Sick rats??

Question

I bought an older rat (about 7 months) yesterday at Petsmart. His eyes look healthy, his coat is shiny, and he was not sneezing or breathing abnormally.

When I woke up this morninng, however, he was sneezing alot and breathing funny. He is in the same room but separate cage as my other (hairless) rat. He has also begun to sneeze.

I have read that new rats go through a "sneezy stage" when they are first brought home because they aren't used to the air or bedding. Is this possible?

Also, if my new rat is sick, is it possible for him to have infected my hairless overnight?

Please help!!

Answer 1

That could be because of his bedding. I had a rat before and I was told to only use pine wood chip bedding or shredded newspaper bedding (that you buy...I don't know if its as good if you do it yourself)

All the other ones can cause breathing problems.

Hope I helped you!

Jamie, xox

Answer 2

What I would do, is move the cage to a separate room ASAP.

It's definitely possible that he's just got a case of the new home sneezies. I have a rat named Reggie who went through this when I got him. Some rats do it, some don't. However, when you get a new rat (especially from a pet store) you should always quarantine him from any other rats you have for at least 2-3 weeks. This is to just make sure that there are no diseases the new guy could pass to the older one. It's possible he could have already spread something, but if he has a URI it's not as likely. Respiratory infections are not as easy for rats to pass to each other as something like mites, so you might get lucky there if the new guy has something.

Answer 3

It can depend on what cage you have him in. If its a tank Please take him and our others out. Tanks do not give them the air flow they need.

Yes you should take him out of the room as your other rats. If its a upper respirator infection (URI) this can be transferred to the others very fast. You should take him to the Vet. Rats can die rather fast from this. (As mine showed no signs of anything worng before she passed a few days ago.)

Are you using different bedding then petsmart. IF so I would change back. Carefresh is what the store uses.

If his sneezing doesnt top in a day or two then you should worrie. Other then that he should be fine.

Hope I helped!

Answer 4

could be the bedding .. you might need to change the bedding and take them to the vet

Answer 5

Separate cage is not adequate quarantine! It's too late now but please read:

http://www.petinfopackets.com/rats/rathe...

Rats do tend to go through a sneezy stage when first brought home but if he's also breathing funny this is more than that. Is he in a cage or a tank? Tanks do not have adequate ventilation for rats and they should never be kept in them. What type of bedding is he on? Pine and cedar beddings should never be used as they damage the respiratory system and liver.

Whether or not he infected your hairless is entirely dependent on what he has. Be ready to take one or both to a small animal vet if symptoms progress.

Answer 6

He is probably just getting used to his bedding so he is sneezing a lot.