cnat stop the sneezing

Question
Hi Sandra,

I rescued Bruce six months ago from a neighbor who's children were ignoring him.  He's one of the sweetest rats I've ever know.  He lived alone in a cage, rarely got out, with cedar chips for litter, not cleaned enough, etc.  In other words, they did EVERYTHING wrong.  He is one to one and a half years old and had started sneezing a few weeks before I rescued him.

I took him to my vet immediately.  She said his lungs actually sounded good, but he sneezes a lot, sometimes not for a couple hours, sometimes twenty times an hour (and sprays, not red, just clear).  She put him on Baytril oral, but he didn't like the taste and struggled to take it, which I worried would only aggravate his condition.  So we switched to Verbrimyzin (excuse the spelling).  He gets it twice a day ... for months now.  We even had him on a broad spectrum antibiotic for a month of two, in case of secondary infection, since the congestion seems more located in his head than chest.  Plus I use a neubulizer with injectable Baytril once a day when he seems especially sneezy; sometimes twice a day.  He is in a clean cage, with white towels which I change every couple days, a great diet, and plenty of loving and exercise, and a loving companion rat. Yet the sneezing continues, even seems to get worse.  Is there anything I can do besides what I am already doing?

Thank you for your time ... for me and especially for Bruce.  Marc.

Answer
I really would like to see him on baytril....can you try mixing it with something he likes, even a dab of chocolate syrup or strawberry jelly etc...helps mask the taste.  What method are you using for the nebulizer?

I had a rat like this once and nothing helped.  He lived to be 4 years old believe it or not but he sneezed his entire life and even had tons of red porphyrin all over the place for years.

Let me ask, is your rat eating and acting ok other wise? Does he ever gasp or breathe with his mouth open?

If not, I would not worry so much as long as it doesnt end up in his chest.  I am glad you are using the nebulizer for him but again, I wanted to know how  your using it so I can know how much he is really getting of the baytril during treatments.