My three year old pet rat

Question
QUESTION: So, a few days ago, my three year old male pet rat was showing some signs of an infection, wheezing, eye bleeding and sneezing, so my Ma took him to the vet and he got a shot (My Mother told me) to help him and the vet said it was nothing more than a simple cold.
He was rather fine when he got back, he was moving more and the wheezing was very little unlike before. But now (few days later), he is breathing really heavy, he will not eat and he barely is moving. I am not sure what to do, when my Mother took him to the vet not too long ago, the vet said it was nothing more than a cold and I know, rats usually only live up to three years. So what does this mean? Is this a reaction to whatever the vet gave him? Or does this mean it's his time? His brother, same age as him (the one that is breathing heavy) is fine. He is moving around, eating and acting normal and I just do not know what to do, I really do not want him to lose his brother because I feel if he does, they both my past and I just don't want that to happen until I do everything I can to help him. So please, what else is there to do to help him? I tried getting him to eat, but he won't.

ANSWER: Your rat has pneumonia and you need a new vet.  Rats do NOT get colds. They are absolutely IMMUNE to all 200 types of viruses that cause the common cold.

Your rat CAN develop a respirator infection caused by mycoplasmosis. If he was given a shot of baytril and not sent home with any medication, this is why he is so sick now.  He can die easily without proper treatment. PLEASE let me know your location so I can suggest a vet that knows what he is doing.  Also please let me know who you did see.  You can make this private so it is confidential.  That vet has no business treating rats.  If he did give a shot of baytril, this is only going to last 12 hrs in his body, nothing near enough to help kill infection.

PLEASE read my website, sandyscrittercity.com and refer to the page on mycoplasmosis and also refer to the page on bleeding eyes and nose so  you can learn it is not blood at all but you need to get real educated on rat health so you and your mom will know if the vet is a real quack or not, which it is obvious this one is and should not treat rats as he is totally clueless.

I hate this.  It makes me so angry when I read about careless vets that just want to steal your money and not admit they are clueless on how to treat rats when they are sick. I am always telling people this about Vets and have helped save lives by getting people to see better vets. I should not have to do this. Vets should admit when they dont know what they are doing and send them to a vet that does know what they are doing.  

Your rat can live to be up to 4 years old.  He will die without treatment from the right vet though and he can die very very soon because of this vet.  Pneumonia kills fast and this is what he has.  I am so angry at your vet I can spit nails!!!!!

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

QUESTION: I knew there was something fishy about it, I just knew it. I am not sure what the vet was, my Mother took him and did not tell me. I live in Niagara Falls, NY. I've been trying to get my parents to take him to another vet but they keep complaining to me no one else takes rats, I really would appreciate it if you can get back to me with good vets around my area asap. I don't want to lose him and I know he has a chance, he is a little fighter, I've been hand feeding him melon since it has water it in and he has been eating and licking it, but he is still not feeling well and still breathing heavy - and I will check out that web site you sent to me to learn more about what he has. But right now, I just want his rush to a vet - I don't want to wait another day for this either, I just want him to get better now.

Answer
Orchard Park Veterinary
 Orchard Park NY 14127
Phone: 716-662-6660      
Website: www.opvmc.com



This place above is open 24 hrs a day.  Let me know if this is close enough for you. i would try to get there as soon as you can, he doesnt have much time on his side.