Is your pet rat sneezing? The facts you should know

Being a “rapacious parent” can be worrisome when your little ones are doing things like sneezing. My goal with this article is to eliminate your confusion, so that you feel better and your rat is well.

Here are the things that can make your rat sneeze:

Mycoplasmia

This very common and incurable respiratory disease among rats can flare up throughout the rat’s life. Symptoms include sneezing, wheezing and, in advanced cases, shortness of breath. Sometimes sores can develop in the lung tissue, making it difficult for the rat to breathe. While humans are capable of contracting mycoplasmia from other humans, we cannot contract it from rats and vice versa.

However, there is good news. As long as their immune system is not compromised, most rats with mycoplasmia can live long and active lives, despite external symptoms. The key is to feed them a diet rich in vitamins (especially vitamins A and E) and to take extra precautions to avoid exposing them to dust, smoke, drafts, and bacteria.

If your pet rat has “Myco flare-ups,” he may need to be treated with medications such as Vibramycin, the brand name Doxycycline, or the generic brand, Baytril. These medications will suppress symptoms and prevent the development of scarred lung tissue.

Pneumonia

The main difference between mycoplasmia and pneumonia is that the former produces symptoms of dry and noisy breathing that come and go, while the latter manifests itself as a wet, congested, harsh wheeze and a runny nose. Porphyrin can be excreted from the rat’s nasal passage and fluid can accumulate in its lungs. Infected babies may not show any symptoms until a few months later.

Pneumonia is highly contagious to any other rat within sneezing distance, so immediately quarantine the affected rat until you can take it to the vet.

One treatment for pneumonia involves the drugs Baytril, Doxycycline, and a machine called a nebulizer. The drugs are administered in vapor form several times a day.

Colds or allergies

In case you need to take your little one to the vet to be treated for a respiratory illness, you may decide to give him a small amount of over-the-counter cold or allergy medicine.

Also, if your vet approves of the idea, you can try treating your rat on his own in this way for several days. However, you need to be careful when doing this, as you don’t want to wear something that may cause more harm than good. Also, if her condition worsens, take her to the vet right away.

Here are some general guidelines:

• Use liquid medications for children, not adult formulas.
• Give the medicine as often as you would a child; however, take them in extremely small doses (0.10 cc for an adult and less than half for a baby).
• Use decongestant or expectorant cough medications, not suppressants.
• Avoid formulas that contain alcohol.

How to minimize respiratory illnesses and symptoms, in general:

• Keep the air moist. Counteract the drying effect of heaters and air conditioners by adding small water fountains, plants, and even water bottles to the room.
• Humidifiers and vaporizers work very well to keep the air rich in moisture; but avoid keeping them too close to your rats’ cage (at least 4 feet away).
• In an emergency, you can take your rat into a closed bathroom with a hot shower. Don’t take it too close to the water. Let her breathe in the steam for 5-15 minutes. It helps loosen mucus stuck inside your lungs.
• Make sure your rattie has the right bedding.
• Sudden sneezing may be due to an allergic reaction to a change in bedding, food, soap, or the general environment.
• A small, cold block of bakery chocolate is known to relieve symptoms of respiratory distress.