swollen neck

Question
My wife and I have about 26 rats spaced between 3 cages...2 days ago I noticed about half of them have a lump under their throat (the males do, the females do not have anything) I was wondering if you had any ideas of what it could be? Half of them have a large singular lump

Also my wife brought a female rat home that has been sneezing alot and added it to the mix could that also be a cause?

Answer
Hi Chris


Are you doing quarantine when the new rats come home before going near the existing rats?

MORE INFO ON QUARANTINE HERE:
http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/thequarantinepage.htm

It may be viral, but its hard to say from here in my computer chair without a full exam.

SDA is a nasty coronavirus that is highly contagious among rats and often found in pet store rats. This virus attacks the harderian gland (which can cause the eyes to swell as well)and also causes swelling around the neck due to inflammation of the glands found in that area(salivary gland, submaxillary gland) It looks as if the rat has a short fat neck, like a bullfrog.

Do you notice the rats having excessive porphyrin discharge?
Is anyone sneezing, lethargic or anorexic?

The virus itself is not fatal, but the secondary infections can be deadly. From pneumonia to neurological diseases such as meningitis, I have even had rats die from heart disease caused by endocarditis (heart infection from strep bacteria) several weeks post virus. All of the rats that showed clinical signs of infection died premature deaths linked back to the virus.

Prevention is proper quarantine of all new rats that enter your home and also the keeper and anyone that has direct or indirect contact with the rats should also take precautions if they handle the new rats and later handle the existing rats.


I had 23 rats before and had them spread out in 7 cages but they were not huge cages either. I have a ferret nation that holds 16 rats with ease and only 2 rats live there now so I just thought I would ask about the size of cages you had. I cant imagine having that many ratties again.  You and your wife must be saints:)

Anyhow, let me know about the ratties eyes and other issues listed above and also if quarantine was done.

Treatment would be symptomatic. I would get them all on antibiotics to prevent secondary infection. DO NOT let the other rats near the healthy rats.  Since it is airborne, they were probably exposed to it already (providing they have it at all)
The real way to know if they have it is through a blood test and of course an examination by the vet but it still cannot be properly documented without blood work.
If your rats do have SDA, you should not bring any new rats into your home for 6 months or longer.