foods daily, and fresh veggies/fruits by hand as treats.

I've noticed since I got them that they breathe very rapidly and sneeze often. Their fur kind of sticks out giving their butts a poofy look, but their coats aren't rough or anything. There's no evidence of porphyrin, they're eating and drinking fine, and quite alert and active when they're not curled up together in their box.

It's the rapid breathing that worries me. They click sometimes, and I don't have that much experience, so I'm not sure if it's bruxing or breathing problems.

I have since done a lot of internet research and realized buying from the pet store is a bad idea. Also, the pet associate told me they were three or four weeks old (they're mouse sized!), and my reading says they shouldn't even be weaned til about five weeks!

Sorry for being so wordy, I'm trying to be thorough! If you have experience with rats, please tell me if something is wrong or if this is normal... I'm very grateful for any help!

Answer 1

it is probally the bedding. I use carefresh for my ratties

Answer 2

its probs the bedding you use paper so it might be the bedding the pet shop used give them a chance to get better a few day week max if there no improvemnt take them to the vets asap infections can kill baby rats so easily

Give your rats extra attention coz their so young rat ive bred have never left there mum till there 5 1/2 weeks not being sold till there 6 1/2!! the pet shop shouldn't have sold them. You should keep a extra close eye on them even take them the vets if they do get better just to get them checked out

Answer 3

yes, pet store animals are usually sold sick.  

Answer 4

they probably have respiratory problems. Sometimes the bedding you use can cause that.they inhale the dust and it accumilates sometime That causes upper respiratory problems.  try changin their bedding. My guinea pig used to caugh and ever since i changed her bedding she has stoped. Or maybe they had carried the infection all the way from the pet store.

    change the bedding and sneezing will stop i guarantee if not then take them to the vet. And keep them warm. It's probably notin to worry about. good luck and keep me posted

:)

Answer 5

call petco and see what bedding they use you may have bought sick critters how long is your guarentee you may want to try a natural or unscented litter they may be sensitive to a scent but they sound like they have the rat equivalant of kennel cough

Answer 6

It's very likely that they are sick.  Rats are extremely prone to respiratory problems and pet stores are a great breeding ground for infections.  You never know what conditions they came from at the breeders.

I would take them to the vet due to the rapid breathing, sneezing, and the occasional clicking noise.  Those are all signs that my rats have displayed when they had respiratory infections.  With my newest guy, Morpheus, I only observed porphyrin once but he definitely had a URI.  He was still bright and alert and I got him to the vet when he was in the very early stages and treatment was quite simple.

Even if it turns out to be a false alarm there's no harm in having a quick introductory check up with a good exotic vet.  They can get to know your rats and discuss bedding and food with you.

Answer 7

Sounds exactly like a myco infection (http://www.rmca.org/Articles/myco.htm), take them to the vet!

3 WEEKS? Aah! are they eating normal food? If not, you may want to be giving them kitten formula until they're used to it, this may be helpful:  

Q: When will the babies start weaning and is there anything I should do to help that process?

A: The babies begin weaning in their third week or so. You may see them taking experimental nips at the solid food in mom’s dish. You can start giving them a mushy weaning mixture of soy baby formula or kitten weaning formula mixed with baby cereal. It should be soupy like runny cream of wheat at first. The babies will likely bathe in it the first few days it is introduced to them, not unlike human babies trying to learn to eat big people food. It’s both icky and totally adorable (again, see weaning human babies.) Babies should be fully weaned by five weeks of age and you should separate them by gender by the time they reach six weeks of age.

shame on that pet store! Good job taking them in though!

Answer 8

It sounds like it *may* be the bedding, try using ripped up printer paper, because any kind of store bedding can be dangerous for them.

I just recently got one and she does the same thing to, but it sounds like they're a tad young, poor babies. If you can,and if they're calm enough wrap them up in a rag and just try to bond with them.

I can't quite say much I'm going through the same kind of situation as you are. Does yours ever squeak? Email me if you want, I hope I can answer your questions!

Answer 9

if you are concerned about their health, take them to the vets. ive noticed you said they were only a few weeks old. they should still be with their mother. i didnt get my 2 rats until they were 12 weeks old. and not all pets you get from pet shops will be sick, the 2 of my rats were in top condition and they have never been ill since ive had them