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Please help, i dont know whats wrong

1478 Views 21 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  Mkd
New video by Emileee Dp

Please view the above link!
My baby her name is Nibbles, she is having fast and labored breathing and isn't as active
This is a link to a video of Nibbles breathing can someone please help me identify what this is I know its a respiratory issue she keeps sneezing I am new to owning rats and I just got her about a month ago and I'm not sure what to do
Thank you🖤
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She seems to be in pain, please take her to a vet. Also, she only seems to be 6 or maybe 7 weeks old, how have you had her for a month?
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She's over a month old, I actually had gotten her as a feeder rat she was really small i ended up keeping her and getting into rats and getting her a friend and everything, she's young but not that young.
I am trying to get a vet right now but I need to know if there is anything I can do to help her now, or if anyone can help me figure out what this is
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When I click the link, it says "album is empty."
oh my gosh she so tiny. If she really is over a month old im worried there might be an underlying condition keeping her from gaining enough weight. If you got her as feeder I wouldn't be surprised if she is sick. Rats are extremally prone to raspatory infections. Is she eating or drinking? If not you need to get her in with a emergency vet asap. Move her to a dark and quite room with clean air circulation.
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When I click the link, it says "album is empty."
I fixed it
oh my gosh she so tiny. If she really is over a month old im worried there might be an underlying condition keeping her from gaining enough weight. If you got her as feeder I wouldn't be surprised if she is sick. Rats are extremally prone to raspatory infections. Is she eating or drinking? If not you need to get her in with a emergency vet asap. Move her to a dark and quite room with clean air circulation.
Do you think it's ok if I put her away from her friend for a little while while doing so?
I fixed it

Do you think it's ok if I put her away from her friend for a little while while doing so?
I never recommend separating rats unless you think they will harm one another. Chances are if she is sick and its contagious her buddy has already caught it as well. Rats are very social creatures and actually have a higher chance of recovery when kept in pairs or groups. If you think her buddy is going to stress her out, then try separating them for a small break- but otherwise, I recommend keeping them together. Do you have a vet you can call?
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I never recommend separating rats unless you think they will harm one another. Chances are if she is sick and its contagious her buddy has already caught it as well. Rats are very social creatures and actually have a higher chance of recovery when kept in pairs or groups. If you think her buddy is going to stress her out, then try separating them for a small break- but otherwise, I recommend keeping them together. Do you have a vet you can call?
I think she looks much smaller in the video than in reality at least at that angle, she's never had issues eating, was super active and healthy (she eats fine now but isn't active)
But yes there is a exotic vet near where I live but I'm hesitant because of how high there prices are, I don't have money. The other rat (Remy) is perfectly fine and super active I doubt she's sick but I know it's possible

Nibbles has sneezed a little bit I just realized I never said that but (that's why I assumed it was respiratory) it's 4am where I live right now and nothing has changed much but I am considering giving her something for pain (after I research a bunch first to make sure it's safe) I just wanna do anything I can to comfort her if possible

Also I really do approve everyone's responses 🖤thank you very much
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She could maybe just be having hiccups 🤔

Don't listen to me though, because I don't really know 😖
Rats don’t really get hiccups, this is likely a respiratory problem. It’s concerning that she’s so small. If you can’t afford an in person vet, you might want to try an online vet. There are a few people who have done that on this forum, it worked out!
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Rats don’t really get hiccups, this is likely a respiratory problem. It’s concerning that she’s so small. If you can’t afford an in person vet, you might want to try an online vet. There are a few people who have done that on this forum, it worked out!
"Rats do get hiccups and they are indeed silent. Chirping noises could be an indication of a possible current respiratory problem, or even scar tissue from a previous respiratory infection. Grinding noises, like when they're grinding their teeth, are completely normal, but for the most part, rats are extremely quiet." Rats do get hiccups, and as long as they are silent it's fine
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Labored breathing like that is definitely URI...she's using all her abdominal muscles just to breathe. A nebulizer can help her breathe, but without antibiotics, she will likely not get better. The other rat may or may not develop symptoms, depends on her health and immune system. Good luck, it's a hard situation to deal with. I have an old girl who sounds like a freight train, and she's on Baytril and Doxy now, double dose.
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Oh! Thank you for educating me. However, like you mentioned they are silent so likely not the case for this.
Rats don’t really get hiccups, this is likely a respiratory problem. It’s concerning that she’s so small. If you can’t afford an in person vet, you might want to try an online vet. There are a few people who have done that on this forum, it worked out!
So I just signed up for the online vet, it was 5 dollars for a 7 day trial so I really hope that works. I'm waiting on their response now. This might be a stupid question but can online vets write prescriptions?
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So I just signed up for the online vet, it was 5 dollars for a 7 day trial so I really hope that works. I'm waiting on their response now. This might be a stupid question but can online vets write prescriptions?
I don't know, but for something like Baytril or Doxy, I would think that because they are not a controlled substance, the vet should be able to 'call it in' to a vet's office or an online vet pharmacy.
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I don't know, but for something like Baytril or Doxy, I would think that because they are not a controlled substance, the vet should be able to 'call it in' to a vet's office or an online vet pharmacy.
I think if you get "approval" from the vet you can then order it so I think your right
I really hope this helps
I don't know, but for something like Baytril or Doxy, I would think that because they are not a controlled substance, the vet should be able to 'call it in' to a vet's office or an online vet pharmacy.
I think if you get "approval" from the vet you can then order it so I think your right
I really hope this helps

Edit-they can't write prescriptions
I think she looks much smaller in the video than in reality at least at that angle, she's never had issues eating, was super active and healthy (she eats fine now but isn't active)
But yes there is a exotic vet near where I live but I'm hesitant because of how high there prices are, I don't have money. The other rat (Remy) is perfectly fine and super active I doubt she's sick but I know it's possible

Nibbles has sneezed a little bit I just realized I never said that but (that's why I assumed it was respiratory) it's 4am where I live right now and nothing has changed much but I am considering giving her something for pain (after I research a bunch first to make sure it's safe) I just wanna do anything I can to comfort her if possible

Also I really do approve everyone's responses 🖤thank you very much
Id never recommend giving a rat something for pain without a vet's approval of the dose, Its way too easy to over or under dose a rat without seeing / weighing it in person. I saw you mention you've gotten in with a online vet! Thats wonderful !! And probably the best thing for her. Id keep them together unless the vet says otherwise. (y)good job making that progress.
Sounds good!
And yes, weighing them is important. My Taco is 270 grams, she started with .03 ml of Baytril, twice a day, then after 3 days with no improvement, and getting worse, we upped it to .06 Baytril and added .08 Doxy. After the 3rd dose, Taco sounds sooooo much better! I had to listen carefully to hear her raspy/crackly breathing. It's about 80% better. I will keep her on meds for another week. Hopefully the online vet can get you some antibiotics.
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