Nursing Rat

Question
Hi there,
23 days ago I bought a rat from a pet store (I know big mistake), anyways she turned out to be pregnant and gave birth to 6 healthy pups 2 days ago (she is approximately 7 months old (as I was told). While at the pet she was not sneezing, but when I got her home she started (I would assume to being in a new environment, different bedding and a new friend (I also have a while albino). There was no wheezing or congestion and about after two weeks the sneezing calmed down a good bit. About a day after having her babies her sneezing returned, but still no congestion or wheezing and no open mouth breathing and she eat normally (feeding her a bit more protien to make her milk better for the wee ones), very active (I take her out everyday to play with her female albino friend who used to be caged with her untile finding out she was prego, then I put then in seprate cages in safty for the babies) and she is doing a great job taking care of her babie (I am always making sure they have milk bands in there bellys, and I do handle them a good bit also). So I am wonderign should I take momma rat to the vet, or is she okay? she does not seem to be in distress or anything, she seems to be content. But also I have not changed the bedding or nesting material since the babies birth, so maybe that is making her sneeze? (I use fresh and comfey - dust free bedding, and the nest is mainly composed of paper towels). I also need to put then in a different cage ..because I never new momma was pregnant until the 3 days before giving birth, I was planning on putting then in a more sutiable cage (which I am going to try tonigh (I am going to put everything that is in there cage now exactly like it is in the other cage and then wait a few more days before changing the bedding etc)). SO my question to you is should I bring her to the vet or should I wait until I change her bedding and she how that goes?, also would it be okay for me to change the cage? for the safty of the babies ..using the beeddign in the cage there in now just for a few days for momma rat dont freak out? Sorry for the story, I appreciate your help. Also I do have a very good vet who is specialized in rats.

Thanks!

Answer
I would not change the cage till the pups start to move around just to be sure mom doesnt freak.  Another week or so.  Are the bars spaced far apart?  Go ahead and change the cage, that will for sure cause sneezing and maybe will cause problems with the pups as well. Just pull out handfuls of the old bedding and leave them all intact while you do it.