A little help from rat fans please[UPDATE 3/11]

[Ice_Pick_Abortions]

yea definitely just keep them together. it's still early days. as long as you notice them sleeping together you really have nothing to worry about. a few of my boys scream blue murder if they're pinned but it generally doesn't go past that and next minute you look, they're all curled up together again.

on fancy-rats, if you post a question that has been asked a billion times, then you're not likely to get an answer. there's loads of topics on there about what is and isn't normal for rat fights etc so a search should bring up all you need to know.

[ClaireCalavera]

Completely agree with what's been said here - my two boys constantly wrestle with one another, even now! Mojo is smaller but has always been the more confident, alpha male, but Bollo likes to test the waters every now and then to see if he can steal the title from him Silly boys! They also squeak and squeal every time they pin one another, it's perfectly normal.

"No blood, no foul" as Gemstone says, is the thing to keep in mind

[ScarletLady]

we used to have a big community of rats (we bred for a while) and they were always squabbling...as long as it's not getting really nasty i wouldn't worry about it - rat's can be quite hardcore, if they were going to kill each other they would have done it by now.

[Freakonaleash]

I have took everyones advice and kept them together of a nightime. ive just forced myself to stay back and not act like a concerned mummy everytime i hear a squeak lol.

Although i am concerned about the little one at the moment,he has been sneezing a hell of a lot and i swear i heard his chest croaking this morning. I am hoping its not the start of a respiratory infection, i dont use woodshavings but the breeder i got him from did use them.(i also make sure i dont light candles,incense or spray deodrant in my room because of the little ones). Im looking round at different vets in the area in the moment as i would like to get him checked out. I have emailed the local pdsa to see if i am eligible to go there.

I feel hopeless as a rat owner right now

[ScarletLady]

aw darlin - it's a learning curve with everyone...it was the same with me when i had them!
at least you're obviously really concerned for their welfare and are doing the best you can and finding out as much info from other rat owners as you can - i'm sure you'll be fine *hugs*

[Miffy]

I have took everyones advice and kept them together of a nightime. ive just forced myself to stay back and not act like a concerned mummy everytime i hear a squeak lol.

Although i am concerned about the little one at the moment,he has been sneezing a hell of a lot and i swear i heard his chest croaking this morning. I am hoping its not the start of a respiratory infection, i dont use woodshavings but the breeder i got him from did use them.(i also make sure i dont light candles,incense or spray deodrant in my room because of the little ones). Im looking round at different vets in the area in the moment as i would like to get him checked out. I have emailed the local pdsa to see if i am eligible to go there.

I feel hopeless as a rat owner right now

The sneezing could be caused by stress at this moment, you could look if he has porfyrin round his eyes and nose. If he sounds like a coffee pot, it's really time to get him checked out by a vet. In the mean time, you could add some Bisolvon to the drinking water, to give him a little bit more air.

[Freakonaleash]

im always checking porfyrin round their eyes and nose, thankfully i can say neither have them have had any.
Ive not heard james make the noise anymore today but will be keeping a close eye on him. In the meantime i will be looking out for some bisolven,any recommendations on where to get it?

[Miffy]

I have no idea where to get it where you live, but in The Netherlands cough sirups like Bisolvon are on the shelf in all drugstores. It's always nice to have on hand when someone starts sneezing again (including yourself ) Bisolvon contains bromehexine, most drugstores' own brand contain it too. It's important though, that you don't don't put too much in the drinking water. Too little on the other hand will prevent it from working.

In The Netherlands there are two people who have become very specialized in rat illnesses over the past years. It's a pity I can't find any of their text translated to English, but the first comment on THIS page explains the whole Bisolvon thing in English and gives you the dosage

[Freakonaleash]

I am at a loss this morning. James chest noises havent got any better, ive been ringing around all the vets I can find in sunderland, and because there are none in the city centre where i live i have been told I am out of the catchment area for all of them. Im panicking as I cant buy baytril online without a prescription from a vet. I dont know what the hell I am supposed to do!

