Can Rats Get Hiccups or Should I be Worried?

Question
First time rat owner and long time rodent lover. We got our tan and white male rat "Frodo" (he has huge hairy feet!) at a local pet store where we got most of our rodent pets and our two budgies. It is absolutely amazing just how smart he is and even my mother who is terrified of rodwnts is enchanted with him. The problem? Occassionaly, not always, he seems to get hiccups or spasms when we are holding him. I can't tell if it hurts him or what, and they don't last long. He sits still through it, and the spasms make him squeek a little. Otherwise he is fine. He eats he plays, he stares down the cats, and he loves rides on shoulders. We are worried about this and want to know if it anything we should be concerned about.
Please let me know what you think as soon as you can.
Thanks for your time.
Holly and Shyanne

Answer
It is possible for rats to get hiccups, but they are normally silent. If he is making noises and it seems more like a "spasm" then I'd say you should probably get him checked out for a respiratory infection, if nothing else. Take a look at this too to see if it sounds anything like what Frodo is doing, which is obviously more serious. http://ratguide.com/health/neurological/seizures.php

Good luck!
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