Myco already?

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Slippy - 13 Dec 2007 10:21 GMT

Just got two rats home from the pet store and the PEW is sneezing and today
she was sitting on my shoulder against my ear and I could hear a little
wheezing when she was breathing. The hooded one doesn't have these
symptoms.

I'm taking her to the vet but I'm wondering... does it necessarily mean
Myco? They're only about 190g, probably 1.5 months old, I've only had them
for a couple of weeks.

Should I try a preliminary dose of Tylan? I'd hate for the vet to
automatically prescribe Baytril.. aren't they a bit young for that?

Opinions?

Thx

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Slippy - 13 Dec 2007 11:11 GMT

> she was sitting on my shoulder against my ear and I could hear a little
> wheezing when she was breathing.

Let me qualify that a little.. it's more of a little vibration every couple
of breaths. I have to hold her to my ear to hear it. The hooded one
doesn't have it.

Plus she does go through a sneezing fit once a day or so. About 10-15
sneezes and then she stops.

If it is Myco it seems like a very mild case... or just the beginning,
right? Can you nip this stuff in the bud or will it be a lifelong thing for
her?

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Dewi - 13 Dec 2007 14:06 GMT

> > she was sitting on my shoulder against my ear and I could hear a little
> > wheezing when she was breathing.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> right? Can you nip this stuff in the bud or will it be a lifelong thing for
> her?

If you get on top of the infection ASAP, it won't be too much of a
problem in the future. Although she may have flare ups every now and
then it won't be that bad and it shouldn't be an ongoing problem.

If she's sneezing as much as you described and wheezing, the
respiratory infection is most likely starting to get more serious. You
should get her on antibiotics ASAP. I think doxycycline is the
antibiotic used with young rats.

Dewi

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Slippy - 14 Dec 2007 08:57 GMT

> If she's sneezing as much as you described and wheezing, the
> respiratory infection is most likely starting to get more serious. You
> should get her on antibiotics ASAP. I think doxycycline is the
> antibiotic used with young rats.

Well I didn't take her to the vet today, because I can't hear any little
"grunt" in her breathing when I hold her to my ear anymore. I'm sure
whatever she had/has hasn't spontaneously cleared up or anything, but I'd
hate to bring her in with no symptoms. That always happens to my car... I
hear a weird noise and as soon as I bring it into the shop the noise isn't
there, and they don't know what to do.

So it can't be that bad at this point I guess. She sneezed a couple of
times today but not the 6-10 times she normally does each day.

Weird! Maybe her little ratty immune system is beating back the myco at
this stage.

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S.O.S. - 14 Dec 2007 23:45 GMT

I am not sure if this will help as a preventative as I have never personally
used it,
but someone mentioned to me before about Grape Seed Extract .

The first website that came up when I searched for "grape seed extract rats
mycoplasma" was the following: http://www.80stoysale.com/ratsickness.html
There seems to be a wealth of information there as well as the following
sites.

The Rat Fan Club publishes Rat Health Care, a 48-page booklet written by
club founder Debbie "The Rat Lady" Ducommun.

http://ratfanclub.org/resp.html

http://ratfanclub.org/helpinfo.html

http://ratfanclub.org/index.html

http://ratfanclub.org/books.html

I hope the links help and if you need any other advice,
please let me know or join these Yahoogroups for rats:

http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/ratlist

http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/holistarat

Tell them Samantha C. sent you. :)

Samantha C. in OK

>> If she's sneezing as much as you described and wheezing, the
>> respiratory infection is most likely starting to get more serious. You
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> Weird! Maybe her little ratty immune system is beating back the myco at
> this stage.

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Slippy - 15 Dec 2007 00:18 GMT

> The first website that came up when I searched for "grape seed extract rats
> mycoplasma" was the following: http://www.80stoysale.com/ratsickness.html
> There seems to be a wealth of information there as well as the following
> sites.

Thanks very much I'll check that out

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Joanne - 24 Dec 2007 17:35 GMT

> Just got two rats home from the pet store and the PEW is sneezing and today
> she was sitting on my shoulder against my ear and I could hear a little
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thx

It is very normal for two new rats in the home to start sneezing. They
need to get used to their surroundings. But if it continues, I'd look
into changing the environment like changing bedding or if someone smokes
in the home to stop that asap.
It definitely is possible it's myco. Myco flare ups can happen at any
age and usually comes on with stress.
Tylan is not a suitable med for treating a real illness. If you want to
us it like you would use a supplement, it's up to you but I wouldn't
give my rats any, ever.

Signature

Joanne
The Rat Shack
www.jorats.com

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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / December 2007

Myco already?