[Miffy]

It definately sounds like he needs a vet. Maybe this can help: http://www.cavyrescue.co.uk/vets.shtml You can also ask for help or vet locations on the forums of http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk . I would not go fooling around with antibiotics myself, I could make it worse than it already is.

[Freakonaleash]

managed to find an out of area vet to take james too later on today, appointment is at 5pm. They have told me to bring lars along too so they can both be checked out. consultation is £13 per rat, the only problem is im going to have to take them on the metro to get there, hoping the rain holds off.

[Freakonaleash]

ok quick advice from somebody (as i am leaving in an hour to get the metro to the vets)-
I have sorted out a nice big shoe box to put the rats in to take the the vets,ive put their fleece pouch bed in there to keep them warm, no i need to put any food and water in there for them? will probably be gone for an hour and a half-2hours

[Miffy]

I would take a little bit of food and water with you. They might eat nothing, but it's best there's something to nibble on if they want to. It's impossible for rats to throw up, so no harm can come from it.
You could also carry them in a warm bag in stead of a shoebox. When I had to go to the vet and didn't have a transport box yet, I just put my ratties in a large shoulderbag with a towel to keep them warm.

[Ice_Pick_Abortions]

you've probably already left but a proper carrier is a good investment. you may have already realised, but two rats can make short work of a cardboard shoe box when i take my boys anywhere, i take something like frozen peas or ideally cucumber (also helps calm them down) and leave that in with them. it gives them something to eat and also provides moisture if they want it but they're usually not interested.

let us know what the vet says!

[Freakonaleash]

some good news, the vet checked them both over, both healthy inside and out. she said james might have been born with a lung problem where an infection flares up whenever he gets excited or nervous, as his chest sounded clear when she checked. she has given me some baytril to put in their water bottle a couple of times a week.

they didnt break the shoebox which was good, but thats probably due to putting their favourite fleece bed in there,they slept for most of the journey

glad that one had a happy ending. and a bonus is the bill only came to £20, so i went and spoiled them with treats and toys after

[Gemstone]

aw that's good news about the chest, just keep an eye on them both still, Sam's on Baytril at the moment for an abcess on his belly - you're lucky you get to put it in the water - there is nothing like trying to trick a single rat in a group to eat a snack with the stuff in it.... I swear the little man knows which snack each time (even tho I change it each day) the odd thing is the girls seem to like the smell of it on him and lick him after

[Miffy]

Well, basically putting Baytril in the water is a very bad idea. You have absolutely no control over how much your rattie takes in and there's a possibility it doesn't do anything at all that way. Also, Baytril is an antibiotic and will only be helpful if you give it for like 10 days straight and not add it to the water every now and then. Third, this way your other rattie will get Baytril in his body too and this could cause resistance to it, so whenever he does need it, it will not work at all.

I would call your vet again and find out which dose you have to use according to the bodyweight of your rat, mix it with a little bit of something nice like chocolatepudding and give it like that.

[Ice_Pick_Abortions]

Well, basically putting Baytril in the water is a very bad idea. You have absolutely no control over how much your rattie takes in and there's a possibility it doesn't do anything at all that way. Also, Baytril is an antibiotic and will only be helpful if you give it for like 10 days straight and not add it to the water every now and then. Third, this way your other rattie will get Baytril in his body too and this could cause resistance to it, so whenever he does need it, it will not work at all.

I would call your vet again and find out which dose you have to use according to the bodyweight of your rat, mix it with a little bit of something nice like chocolatepudding and give it like that.

plus 1.

unfortunately, knowledgable vets can be hard to come by when it comes to ratties. the vets is the best place to get the info from but if you can't get hold of them, fancy rats has a sticky somewhere about baytril dosages. also, if your boys are younger than 3 months, baytril can adversely effect their bone growth but if it's all you have then it's better than nothing

[ScarletLady]

glad your little guys are doing ok!!

@ice_pick_abortions - love your sig singing buffy FTW!!

[Ice_Pick_Abortions]

@ice_pick_abortions - love your sig singing buffy FTW!!

i heart anya