Recurring myco

Question
Dear Sandra,

I had two dumbo rats that are now just over a year old. One
of them has had wheezing spells three times and every time
I have treated her and the other rat with baytril (0.3ml?)
for 7 days, and then 10 days twice. I used to use pine
bedding until about a month ago. I now use recycled paper
litter and she's been fine ever since.

I bought two baby dumbo rats 4 weeks ago. I kept them at my
boyfriend's house for two weeks before introducing them and
they get on really well with the older rats and with
myself, so are not stressed as far as I can tell.

One of the baby rats (roughly 10 weeks old) is now a bit
sniffly during the early morning. Other than that she's
fine. No discharge from the eyes or nose. Just the odd
congested sound when she gets excited.

I keep them on recycled paper litter, with hay for bedding.
They are fed rat nuggets and lots of fruit and veg, and
their water is supplemented with guinea pig vitamin drops.
I allow them to run around my bedroom at least once a day.

Anyway, money is no object when it comes to the health of
my rats but I'm very reluctant to treat the baby rat with
antibiotics if I don't absolutely need to as I'm worried
about selecting for resistance and that she is so young.
I'm also conscious that she will require treatment
regularly and am keen to avoid this.

Are there any alternative therapies, or anything I can do
to help her get over this naturally? I'm at home with her
today but I can take her into work with me to keep an eye
on her.

On a seperate topic, the same rat has white flecks on the
end of some of her guard hairs. I cut some hair and found
empty louse eggs under a microscope. None of the rats are
scratching, and I can't find any lice. I imagine they had
lice before they were sold but have been cleared of them.
Is it safe for me to hold off treating them unless I see
signs of infestation?

Many thanks,

Hannah  

Answer
Hi Hannah



For starters,  stop with the guinea pig vitamins.  Guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C and so therefore that is a significant amount of vitamin C found in these supplements which the rat does not need as he is able to produce his own vitamin C.

As for antibiotic treatment in a baby rat, I agree to wait unless its necessary and it sounds as if it could be environmental. I would remove the hay your using as well. This can trigger allergies and sneezing/congestion too.

As for the louse eggs, I would also wait to treat it too as you said, unless you see signs. You seem to be one step ahead of it so you know what to look for should they start to show signs of parasites.

You can read up on the best ways to prevent mycoplasmosis from flaring up, although its not always possible to prevent it, there are many things you can do to try to hold it off as long as possible. I have had many rats go through life never having a sniffle but end up with tumors or something else.  

Here is the URL to my website on myco.  Hope it helps

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