[JackTheHatTheBat]

So y'all my rat has a respiratory infection and I can't take him to the vet cause one I'm a child and two he was originally snake food but I loved him too much so he a pet now and I have the supplies for him just can't take him to vet and I want to know if fish mox is okay to use to treat him and if coconut fiber cause breathing issues and what can I give him and I do clean his cage every day and I will add a humility for him I just need to know what medicine is the best for him and other ways to treat him for his respiratory infection. If I can't treat him he's gonna have to go to the snake and I don't really wanna do that.

 

[ratmom!]

Do you have a parent or guardian that would be able to take your rats to the vet? Does he have a cage mate? I am not certain about the fish mox, someone else here would be better at answering that.

 

[Rats4All]

The meds that will work best are the meds givin by a vet.

 

[JackTheHatTheBat]

I do but my dad doesn't wanna spend money on him and I don't have the money my dad will just say feed it to the snake so I have to treat him home

 

[JackTheHatTheBat]

I can't take him to vet my dad doesn't want to spend money and I don't have the money so I have to try my best with over the counter medicine and home treatment

 

[JackTheHatTheBat]

He off and on has cage mates but he seem to not to care about them they are food for my snake I try to give them a good life before they die but even with cage mates he doesn't care for them he just wants me to hang out with him

Do you have a parent or guardian that would be able to take your rats to the vet? Does he have a cage mate? I am not certain about the fish mox, someone else here would be better at answering that.

 

[ratmom!]

If one of your rats has a URI, it is likely that all of them will because they are living in the same cage. How old is the rat? Before making the decisions to keep the feeders, you need to make sure that you are prepared. You have to have vet funds saved up in case something really bad happens. Are they all males? Or females?

 

[JackTheHatTheBat]

If one of your rats has a URI, it is likely that all of them will because they are living in the same cage. How old is the rat? Before making the decisions to keep the feeders, you need to make sure that you are prepared. You have to have vet funds saved up in case something really bad happens. Are they all males? Or females?

I have one male and I did have another one who got sick and died so my male rat must have gotten it from him my rat he is at least almost a month old I have all the stuff like cage and food and toys and bedding I can technically afford the vet cause my dad can pay but I would have to back which isn't a big deal but I don't know when I can do the vet and if my dad is willing to help so I need to what medicine I can give him to help hold him off until I can take him to the vet

 

[ratmom!]

I have one male and I did have another one who got sick and died so my male rat must have gotten it from him my rat he is at least almost a month old I have all the stuff like cage and food and toys and bedding I can technically afford the vet cause my dad can pay but I would have to back which isn't a big deal but I don't know when I can do the vet and if my dad is willing to help so I need to what medicine I can give him to help hold him off until I can take him to the vet

First, he needs a friend, if you want to keep owning rats as pets you should save up vet funds and get him a friend, if you get it from feeder bins make sure that it is a male! It is really the best option to take him to the vet because they can prescribe you medicine and amounts.

Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Respiratory Disease in Rats

Upper and lower respiratory diseases are very common in rats. We outline the causes, symptoms and treatment options for your pet rodent.

www.unusualpetvets.com.au

 

[CorbinDallasMyMan]

Self administering fish antibiotics definitely isn't the safest thing to do. It looks like the fish mox capsules are 250 mg each but a rat only needs somewhere in the range of 2 to 30 mg per dose, depending on their weight. Figuring out how to turn a capsule into something that can be carefully measured and accurately dosed is probably complicated. The [RatGuide page on amoxicillin] offers info on proper dosing based on weight. You can find online dosing calculators to help with the math.

You might also want to check out the article called ["This is Why Taking Fish Medicine is Truly a Bad Idea"] from Smithsonian Magazine. If fish mox is your only option, it's good to go into it knowing the risks.

 

[JackTheHatTheBat]

Self administering fish antibiotics definitely isn't the safest thing to do. It looks like the fish mox capsules are 250 mg each but a rat only needs somewhere in the range of 2 to 30 mg per dose, depending on their weight. Figuring out how to turn a capsule into something that can be carefully measured and accurately dosed is probably complicated. The [RatGuide page on amoxicillin] offers info on proper dosing based on weight. You can find online dosing calculators to help with the math.

You might also want to check out the article called ["This is Why Taking Fish Medicine is Truly a Bad Idea"] from Smithsonian Magazine. If fish mox is your only option, it's good to go into it knowing the risks.

It's not my only option if you know other meds I can buy over counter I will take the edvice and I am saving for vet funds. I do wanna take him to the vet I just need something to help him out for now.

First, he needs a friend, if you want to keep owning rats as pets you should save up vet funds and get him a friend, if you get it from feeder bins make sure that it is a male! It is really the best option to take him to the vet because they can prescribe you medicine and amounts.

Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Respiratory Disease in Rats

Upper and lower respiratory diseases are very common in rats. We outline the causes, symptoms and treatment options for your pet rodent.

www.unusualpetvets.com.au

I get friends for him but their only there for a week and I usually get two like I said he was originally Snake food and all the rats I've gotten were males I will take him to the vet I just need something to help out so I can get some vet money saved so I need to figure out home treatment to hold him off for a while so he doesn't die before then. If you know any home treatment to use I would really appreciate I can't get him to vet yet. He is healthy so I don't know how long he has he is still really active so I just hope I can help him out before I have the ability to take him to the vet.

 

[Tinytoes]

Hi Jake, it sounds like you really care a lot about this rattie. There aren't any medications you can buy over the counter for rats. The only thing you can do is keep him in a dust-free environment with higher humidity. Make sure he has lots of water and is not in a drafty area.

Just know it will be hard to keep him as a pet with other rats coming and going, because the feeder rats aren't kept in good conditions, and they will likely be bringing some illness with them.

Good luck, keep him well as long as you can.

 

[ratmom!]

Tiny toes said that really well. If you want to keep owning rats you could check shelters and rescues and trusting breeders near you.

 

[CorbinDallasMyMan]

It's not my only option if you know other meds I can buy over counter I will take the advice and I am saving for vet funds. I do wanna take him to the vet I just need something to help him out for now.

There's not really anything that you can just go buy from a store that will help him. Amoxicillin, Clavamox, and azithromycin are often the types of antibiotics used for very young rats. Older rats often get antibiotics like enrofloxacin and doxycycline for respiratory infections.

I get friends for him but they're only there for a week...

I would suggest getting him at least one or two other permanent friends. I would keep your permanent pet rats in their own cage and not let them anywhere near the feeders you bring into the house. It's potentially very dangerous for their health to be exposed to a rotating bunch of strange feeder rats constantly coming and going.

 

[*Ratatosk*]

Contact any of your local rat breeders you can find. They usually have antibiotics for emergencies and might be willing to sell you for much cheaper than a vet visit, along with instructions of how to use them.
Also, hey, friends for a week only doesn't work! Put yourself in his place. You wouldn't want a friend for a week only.