(Plus: dealing with Respiratory Illness)
(Plus: dealing with Respiratory Illness)
It is very important what bedding you use in your rat's house. For certain avoid any type of pine or cedar shavings, as these both contain toxic phenols which will cause respiratory problems in your little pet. Aside from these terrible phenols, soft wood shavings just plain aren't good for anyone, let alone rats. The dust from soft wood shavings causes respiratory agitation and infections. Now, of course people will claim that these soft woods are wonderful because their scent blocks out the smell of the animals....but here's the problem with that argument: if your rats' house smells badly, it needs to be cleaned, because the fact of the matter is, the waste creates ammonia, which will only further respiratory illness in your little pet!
There are of course plenty of alternatives to these shavings, and they are just as effective and absorbent, and won't harm your ratties. One wood shaving option is aspen, as it is a hard wood, and therefore doesn't contain the harmful phenols the others do. I myself tried this, and it does absorb well, but in the long run I found it was still too dusty for Justin, who suffers fairly badly from respiratory illness. Which brings me to another option, one I've found works wonderfully! CareFRESH...the magic word. It's done wonders in helping control Justin's sneezing and wheezing, and I know it's not harming them.
If you're interested in trying CareFresh, I highly recommend it, and you can now find it at many pet shops, small and large.
If you would like more information about CareFRESH, check out their website: Absorb.com
Sadly, this is something that basically effects all rats not born into steril lab conditions, including my own two. Scientifically known as "mycoplasma pulmonis" it is the leading cause of death in ratties. If your rat sneezes (they really shouldn't sneeze all that often), tilts his head, coughs, clicks when he breathes, or has wheezy, laboured breathing, you should take him to the vet (look to the bottom of this page for information on vets) so you can get medications and begin treatment and management of this illness.
My boys both came from the same pet store. Justin came home a perfectly happy healthy baby, without any sign of a health problem. Templeton seemed very healthy when I got him, but not long after I brought him home, I was frightened to find my new baby rat wheezing and rattling as he tried to breath.
Needless to say we went straight to the vet that very day, and he was started on Amoxicillin. This cleared his problem right up, and for a long time he never had a serious recurrence.
Unfortunately, it had spread to Justin, and he started on the Amoxicillan as well. This cleared him up, but sadly, it affected him much more severly than it did Templeton, and after a couple more bouts with the Amoxicillan, it stopped helping.
Since then my older boys have been on a vast journey through the world of antibiotics, some combos working better than others.
Often, I have found the best results are gotten by combining two different antibiotics, generally, one that attacks Mycoplasma pulmonis directly, along with one that attacks other, secondary infections.
Here are some suggestions-
For more information about respiratory infection treatment and management (it's incurable, but controllable), visit Virginia's Rat Page which is a well maintained and wonderful collection of articles on all aspects of rat care. There are many helpful articles about respiratory illness.
Here is a direct link to a very thorough drug chart...don't be afraid to print this out, study up, and take it in to your vet on the next visit!
RMCA Drug ChartThe RMCA also is a fine place to buy Tylan. It comes in little packets, and you mix the dosage in with your rats drinking water (juice can help mask the bitterness of the Tylan if your rats then shy away from their water).
I have discovered there are other ways of combating respiratory disease. Ever taken Echinacea or Goldenseal to help ward off those pesky flus and colds? Well, I've found it helps my boys ward off sneezing and wheezing. I began using it, and Justin has been overall much better, and has gone a good amount of time without having to be medicated.
I use an alcohol free extract that's made for children. It's fresh, and flavored with rasberry so the boys just go completely nuts for it. It's best to use it two weeks on and two weeks off, and I give one to two drops daily from the dropper. Also, I've used a general mixed vitamin supplement, also containing echinacea, and it's done wonders for their coats, making them very sleek and shiny.
It is very important though, that herbs and vitamins not be overused. I try and think of a person size dose in terms of the size of a little rat.....way too much! Just a drop does the trick for them.
Finding a vet to help care for your rats can be a challenge. I've been very lucky. I didn't find him overnight, but my boys' vet, Dr. Bob, is not only a fantastic vet who treats many other rats as well, but also listens to my suggestions and puts up with me bringing in notes and charts. A lot of people don't like rats, and that includes vets. So even if they aren't pros when it comes to rat treatments, sometimes the very best thing you can hope for is someone who actually LIKES your little furry friends, and is willing to learn. Far too many vets think only of cats and dogs as viable candidates for "real" veterinary help, and some will flat out tell you that, sorry, there is just nothing they can do for you.
Justin and Templeton are cared for by Dr. Bob, at the Moreland Vet Clinic. It's a very small practice, run by himself and his wife, a team of vets. Dr. Bob has a lot of rats who visit him, but we like to think he loves our boys the best ;) Once he picks up Justin and gets rattie kisses, he never wants to give him back!
Go back to their mainpage or take a look at their oh-so-cute picture page