Respitory illness?

Question
QUESTION: Hi There,

I recently adopted two black and white rats, which I believe are approx. three months old.

Today I noticed that one of them is very ill. It has a hunched back, it's hair is standing up, it's eyes are half closed, and it moves very little. It is still eating.

I've phoned around to vets in the area, but none of them seams to take rats. I have an appointment for late tomorrow, so I'm hoping that it isn't too late?

My question is, is there a chance my other rat has this? Can it be treated with antibiotics just in case? I have placed them in separate cages just in case, but is this necessary?

Both of there vaginal areas also seams to have a dot of a darker pinky red that I never noticed before. I'm not sure if this is an age thing or not?

Also, do you think these vet bills are going to be expensive? I'm 18 and a full time student, and only have an $8/hour job, so I'm hoping it won't be over the $150 I had saved up for them?

ANSWER: Hi Kim



Where are you going to, as far as vets go and where in Canada are you located? I can try to find someone for you rather than waste money you dont have on a vet that is going to guess his way through everything, possibly not treat the rat right and waste money and the rat will get worse.


All the rats need is baytril and doxycycline for 30 full days.  

Tell me what is going on as of today with them.

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

QUESTION: Hi,
unfortunately, Elle, the sick one pasted away the night before we could get to to the vet :(

The vet we found for the other one seamed incredibly helpful. He did a mini-biopsy on Elle and found that her lungs were in perfect condition, but he found a small amount of bacteria in the intestine, it had a name for it, I just can't remember right now.

He put pippi on baytril twice a day for five days, and offered a free checkup if we don't believe the medicine is working within the next week.

I'm located in Vancouver.

Answer
Bird & Exotic Animal Hospital
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902-7380 King George Highway
Surrey, BC V3W 5A5, Canada
(604) 597-7387‎

Thats what I have....so far.....

I am so sorry you lost Elle. I am curious as to what happened. I am going to assume she had some type of bacteria in her intestines that caused her death?