[Alyssa_Rat]

Re: Tons of poop

Ok so you know when I got Alyssa and she used to sneeze alot? well after about a week she stopped sneezing and shes fine now, now TempleTon is sneezing and hes in the same cage Alyssa was in when i got her ((dont worry i staralized and cleaned the cage before i put him in it)) could he be sneezing cuz the cage is to small??

I wanna start working on the ""closet cage"" but im moving in the next couple months so i dont think I should start the closet thing till we get to the new house and im exspecting a new and much larger rat ((hence the word rat)) cage in the next 2 weeks so hes ganna be stuck in the little cage for the next 2 weeks.
((Im trying my hardest and fastest to get new and bigger cages but as life goes it takes time))
Both TempleTon and Alyssa get plenty of outside the cage time, im a night person so they get most the night outside there cages and an hour or 2 durring the day.. plus Alyssa goes shopping with me and stuff.

 

[DonnaK]

Re: Sneezing worries

Alyssa, I moved this here as a separate post because it wasn't really on topic or in the correct forum.

What did you use to clean the cage? If it was scented, it could be that that is making him sneeze.

What kind of bedding are you using in that cage? Is it different to where he was before? That could also be making him sneeze.

Is the cage you moved him into in a different place? Is that place dusty or does it have any scented candles or air fresheners close by?

 

[Alyssa_Rat]

Re: Sneezing worries

Um i used staralizing hand soap and hot water to clean the cage, i dont use bedding i use scrap clothes as bedding, and no i cant have any air freshaners in my room cuz i also own a bird who is highly alergic to air fresheners, incence, cigerettes and perfume ((dont ask long story)).
So all-in-all hes in a non-cented, healthy environment except that his cage is smaller and needs to be cleaned more often than Alyssas.
Oh and no the rattys cages are nowere near the bird cage ((bird has issues with other animals, he freaks when other animals go near his cage))

 

[DonnaK]

Re: Sneezing worries

Could it be the laundry detergent?

Is he near any doors or windows? Could he be getting a draft?

 

[Alyssa_Rat]

Re: Sneezing worries

Um it could be the loundry detergent, ill change it to se and as for the window no there not near the window so it cant be that.

Now hes not sneezing enough to be sick and theres no red stuff around his eyes or nose so hes still pretty much healthy... he just sneezes.

 

[Stephanie]

Re: Sneezing worries

also it could be that he is still getting used to everything my new boy Sebastian still sneezes a bit and I have had him for about three weeks to a month. Also my oldest rattie Jackson just goes into sneezing fits every once in a while. There are no signs of ny other problems no porphiryn or anything he just gets sneezey (weird old rat)

 

[Alyssa_Rat]

Re: Sneezing worries

lol Alyssa used to go through sneezing fits when i first got her whenever id take her out of her cage and TempleTon does to accationaly. So basicly the same thing that happens to your rats happens to TempleTon.

 

[2manyrats]

Re: Sneezing worries

For rat bedding you should only use unscented laundry soap - I like Method, from Target, or Arm & Hammer makes a perfume & dye-free detergent that's vegetable based. All also makes a perfume & dye-free detergent.

 

[Sara_C]

Re: Sneezing worries

Sometimes rats can sneeze/rattle due to stress. I remember when i brought Oscar home all he did the first night was sneeze and rattle and generally make very unhealthy noises. I took him to the vet, and she simply put it down to the stress of being in a new environment. After a week he was fine

That's not to say it couldn't be the things everyone else has said though. I'd still keep an eye on him, just incase he does have a URI or is allergic to detergents etc.

 

[OnlyOno]

Re: Sneezing worries

if you don't have unscented detergent, just put the rags through the wash once with hot water, no soap, again after you just washed them. it's like an extra rinse and it helps to get out any detergent still left, altho if you can get it, the arm & hammer would be a good choice.

 

[Alyssa_Rat]

Re: Sneezing worries

Ok that might work... hmm.