my baby rats are very sick!

Question
QUESTION: Ok let me just explain what has been going on, I bought two baby girl rats. Shortly after my son got sick and myself and husband with a bad cold and cough, I was handling my rats alot (I feel horrible). I had had them for 15 days then one of them started opening it's mouth to breath it was very scary and she was sneezing alot, so I brought them both to the vet. Turns out they had a respiratory infection (pneumonia), so the vet kept one of them only for 7 days they said she was well enough to go home. But the other one has now been in there for 9 days and is still sneezing and trying to catch her breath. So my question is did I do this to them? I feel awful I have completly and totally fallen in love with these little girls and I am so afraid the one won't make it. Now my husband is sick AGAIN and I am terrified that the one that is home is going to end back up at the vet! And the other frustrating thing is that I asked the vet if rats could catch human bacteria or virus' and they wouldn't give me a straight answer all they had to say was that some people think they can others say no. Shouldn't a vet know the answer to that question? So if you could please let me know that would be wonderful thank you for your time.

ANSWER:
Absolutely not, your rats didnt give you anything and you did not give them anything.  They cannot catch the common cold, the flu or anything else.  Rats are prone to mycoplasmosis. A bad respiratory infection from myco can turn into pneumonia.  It is not pathogenic to humans so there is no way they are sick from you.

Should a vet know this? Depends how much they learned about rats in college and if they are truly board certified in exotics, they should know this, yes.  If they are just vets that see rats and exotics just to see them but only know the basics, no, they would not have a clue.

What meds are being used on the rats?  Hopefully they are changing meds after this long without them responding to them and improving. Are they getting oxygen?

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QUESTION: Thank you for your quick reply I really appreciate it, you put me at ease. I asked the vet what they were giving them and she did not mention oxygen just antibiotics (not sure what the antibiotic is called), and she also did not mention changing meds maybe I will suggest that. Like I was telling you the one is home and the other is still in the hospital, but I'm concerned because the one I have home is still sneezing and they told me she had stopped and it was ok to take her home (she was on antibiotic for 7 days). But she is extremely active and eating, drinking, and playing so I think she's ok except for the sneezing. I really don't want to take her back to the vet unless I absolutely have to I don't want to traumatize her anymore and she was so happy to be home. Do you think I need to take her back? Thanks again for being so helpful!

ANSWER: Rule of thumb to remember:  if the antibiotics do not start to work in 3 days,its time to change.  When dealing with mycoplasmosis, only antibiotics that work to destroy the cell of the organism will work. If they only destroy the cell wall, forget it, it wont kill myco.

Also, meds need to be given for 30 full days to avoid relapse!
Here is more info about myco:
http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/mycoplasmosispage.htm


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

QUESTION: Well I printed out your info about myco and took it with me to the vet, you are very knowledgeable. The doctor wasn't there but I will be talking with him later today, I asked the nurse if she could give the medicine that you mentioned to me so I may administer it at home. I'm just getting so tired of all this and I want it to be over! It's been going on for a good 3 weeks now if not more, pretty much since a few days after I bought them. Well one more question and then I promise to stop pestering you, someone told me to give them peeled oranges because vitamin C has the same affect on them as it does us and it would help. Is that true? And if there is other advice you can give regarding this situation?

Answer
Your not pestering me......thats why I am here, to help you and everyone that needs advice on rat care in between vet visits etc...

As for vitamin C, it wont help myco but its a nice treat for ratties as long as they get only the fruit part of the orange and not the peel like you said.  

Hopefully your vet wont get offended you gave him info on this. Some vets resent outside help and no matter how clueless they are, they are too arrogant to admit they are not in the "know" like they should be but will never admit it.  They would rather kill your rat and let you think it was HIS TIME rather than admit they were wrong. I know I sound like a real brat, but the truth hurts and I am just being honest. THere are more vets out there that should refrain from treating rats and other exotics because they are causing more harm than good and thats a scary fact!!