Sniffling boy

Question
QUESTION: Hello-

I wrote to you some time ago about my lone boy Edgar, who now has a little spayed female friend, Odette.

Edgar was by himself for four weeks, and Odette underwent a three-week quarantine- she is from a small animal shelter, and I completely trust and have faith in the volunteers and foster home I was in touch with. I do not believe they are at fault, and have, in fact, been extremely supportive to me, but I'm unsure where to turn. The foster lady told me I was worrying over nothing, but I'm not so sure.

Edgar, the very first night Odette was home, was sniffling audibly, instead of just scenting and sniffing. It was like a wet little sniffle. It stopped after just a couple seconds, but it was enough to alarm me. I listened to his chest, and I heard nothing but his little heartbeat.

Now, that was about a week ago. Today, Edgar came clambering out of his cage as usual, and I brought him out, and he sniffled again. He doesn't have any other symptoms, no poryphorin, no ruffled fur, nothing, but this is starting to upset me, and no nearby vet treats rats. I'll make the trip in a heartbeat, but I'd like to please know what I'm maybe dealing with. Edgar is six months old.

ANSWER:
Often, mycoplasmosis creeps up on the rat out of the blue. Even a day with a lowered immune system for whatever reason, stress, perhaps, and it can allow mycoplasmosis to step in. It can start with simple sniffles and untreated, can turn into a full blown respiratory infection.
Does he have any audible congestion just in his nasal passages?
Also, if you need me to try to find a vet for you let me know. I may have tried in the past but I cant remember. I answer at least 20 messages a day lately so I would need to go back to old posts to see.

Also, does he seem to be the most "sniffly" when he first wakes up or at different times of the day?



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

QUESTION: Hi, me again, sorry to bother you, I didn't realize you get contacted so much, but I don't really have anyone else to ask...

I'd call it audible congestion, yes, just in his nasal passages, nowhere else. It happens randomly once a day, maybe every other day. I do have a vet, it's just quite far away from me.

Answer
Hey

Thats fine for you to contact me as much as you want. This is what I am here for!  

My rats do this too....not all of them but some of them. A good sneeze and  they are ok for a while.  
I cant say that it wont migrate into something more eventually so it wouldnt hurt to have him treated for at least 21 days with baytril and treat it like mycoplasmosis.  Its a shame our rat vets are so far. I drive at least 40 minutes to see our exotic vet but I am lucky enough to have medications here to use at my own discretion unless the rat is super sick, lethargic, not eating, etc...