Stripe
All the rats seem to have recovered from the sneezing and they have put on weight (again!). I will have to put them on a diet soon. Rocky and Pip let the other two to wait on them, by sitting in the food larder, while Stripe and Shy-Shy frantically store the food! Stripe is very sweet. He’s always sat at the top corner of the cage waiting for me lately. When he knows he’s got my attention he “chitters” excitedly and “bruxes” at me. When a ratty chitters (grinding teeth rapidly to make a ch-ch-ch sound) it can sometimes mean nervousness, but it is usually associated with excitability and/or contentment. During “chittering” often a rat’s eyes will bulge noticeably in and out and this is bruxing. Stripe always bruxes when he sees me getting ready to open the cage and let him out. He knows it’s playtime!
Stripe waiting for cuddles
Today my lovely rats have been mostly eating pieces of dried fruit.
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Hi, I just recently found your blog and it’s such a pleasure to read about your rats. It’s good to know that you have had success… I’ve recently got a few rats myself and they have myco too
I’ve never had rats that were really healthy. My previous rats didn’t have any success with treatments, but I have changed vets since then and maybe this time with new meds, there will be some hope.
I tried restraining my rats but this makes them so uneasy, wiggly and they scratch me when trying to get away. It seems like a really hard way to give them Baytril. The vet did it with no problems, but I just can’t! He’s more confident and he has bigger hands. I asked if I could mix it with food but he said to just give it to them directly. But I hope mixing it with just a little yoghurt would still be alright and won’t make the Baytril less effective? I just can’t see the ‘restraining’ happening. 0.1ml for rats is quite a lot to swallow, and I’m sure forcing it into their mouth is not going to work for me.
I’ve been so depressed about this whole issue lately….
Hi Janet
I know what you mean. I tried restraining my rat Shy-Shy and it stressed him out so much I think it was counter-productive. Stress can bring on myco symptoms. I put the Baytril in a small amount of yoghurt and he licked it all up in seconds! It didn’t seem to have any affect on the potency of the medicine, because it stilled worked.
The trouble with myco is that you cannot get rid of it completely. it’s impossible. My vet advised me to bring in the rats when they showed symptoms (like sneezing or noisy breathing). If their chests are clear, and they are bright and energetic and eating normally, then all is well.
One thing I do to help prevent myco is add a little garlic powder to their dry food. Garlic is good for the immune system. Changes in temperature and stress seem to set it off. I hope you rats feel better soon. Don’t hesitate to go back to the vets if there’s no improvement. I hope your rats feel better soon.