young male rat w/ face swollen around eye

Question

my baby rat, Texas   QUESTION: A little over a month ago I bought 3 baby male rats from a pet store, after 3 weeks one mysteriously died overnight, and one has been sick since the first week I brought them home. His symptoms have gotten so severe that I didn't think he was going to make it through the night, but when I checked on him in the morning, he was back to being active, eating, and drinking, with only mild symptoms. The symptoms seem to be mostly respiratory, along with swelling on the right side of his face all around his eye, and possibly the back of his head/neck but it is hard to tell there because he has been keeping his fur kind of puffed out. Sometimes he is very wheezy when he breathes and "snot" sounding if that makes sense, and other times I think he is finally getting better because I can't hear him breathing at all.. Then it comes back. I talked to the pet store and they only thing they could give me was the liquid they use to help prevent Wet Tail, I'm not sure if it is actually helping the respiratory symptoms, or if it just seems like it is because the symptoms keep getting better  then worse again.. But in any case the swelling on his face is only getting worse, not better. Any thoughts or advice I really appreciate, thanks! (attached is an image of the swelling as of today)

ANSWER: He needs a vet and a good vet that knows what he or she is doing. He is very sweet looking.

I am afraid he could have an abscess, possibly involving his molars but it could be involving the zymbals gland. I hope not. Please let me help you locate a good vet. Toss that crap the pet store gave you for wet tail. Rats do NOT get wet tail.  He probably has chronic mycoplasmosis that is causing respiratory infections.  He should have been put on baytril and doxycycline for 30 days to clear that up.  Now he may have lung scarring from chronic infection in his lungs.
What kind of litter/bedding are you using?

Please refer to my website, Sandyscrittercity.com for accurate information on proper care of pet rats.  Start reading about mycoplasmosis so you can better understand what is goig on with your little guy.

Also, please let me know your location and perhaps I can find a good vet for him that will help get him on track.  I fear without proper treatment his lungs can become so impaired death may be imminent.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He and his brother are both very sweet babies, I am really hoping I can get him better.

And in reference to the Wet Tail, I was wondering about that when they gave me the liquid, When I got home I googled wet tail online and all that came up was hampsters, nothing about rats getting it.

I also originally thought an abscess, but he got the swelling when he first got sick only it looked slightly different, more of a general swelling of that side of his face around his eye. Then it went away, and in a week or so's time it came back as a smaller bump, and has grown over 4-5 days time to surround his whole eye, and it is a hard lump.

I use the carefresh bedding, and their cages/toys/water bottles get cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis.

I am located in Colorado Springs and am new to the area, I have never had to take any of my pet rats to the vet before besides a female I had that had an extra incisor tooth on top that had to be filed down to help keep her teeth lined up right. I really appreciate your help and advice, any idea ballpark range a vet trip for something like this may cost me?

Answer
Dublin Animal Hospital
888 Dublin Blvd
Colorado Springs CO 80918
(719) 593-1336        
Website: www.dublinanimalhospital.com


Its hard to say  how much the vet visit would be. Its safe to say, however, that it may  run anywhere from $25 to $50 for a visit.  If antibiotics are needed, roughly add another $15 to $25 dollars. If she would need surgery should there be a tumor behind that eye, it varies. Every Vet is different. I know one vet that is super cheap because he knows that most rat owners are either college students or its a childrens pet that "mom" fell in love with so he tries to keep things relatively inexpensive. $20 to remove a tumor is almost unheard of but he charges that. He is, unfortunately, in Georgia :(
Some vets are outrageous and  would charge $500 to remove a tumor or an enucleation (eye removed) which is possible if your rat has a tumor or nasty abscess behind the eye. This could run roughly between $150 to $300 but again some vets are outrageous and charge up the whazoo for almost any procedure.  I am hoping with your little one that a good strong antibiotic is all that is needed to help her. Please keep me posted!