[Spider]

My New Rat Chirping!

Well I broke down and instead of waiting for that perfect Senior Spayed/Spayable Female for 2+ yr. old Leonardo, I bought a 3mo. old Female from a local feeder-breeder.
She seemed fine , brought her home put her in an oversize mouse cage till I sorted things out, Leonardo definately approved leering in through the bars and teeth chattering like a sex maniac on 4 double expresso's.
Cleaned out Leonardo's cage (the only livable cage with narrow spacing) as soon as I put her in the big cage she starts chirping/gurgling noises, sometimes followed by a sneeze sometimes.
Is this some kind of signal or greeting? is she like giving warning to who might be in the cage she's there?
Anyways I got scared and I have some Baytril left from Leo's surgery last week, so I gave her about 1/3 as much, she's pretty small about 1/3 leo's size.
I remembered the breeder kept it pretty warm in there so I cranked the heater maybe she caught a cold?
Has anyone heard almost a musical loud chirping from a new Rat?
Spider

By the way I plan on sharing the cage Leonardo Roams at night with a food dish outside and in the AM put the Female in the Mouse cage and Leo in the big cage.
Until she gets spayed next week thats the only solution.

 

[Spider]

Re: My New Rat Chirping!

I called the breeder who said "all my girl Rats chirp alot, they're talking" and she's sneezing to and he said thats common in all rats!!
What was I thinking! putting my Senior Male in danger like this, anyways she's in the big cage and Leonardo can free roam for awhile, I keep a small cage with food and water on the floor where he can kick back.
Man this new Rat is noisy, loud chirping gurgling almost like a chirp-purr, maybe it is some kind of communication, this rat is super active , clear eyed, I don't know.
If anything pops up I go the emergency clinic route.
Spider

 

[Spider]

Re: My New Rat Chirping!

She's going to the Vet Wednesday, and baytril till then but if I notice any disconfort then its emergency.
Interestingly she sleeps peaceably no noise, its only when she's active she makes loud chirping.
Spider

 

[Spider]

Re: My New Rat Chirping!

She definately has Resp. issues. I've been giving a moderate dose every 8 hours and the chirping has mostly stopped. I hear sneezes occasionally, but since giving Baytril I can SEE an improvement.
I've got maybe 2 more doses, I'm going to see if I can refill the other Rats script, if not I guess that means I'll have to drag her to an emergency.
I finally figured out what she sounded like; a guina pig, the same grunts and chirps I guess were her trying to get air into her lungs!
The breeder had a whole wall of trays filled with Rats, he was feeding the cheapest wallmart dry dogfood"old roys". When I think about the whole thing and the thousands of other breeders it makes me ill. Millions of disposible rats never really having the most basic life.
I was tempted to return her to the breeder, I even called and he said it was OK, the situation has thrown my home into chaos, my other Rat is now evicted from his cage,I've got a sick FemaLE THAT NEVER MAY BE WELL ENOUGH TO SPAY and I now have the extra burden ofa sick Rat. I know the noble thing is to keep her and care for her but I don't know if I can do it.
Spider

 

[Spider]

Re: My New Rat Chirping!

Her name is Alice, and will stay with me forever.
I just spent the whole day at Emergency,getting Meds and buying and outfitting a nice cage for her. I'm tired and need rest but wanted to say Alice is adarling little Rattie , I'm just glad I am able to help her out. You can tell she is so grateful, she knew what was in store for her, having a giant snake a few feet away and watching your sisters pulled out and fed to it, I can tell she gets it.Life is so sad....
Spider