noises

Question
Hello, my little guy is making a weird noise similar to bruxing. It almost sounds like paper crinkling. He seems to look fine and is eating and drinking and playing but this noise can range from quite to where I have to put my ear against him to loud enough to hear from 2 feet away and it is not consistent. I heard it this evening then it goes away and has now came back. I'm looking to take him into an emergency hospital but since he is my first pet rat I wanted to make sure this isn't a normal sound they can make from time to time.

Answer
Hi Jodi

No, its not a normal sound. He has a respiratory infection, it seems.
Baytril and doxycycline are the best drugs to use as a combo. It is probably from mycoplasmosis. Do you have emergency vets that take care of rats?

It is good that he is eating and drinking which means he is still in the beginning stages of illness. You should read up on myco just so you are aware of it and its treatment. Sometimes the vets that are not real up to date on rat care need a little extra info from the client and the more the rat owner knows, the better it is for the rat.  
Check out my website about the treatment (the rat should be on the medication for at least 21 days) if it is less, he will only relapse and the second attack is worse then the first.

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

Also, do not let them give him a baytril shot. This almost always leaves a nasty ulcer called baytril burn because the medication is so caustic and it accumulates under the skin if the Vet gives it too shallow (subcutaneous)  

If you need help finding a vet that is an ER vet and yournot sure if they are exotic vets there or not, I can help locate one.

Good luck! Your doing good....the faster you get on this, the better his recovery will be!