Possible URI

Question
QUESTION: I have a two boy ratties who can't be more than a a few months old. I bought them both from Petco and were in great health. Recently, though, one of my boys has been making that dreading clucking type of noise. I've only heard it a couple of times in the past couple of days I've noticed it, and it was only when he was playing with his buddy or when he landed after jumping down from something like the top of the couch. He's completely normal in every other way but has also been sneezing recently. There is no discharge or lethargy, but I'm still really worried. I don't exactly have the money to take him to a vet right now. I was thinking of trying Petco first, and my main question is whether or not they would have a look at him and at the very least be able to make a diagnosis, or hopefully be able to prescribe medication. Thank you in advance for your much appreciated advice.

ANSWER: How long ago has it been since you bought them?  Sometimes Petstores have a policy that if the rat gets sick they will take it back for the time being and take it to their vet instead, free of charge. I would, however, be sure they are going to really take care of it though because often they offer to take them back and turn them over to the snake food bin rather than pay for medical treatment. This is terrible but unfortunately it is the truth in many cases.

Sneezing among new rats is pretty common but if she didnt do it from the start and now she is doing it she may very well need a vet visit.

When did you get the little ones??

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

QUESTION: Thanks for your great advice. I decided to ask my local pet store and they gave powdered medication that you add to their water everyday for ten days. His sneezing has become less frequent, but still there. It isn't the normal little sneezes, but ones that sound like a squeeky toy. All else is still fine, but he still has these little squeeky sneezing gits every hour or so. I guess I was wondering if the powdered medication is an effective treatment compared to the pills that you get from a vet. Thanks again!

Answer
Wow this allexperts has been so odd lately. I just got your message today and its dated the 28th?

Weird!

Anyhow, no, the powder is not good enough at all. This is one of the reasons mycoplamosis is so out of control, because pet stores like this try to treat it their own way and it only gets worse.

The powder they probably used is bird antibiotics which is a very very weak strength of either doxycycline or amoxil.  Mycoplasma is a complicated bacteria that lacks a cell wall. It needs a very potent antibiotic to work on the cell itself where most antibiotics only can destroy the cell wall of the bacteria. Baytril is one of the drugs that is widely used with success.  If your rat did improve some, it probably had a secondary infection on top of the myco but still displays signs of myco by having the little coughing spells and sneezing, etc...what is happening now and that the myco will only grow stronger and the next serious outbreak the rats immune system may be weaker and the infection can be worse. When relapse occurs too many times, it starts to cause scarring of the lungs and sometimes leaves blisters as well.

Using medicatoin in the water can be a very dangerous thing to do as well. For starters, there is NO WAY to know if the rat is even getting the proper amount of medication. The entire bottle of water would have be used by him and only him.  Also, if he hates the new taste of the water, he wont drink it at all and he will dehydrate.

Petstores have no business playing Vet and can only make things worse.

Can you call the vet for the proper medication?