Med treatment and bonding w/ new rats

Question
Hello,
Our family acquired 2 male rats about 5 days ago, we've bonded nicely already. Sadly, the sneezing they had from day one has increased. Petsmart says to bring them back & they will treat them & we can buy them back. When I called & questioned them about this procedure I found that one, they are not seen by the Vet, as I was told on the purchase day and two, they remain there for 2 weeks, not one week as I was told on the purchase day. I'm not comfortable placing them in the care of young kids who will be in charge of giving medication which they told me was Sulfamethoxazole/Triamethoprim for 2 weeks then Baytril if it does not work along with vitamins in water. However, I worry that we will take ten steps back in our bonding if every time they come out I stuff meds into them. I don't know which is worse? I have scheduled a Vet appointment with a Vet that specializes in rodents for tomorrow morning, I want to do the right thing, I value your expertise and opinion.
Can you tell me too, how can I best prevent colds in the future, is there a supplement I can offer?
On behalf of Despareaux & Ben, thank you.
Veronica Guillet, CT

Answer
Hi Veronica!

Thanks for writing!

Please forget about Petsmart and go to your own vet. I dont trust that place as far as I can throw it. To allow someone that is not certified in exotics to treat these rats their own way is outrageous. They will no doubt charge you for treatment anyhow once you "buy them back" and I doubt they will get the nursing care they need anyhow.

As for you seeing your own vet you found that specializes in rats, that does concern me a bit about this vets title. There is no such thing as a rodent specialist, not yet anyhow.  Only now does the Vet world offer a specialty even remotely close to being rodent specialists. The new specialty is called "Exotic companion mammal specialists" and the state boards are only now being offered to the first set of Vets that have gone for this specialty so as of now, there is no such thing as a rodent specialist. If you were told this by any of the staff at the clinic you plan to attend,  this is false information and it is misleading people into thinking such a Vet exists.  
The way it works is this: There are board certified avian/exotic vets like at the clinic I provided info on below, and there are vets that are general vets but have a special interest in exotic pets, which include rats and hamsters and rabbits etc...  but they did not attend continuing education courses studying exotic medicine nor did they take the state board test offered in order to hold the title of avian/exotic Vet.  However, some of these vets that have a special interest in exotics are very good and have gone to special workshops etc...to keep up to date on current treatments of exotics etc....
I am going to assume this is the type of vet you are going to see, unless it is a board certified avian exotic vet, but still again, not a rodent specialist.  Hope I didnt confuse you. I just confused myself.  LOL   Its soooooooo hard to explain so I will shut up now. LOL


Since you said you are from CT I decided to give you a few names of some vets that see rats, including the first place below. Not sure where your located but just in case you were near some of these places.

The place below has Dr. Sitinas, who is a board certified exotic vet.

Dr. Nicholas Sitinas
South Wilton Veterinary Group    
51 Danbury Rd
Wilton CT 06897
Phone:    203-762-2002
Website: www.southwiltonvet.com


Kensington Bird and Animal Hospital     
977 Farmington Avenue
Kensington CT 06037
Phone:    860-828-7736
Website: www.kbahonline.com

The next few names are NOT board certified exotics but do hold a strong interest in exotics and are up to date on current treatments for exotic pets.


Marlborough Bird and Animal Hospital
21 S. Main Street
Marlborough CT 06447
Phone:    860-295-1595
Website: www.marlboroughvet.com


Veterinary Specialists of Conneticut     
993 North Main Street
West Hartford CT 06117
Phone:    860-236-3273
Website: www.veterinaryspecialistsofct.com


Hopefully all goes well at the vets. The fact that you are already bonding with the new boys is good and your right, if you give them back there is no telling how they will be treated there and you will be worried sick.  I would go with your gut and forget Petsmart and just treat them on your own with your own vet. Chances are they may not even have any health problems and the sneezing may be related to the change of environment which is not uncommon.  Depending on the bedding they were on (pine and cedar are big no nos) and also the fact they were in tanks and not cages can also be a factor.


As for preventing colds....your guys dont have colds. Rats are totally immune from the 200 some germs that cause the cold virus. However, what they are prone to getting is mycoplasmosis which can cause respiratory infections among other illnesses. The best thing to do is to read my website and web page on myco to learn the best way to prevent myco from showing is ugly head. They are born with this organism and sometimes no matter what, they end up with a respiratory infection from it at least once in their life. The key to recovery is prompt medical attention like your seeking now, followed by the proper treatment with the right medications. Myco is a complex organism that lacks a cell wall so there are just a small handful of medications that can treat it right.  Not all respiratory infections are from myco either, so its best to treat it with two typs of antibiotics during treatment which should last at least 21 days to avoid relapse, which can cause further damage to the lungs with each relapse.  Anyhow, here is the URL for more info on it and how to take care if it right away as well as ways to try to prevent it too:

http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/mycoplasmosispage.htm

Please let me know how it goes. I really appreciate hearing back from people. It makes doing this more rewarding when I hear about how the little ones fared at the Vets and how they are doing with treatment. Please do not hesitate to write back as much as you want! This is what I do! Help rat owners learn all they can about their little ones. They are truly great little pets!