Dying Rats

Question
QUESTION: My 14 year old daughter has 2 male rats.  She's had one for 5 months and one for 2 months (purchased from local pet store).  The other day, her older rat fell ill quite suddenly.  He seemed disoriented, lethargic, no appetite, heavy breathing.  By phone, the vet said it was probably congenital and hopefully he wouldn't linger.  Its been 3 days and he's still breathing, but obviously very sick (he can't stand, his body spasms occasionally).  Now the younger rat is either showing symptoms or reacting to the circumstances as he seems very lethargic.  Maybe its not congenital after all?  I doubt we can do anything for either at this point, but have you any idea  as to what may have caused this?  Also, we're very concerned that possibly the rats can pass something onto our 2 cats who hang out in the same room.  I should also mention that the older rat was at the vet early on for upper respiratory, and the younger one was at the vet last week for what seemed to be skin lesions from scratching.  We gave him ointment and an oral medication; and the vet didn't think it was ringworm.  Thank you so much for any help.  My daughter is so sad to be losing her pets.

ANSWER: Lisa


Your rats more than likely have pneumonia caused by mycoplasmosis pulmonis.  They are born with the myco bacteria but a lower immune system can set it off.  It is contagious among other rats to a certain extent, like if the other rat had a lower immune system, was kept on pine or cedar at the pet store they came from, improper diet etc...  What you need is a vet that knows that rats suffer from respiratory disease more than any other illness and it is the number one cause of death among rats.  IT CAN be treated, but you need a vet that is up to par in rat care and knows what to prescribe right away.  They need put on baytril and gentocin *prefer to nebulize baytril and gentocin for three days8 and after that, oral baytril and doxycyline for 30 days for both rats. They must be on it for the duration or they will relapse. Relapse will cause scarring of the lungs and will contribute to chronic lung disease.  If this is the second respiratory infection, what was he given the first time and for how long?

Ringworm is not common among rats. Chances are they either have mites or their diet is too high in protein, esp if they are eating rat seed mixes from the pet store.

Please let me give you names of other vets that are more educated about rat care.

As for the cats?  No, the rats cannot pass one thing on to the cats. Almost every illness a rat has it is species specific. They cant pass anything on to us either, with the exception of ring worm, and it is more likely we give it to them than they give it to us.  However, if your cat had rabies and attacked the rat, the rat would get rabies too. However, since the rat is so small, he would never survive an attack by any rabid animal and this is why the old myth about rats being rabid and carrying rabies is nothing but that: A myth. There has never been on single case of a rat that had rabies and passed it on to man nor beast in the world, ever. They would be dead from the attack long before the virus had the chance to incubate in their tiny bodies and become a threat.  In fact, I like to stun many people by telling them that our domestic rats are cleaner than their own childs hands!!

I would keep the cats out of the room in at all possible, though.  No matter how much you may trust the cats, they are still cats and cats chase and kill rats, period. I have 6 cats myself and the rat room is absolutely off limits.



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

QUESTION: Thank you SO much...especially for the quick response. I plan to bring them both to the vet tomorrow but am not sure the older one will make it.  I would love your recommendation for a vet in the area, but it may not be possible with the time factor.  Do you think the older one may be too far gone to recover?  You have certainly given me great information, and I will act on it immediately.

Answer
It may be too late for the one that is sicker, but that doesnt mean anything. He still has a chance. and the younger one deserves a chance thats for sure.  I am afraid that neither of them stand a chance if you return to the same place  with them and see the same vet.

You can make the follow up private and if you want I can at least check the credentials on the vet you currently see just to know how far he has gone with his education in exotics, if he has any extended courses etc...   if its private, nobody can read it but you and I