UniversityGirl
New member
My rat has had breathing issues for probably about three or four months now. Her breathing sounds loud sometimes, like a coffee maker or a floor creaking or bed springs creaking.
Then I bring her to the vet, the vet gives her antibiotics. The rat takes the antibiotics for ten days. Symptoms disappear for a few days, then she's back in "coffee maker mode" all over again.
We have tried two different antibiotics...Baytril and azithromycin.
I use recycled paper bedding for the rat. I have not started using a different laundry detergent or anything, and there are no air fresheners in the house.
Could my rat have an allergy to mold, or something else in the house? Will this breathing problem ever get better? Has anyone had a similar problem with their rat?
Also, should I need to change her cage more than once a week? I clean it once a week and it doesn't get too dirty, but I wonder if she's allergic to her own pee or dead skin cells or something?
She's only about a year old.
Any suggestions, please! Especially from experienced rat owners.
PS I know about myco, which rats have in their lungs. But my rat doesn't ever have any red discharge around her eyes, and only once in a while around her nose. How do I help her?
Then I bring her to the vet, the vet gives her antibiotics. The rat takes the antibiotics for ten days. Symptoms disappear for a few days, then she's back in "coffee maker mode" all over again.
We have tried two different antibiotics...Baytril and azithromycin.
I use recycled paper bedding for the rat. I have not started using a different laundry detergent or anything, and there are no air fresheners in the house.
Could my rat have an allergy to mold, or something else in the house? Will this breathing problem ever get better? Has anyone had a similar problem with their rat?
Also, should I need to change her cage more than once a week? I clean it once a week and it doesn't get too dirty, but I wonder if she's allergic to her own pee or dead skin cells or something?
She's only about a year old.
Any suggestions, please! Especially from experienced rat owners.
PS I know about myco, which rats have in their lungs. But my rat doesn't ever have any red discharge around her eyes, and only once in a while around her nose. How do I help her?