Relieving Congestion

Question
I have three ~1.5 yr-old male rats who all have chronic myco. They had the infection when I got them (somewhere between two and three months of age) and have had flare-ups regularly since. I wasn't able to start treating them properly until they reached apx. 1 year of age, as I lived in an extremely rural area over 6 hours from the nearest vet, and over 10 hours from a vet that would consider treating rats.

They are now on a maintenance schedule of enrofloxacin. A few weeks ago, however, one of my boys started to worsen, so my vet altered his dosage and he's since been on enro and doxycyclin twice a day, 10mg/ml suspension doxy, with .18 ml dose twice daily, 30mg/ml enro, with .1 ml dose twice daily.

In the first two weeks, he improved a great deal, but in the past week he's started to regress again. His breathing is audible-- hard to describe, not clicky, per say, but more like a gurgling noise. He doesn't have any porphyrin discharge, is not piloerect, is maintaining his weight, still explores everything, is eating and drinking well, goes nuts for treats, and doesn't seem to sleep any more or less than his brothers.

I change their bedding every day, they have a large, wire cage, and are free-range eight hours every day. I also run a humidifier at night when they're in the cage.

My question is, is there anything else I can do to help relieve his congestion? I know doxy and enro are supposed to be a good combination for combating myco, but I also know that antibiotics will only be effective to a certain point. I hope I haven't reached that point yet!

Are there any other antibiotics that I might ask my vet to try with him, that might work just differently enough to start fighting it off again? Are there any homeopathic remedies that might help him? Is there anything else I can do? It doesn't seem to be bothering him, but it sure bothers me!

Answer
Hi

Myco is a real bugger, and if it has caused permanent damage like it seems to do when it is not properly treated (not giving the medications long enough, for starters which would be a full 30 days the first outbreak and the second outbreak should mean life long daily treatment) However, some rats may respond with a round of steroids if there is residual inflammation and also something to open the airways if there is gasping or shortness of breath, including cyanosis. I would use albuterol in that case.
How long has he been on the meds for now? I am glad he is on them for maintenance, which shows me the vet your using is on the ball as far as rat care goes.  I would ask about the steroids just for a few days.  How does his extremities look?  Pink and normal and no purple tinge to the feet, tail or muzzle? Do you notice any prominent veins in his ears?  

Have you thought about putting just a small litter pan in the cage and using yesterdays news rather than spreading a large amount of bedding in the cage bottom?  I have seen this help alot, too.  Is the room they live in kept at a nice even temp?  I suggest right around 72 degrees, maybe a tad cooler.