sick baby rat

Question
QUESTION: I got my rat almost 2 weeks ago from a regular petstore... since the first day she is sneezing. a lot! at first i thought, may be she got cold, while i was taking her home. then i thought, that may be she's allergic to the pine bedding in the cage. so i put paper towels for couple of days, but she didnt get any better. on white paper towels i saw little red drops (blood-like) - i guess this it the first sign of myco... i dont see any of porphyrin in her nose or eyes. and she is very active, social and funny. doesnt look sick at all except for that severe sneezing.
i just read on your website that young rats dont usually have myco, so what could it be then?
i'm planning to make an appointment with a vet, but dont have any information about where to take my rattie... is regular vet going to know how to diagnose a rat?
and also, are all those medications that are listed on your website  prescribed by a doctor only?

ANSWER: Hi Dasha


The blood like dots you see is porphyrin that she is sneezing out, which is normal to sneeze out porphyrin so not to be alarmed.

Alot of time baby rats do sneeze when they first come home because there is so many new irritants they have to get used to. It can be the first sign of myco, but what I said is true is many cases: myco usually doesnt cause problems in the very young since it is a super slow moving organism. It would be a secondary infection if anything.

She sounds healthy.  Some experts say a healthy rat doesnt sneeze, but because of the abuse of strong antibiotics in the vet world, we are seeing more and more respiratory infections kill our rats because they dont respond to the medications due to tolerance.  

When she sneezes, does she seem to do it more when you handle her or when she sees you or is taken out to be handled etc...?  

When do you notice she is not sneezing?

SOmetimes being excited to cause their histamine levels to rise, causing sneezing. When the stimuli is removed, the sneezing eases up.

As for a vet, she will need a qualified vet that sees exotics, usually an exotic vet.  It can be confusing because some vets that are just general practice say they see exotics but they are not half as equipped to handle small mammals and in fact many do not even have the proper medications on hand. I hear all the time where a rat was given pills to be cut in pieces rather than having them be given a liquid with a yummy flavoring in it making it palatable for rats so they dont fight taking the medicine.   Please let me know your location and I will gladly give you some names of vets that can see your rat and treat her properly if need be.

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

QUESTION: Hello. Sandra! thanks so much for writing me back so quickly.
i live in brooklyn, NY. i found a clinic not far from my home, but i dont know if they work with pet rats.

i think she got better. she still sneezes but not that often and not that constantly. she might've been allergic to pine, i think. she feels good. doesnt like to sit i na cage at all! whenever im home, she's always near me...
so i dont know whether i still need to go to a doctor because of sneezing... however, there is something else... and now i am really scared.
i noticed today a little bump on her stomach, exactly in the middle. its not breast. you know, looks like a navel... i hope its not a tumor. my previous rat died because of breast tumor, and i cant think of this little one be also that sick again... :(((
like i said, rat is behaving very active, nothing is bothering her at all. but this isnt right, there shouldnt be anything on her stomach... it looks like a furry pimple..

so may be yes, if you can help find me a good vet in my area that could help us, i would really really appreciate it.
thank you for everything!
DASHA

Answer
Hi Dasha

I betcha its an abscess.  Is there a head on it? A scab?


If it IS a tumor, she doesnt have to die from it, you know that right? It can be easily removed.  She is so young though, which makes me think its an abscess or else a little cyst.

Here are names of vets in your area that are great with rats!!!!

Dr. Lori Bierbrier
Hope Veterinary Clinic    
390 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11217
Phone:    718-852-4219
Website: www.hopevet.com