sneezing/runny nose

Question
Abigail is my 6 month old dumbo rat who thus far has not has a very easy life.

She has the sweetest disposition and loves to snuggle whenever physically possible. I purchased her from a local  pet store that breeds their own rats (bad decision i know). I noticed that she sneezing a fair amount when I first got her but she was eating an drinking and playing so i thought maybe she was just getting used to her new environment. A few weeks later after an extremely terrifying ordeal (for both of us) she was diagnosed with megaesophagus and receives medication three times a day, and will continue to for the remainder of her life. She was also treated for aspiration pneumonia which she acquired due to her megaesophagus. I gave her the antibiotics that she required and she was doing extremely well, better than she was when I first got her. About a week after she finished her antibiotics she  began sneezing again, but still acting like her normal active, cheerful self. So i called up my vet and she prescribed me with another round of antibiotics which i gave to her in full yet again. Her sneezing, however, didn't cease this time, and her nose is almost constantly wet. She's eating and drinking normally, and isn't lethargic at all. I read online that some rats just sneeze due to stress (she was born in a pet store environment so I bet she wasn't socialized as a baby.) Some days she sneezes a lot, others barely at all. I even left her with my boyfriend for a few weeks and he claimed that she barely sneezed at all. Could it be something that I'm doing wrong? I know my mother likes to keep the house cold (trying to lower our heating bill or whatever) so it is possible that shes just cold?

Any advise that you have to give would be highly appreciated. Due to her megaesophagus I know she probably wont live as long as a normal healthy rat, but I want to give her the best life possible with what time she has left.

Thanks again in advance for your time

Michelle

Answer
Hi  Michelle


I am not convinced that she has anything really going on if all she does is sneeze. Does she have any nasal congestion, wheezing, heavy breathing?

As for the megaesophagus, I am real interested in how this was diagnosed. What symptoms did she display that led the Vet to this conclusion?  Also, can you make our next follow up private so we can speak confidential?

I would like to know the name of your vet, just out of curiousity.  

I have never known a rat to have megaesophagus, mainly due to the fact that they cannot vomit due a powerful barrier between the stomach and the esophagus.  In other words, with rats, vomiting isn't an option at all. It just cannot physically happen.

Anyhow I was just curious as to how she was diagnosed with megaesophagus when its absolutely impossible for rats to vomit.