Vet visit for my rat

Question
QUESTION: Hi, my daughters rat peanuts is 1 year old and has been wheezing for 2-3 weeks every since we got him a new friend Bolt...Bolt was sick at first but got over it quickly. Peanuts being older seems to have this last longer...Took peanuts to a vet that is suppose to specialize in rats and reptiles in Loma Linda, Ca ..He said peanut has asthma? and give him liquid Albon with dex? .03 cc every 12 hours and Albuterol liquid to put in a humdifier at night...Wanted to give him a shot of antibotics and one to help his lungs breath easier..I optioned for the Albon with dex liquid and Albuterol drops..Does this sound right? I keeped asking him if it was mycoplasmosis but he said no..My husband and I are sratching our heads at this one...Can one rat be allergic to the other? That is the only thing we can fiqure out that has changed in the last 2months..We clean a three story wire cage for two rats every Sunday? we use shredded paper bag product with no chemical added...We feed both of them a mixer of fruits/veg/complex carb..Peanuts eat well and drinks lost of water and weight a 1 1/2 pounds. My daughter was in tears today thinking she was going to lose one of her rats...Should I get another cage for Bolt? Please email us ASAP we do not want him to get worse!
Sincerely
Sonya
Yucaipa, CA 92399

ANSWER: Hi

For starters, there are no such thing as rat specialist, so if your vet claims to be one, he or she is being untruthful.  Also, in Loma Linda, California, according to the contact list I have, there are no exotic vets at all in that area. Perhaps it is listed under a different city?  Either way though, the part about the rat vet is not true. I am going to assume that word of mouth is that some rat owners love this vet and gave him the name rat vet, and if thats the case, I am sorry for saying he or she was untruthful, but if the vet himself made this claim, well...as I said before.....

There is good news for our rats, however, as the American Veterinary Medical Association is recognizing a brand new veterinary specialty  called Exotic Companion Mammal Practice!  This specialty will focus on our rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, rabbits etc..etc...so we dont have to share with the avian/exotic vets or have to deal with general vets that see exotics but only know the basic ailments/treatments and do not go in depth like we often need.  Some vets have one track minds: Respiratory illness means baytril and if the rat doesnt get better, euthanize. The also think all tumors are cancerous. I can go on and on.  Just wanted to warn you that there is no such thing as a rat specialist. They have not even began to offer the state board testing for this particular field until later this year.  It is still exciting though!  FINALLY!

As for myco and asthma etc... your little guy probably has myco that has caused his lungs to possibly scar. This can cause wheezing and other chronic lung problems, much like COPD which can include asthma like symptoms.   I believe using the albuterol is a good step in the right direction but I also believe he would benefit from the use of steroids and also antibiotics, possibly given to him for the rest of his life.
What happens when mycoplasmosis continues to relapse is the lungs end up being damaged from so much exposure to this nasty organism. If the bacteria is not treated long enough, the rat relapses and with each relapse, the disease causes further damage.    The first time the rat had a respiratory infection related to myco (they usually are unless it ends up a secondary infection) he should be treated for a full 30 days on baytril and doxycycline since these two drugs compliment each other and also fight off bacteria that lacks a cell wall, which is what nasty myco is, an organsim without a cell wall. Most antibiotics attack the cell wall to destroy the organism but when there is no cell wall, the medication fails, causing the rat to continue to be sick and the damage is occuring the longer it goes without being treated properly.  Most of the time the medication works in 3 days or at least starts to show some improvement, but if it doesnt, that means the medication needs changed ASAP to another drug until finally they find the right medication, but it would be easy to culture the blood to see what is going on if this continued without showing improvement in the illness.

The good news it that Peanuts is a good age and good weight and young enough to get him on the right track with the right medication.
I am not sure if your happy with your current vet, and I can suggest a few others in your area, including exotic specialists, but if not, I would at least share with your vet about the medications I suggeseted.
Also, did the vet mention using a nebulizer? This would be great for all meds, from the albuterol to the baytril.

Hope this has helped you and I look forward to a follow up from you. I know how tough understanding this stuff can be and its frustrating trying to figure out if your doing the right thing etc... you can go ahead and put Peanut back with his buddy. Keeping them apart will only stress them out and stress of course is not good for the immune system which we need to keep strong for Peanuts!  I had a Peanut, btw...he was the best rat ever!  Is it Peanuts or Peanut?

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

QUESTION: Thank you so much for your input..I talked to the Dr today to get the right strength of Albuterol mixer with the humidifier..I really do not like his bedside manner I fell very hurried by him...Can you suggested someone in my area?
Also the Dr said that baytril only comes in a shot? Now I wish I would of gotten a shot of antibiotics and a shot for opening his lungs yesterday...I put the humidifier on all night last night..again tonight as well How many nights this week should I give him Albuterol in the humidifier? I have more questions than ever now and worrying about peanuts..maybe because of the humidifier he is sounding more looser but that makes me think he is getting worse not better...Albon is an antibiotic with a steroid (dex) liquid I give him every 12 hours...
He is itches himself a lot more since Bolts has come on the scene...and his coat has gotten rougher looking??? I put how much olive oil on his coat??
Thanks for all your help
Sincerely
Sonya

Answer
Your vet is clueless.   It comes in tablet forms too but because he is too cheap to carry the different versions he is blowing smoke.


Also, to make an elixir for the rats out of baytril, you use inject able and add a flavoring to it.

Obviously he is clueless about that too.

I will find you a vet.  Go private and tell me who you have now so I can check his credentials. I am super curious now.