I currently have 10 boys and have kept rats for over 10 years. All rats (just about) have Mycoplasma ( one of the main players in almost all chronic respiratory disease in rats, and it can be transferred via aerosolisation, when rats breathe or sneeze on each other, or sometimes from the female rat to her babies).
I had several die from the disease and had to euthanize quite a few when it got too bad for them to have any quality of life. They were literally drowning with fluid in their lungs and it horrible to witness them struggle. A few I think I waited too long and a couple I think I may have euthanized them too soon. This will always weigh heavily on my heart. I feel like a failure for not doing enough. I spent a small fortune on vets trying to treat it and not many actually know how. Rats are quite delicate little creatures and are classed as an exotic pet. Nothing they gave seemed to work. So when a couple of my new boys started getting sick I started panicking.
But I managed to find a better vet this time and their treatment worked!
There are 3 stages to Mycoplasma - the last leading to phenonium so I want to make this clear the following treatment is for the 1st stage only (excessive sneezing, cooing, hiccupping). Any other stage you need to ensure they get vet treatment as they may need antibiotics, pain relief.
In the 1st stage you can give them Demazin which is an over the counter cold and flu medication for humans. (INGREDIANTS - pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, chlorpheniramine maleate and paracetamol. Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride belongs to a group of medicines called sympathomimetic decongestants). You need to give them a decongestants to treat the mucus build up as that is what you are hearing in their labored breathing. Weigh your rat accurately, round up their weight to the nearest 100gms and then give 0.01 for every 100 grams of weight twice day for around 2 weeks. So if you rat is 760 gms (yep most of my boys are around this size!) - I would round this up to 800gms and give 0.08ml of Demazin. Use a syringe (without needle), have someone hold the rat or put them on your lap, put the tip into the side of their mouth (less chance of asphyxiating) and squirt. Try to get the vanilla flavor if they have it as they like the taste better. IF THEY DO NOT IMPROVE IN TWO WEEKS YOU NEED VET ASSISTANCE.
OTHER TIPS
I hope this helps anyone that is struggling to care for their rat! Just remember that you will need to do this over the course of their lifetime. All rats pretty much are born with disease and if they get another illness it will flair up again.
I had several die from the disease and had to euthanize quite a few when it got too bad for them to have any quality of life. They were literally drowning with fluid in their lungs and it horrible to witness them struggle. A few I think I waited too long and a couple I think I may have euthanized them too soon. This will always weigh heavily on my heart. I feel like a failure for not doing enough. I spent a small fortune on vets trying to treat it and not many actually know how. Rats are quite delicate little creatures and are classed as an exotic pet. Nothing they gave seemed to work. So when a couple of my new boys started getting sick I started panicking.
But I managed to find a better vet this time and their treatment worked!
There are 3 stages to Mycoplasma - the last leading to phenonium so I want to make this clear the following treatment is for the 1st stage only (excessive sneezing, cooing, hiccupping). Any other stage you need to ensure they get vet treatment as they may need antibiotics, pain relief.
In the 1st stage you can give them Demazin which is an over the counter cold and flu medication for humans. (INGREDIANTS - pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, chlorpheniramine maleate and paracetamol. Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride belongs to a group of medicines called sympathomimetic decongestants). You need to give them a decongestants to treat the mucus build up as that is what you are hearing in their labored breathing. Weigh your rat accurately, round up their weight to the nearest 100gms and then give 0.01 for every 100 grams of weight twice day for around 2 weeks. So if you rat is 760 gms (yep most of my boys are around this size!) - I would round this up to 800gms and give 0.08ml of Demazin. Use a syringe (without needle), have someone hold the rat or put them on your lap, put the tip into the side of their mouth (less chance of asphyxiating) and squirt. Try to get the vanilla flavor if they have it as they like the taste better. IF THEY DO NOT IMPROVE IN TWO WEEKS YOU NEED VET ASSISTANCE.
OTHER TIPS
- Rats pee everywhere. I'm sure they pee even when they're sleeping! Rat urine is what makes Mycoplasma flare up so clean the cage regularly (like every second day) and make sure you buy a big enough cage (Ferret Nation is the best cage but expensive. Especially in Australia - I paid $700 for mine!)
- They need fresh air! Open a window, put a fan on so it is indirectly shifting the air around them. They need about 10 'air changes' every few minutes.
- Make sure the room is not too hot or cold. It should be about 25c. If it's damp they are going to get ill. If you can not heat the room (due to cost) then give them lots of bedding and small boxes to sleep in so they can keep warm.
- Feed them high quality food and provide lots of fresh vegetables high in vitamin C.
- Use spring water if you have fluoride in the water where you live
- Use 'clean' paper (not newspaper as it has ink) to line the cage or towels that are replaced/washed every second day. Do not use wood shavings or anything that is dusty.
- Remove anything in the cage that is damp.
I hope this helps anyone that is struggling to care for their rat! Just remember that you will need to do this over the course of their lifetime. All rats pretty much are born with disease and if they get another illness it will flair up again.
