Moon's Graden

by **Andrew Macaula** » Thu, 15 Jan 2004 15:39:31

I used to have two rats, Ratella and Creamscicle. Recently, I had to
put Ratella down because she was very sick. Now that Ratella is gone,
Creamscicle is all alone and has no friends to play with. I went to the
pet store today and saw the most absolutely perfect rats for her to be
friends with. Unfortunately, as the helpful person who worked there
pointed out to me, one of them seems to have a respiratory disease.
They are a pair of rats and and it is only one who is sick. I was
hoping to buy both.

I don't mind buying a rat with a respiratory disease as long as that rat
is not going to pass that disease on to Creamsicle. I was reading in my
rat book that most rats have the bacteria (mycoplasma?) that causes the
disease and that it was only a few that actually developed problems.
This leads me to suspect that my rat Creamscicle will be OK if I put her
in the same cage with this new rat (Creamsickle wouldn't be encountering
anything new.) Would I be doing harm to Creamsicle if I was to
introduce this rat into her cage?

I suppose I wouldn't want to buy this rat if it is going to cost me a
lot of money. Will it cost a lot of money to care for a rat with a
respiratory ilness? I don't mind it costing me a BIT of money... like,
two hundred dollars.

Thanks to all you helpful rodents out there...

by **J&S Bouchar** » Thu, 15 Jan 2004 22:59:05

Quote:

> I used to have two rats, Ratella and Creamscicle. Recently, I had to
> put Ratella down because she was very sick. Now that Ratella is gone,
> Creamscicle is all alone and has no friends to play with. I went to the
> pet store today and saw the most absolutely perfect rats for her to be
> friends with. Unfortunately, as the helpful person who worked there
> pointed out to me, one of them seems to have a respiratory disease.
> They are a pair of rats and and it is only one who is sick. I was
> hoping to buy both.

> I don't mind buying a rat with a respiratory disease as long as that rat
> is not going to pass that disease on to Creamsicle. I was reading in my
> rat book that most rats have the bacteria (mycoplasma?) that causes the
> disease and that it was only a few that actually developed problems.
> This leads me to suspect that my rat Creamscicle will be OK if I put her
> in the same cage with this new rat (Creamsickle wouldn't be encountering
> anything new.) Would I be doing harm to Creamsicle if I was to
> introduce this rat into her cage?

> I suppose I wouldn't want to buy this rat if it is going to cost me a
> lot of money. Will it cost a lot of money to care for a rat with a
> respiratory ilness? I don't mind it costing me a BIT of money... like,
> two hundred dollars.

> Thanks to all you helpful rodents out there...

Hi Andrew... I'm so sorry for Ratella's passing.
Yes, the new sick rat could make Creamsicle sick.
But there's hope. You can buy the two little gems and keep them in a
separate cage in a separate room while the sick one is being treated for the
resp. infection. Meds are not that expensive...ask for zithromax.
What are the exact symptoms of the sick little one?
You are right in which all rats have the myco bacteria, it's the secondary
infections that are hard to treat and eventually kills our ratties.
Creamsicle could become sick only because she will be under some stress
because of 1. the loss of her cagemate and 2. new additions.
So get the new rats checked by a vet.
--
Joanne
Mom to 14 rats
http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70

remove "no spam"

- Show quoted text -

by **Trace** » Fri, 16 Jan 2004 01:00:23

Quote:

> I used to have two rats, Ratella and Creamscicle. Recently, I had to
> put Ratella down because she was very sick. Now that Ratella is gone,
> Creamscicle is all alone and has no friends to play with. I went to the
> pet store today and saw the most absolutely perfect rats for her to be
> friends with. Unfortunately, as the helpful person who worked there
> pointed out to me, one of them seems to have a respiratory disease.
> They are a pair of rats and and it is only one who is sick. I was
> hoping to buy both.

> I don't mind buying a rat with a respiratory disease as long as that rat
> is not going to pass that disease on to Creamsicle. I was reading in my
> rat book that most rats have the bacteria (mycoplasma?) that causes the
> disease and that it was only a few that actually developed problems.
> This leads me to suspect that my rat Creamscicle will be OK if I put her
> in the same cage with this new rat (Creamsickle wouldn't be encountering
> anything new.) Would I be doing harm to Creamsicle if I was to
> introduce this rat into her cage?

> I suppose I wouldn't want to buy this rat if it is going to cost me a
> lot of money. Will it cost a lot of money to care for a rat with a
> respiratory ilness? I don't mind it costing me a BIT of money... like,
> two hundred dollars.

> Thanks to all you helpful rodents out there...

I'm sorry for your loss of Ratella. Unfortunately it would be likely that
the new rattie would pass the respiratory infection on, but perhaps you
could do what Joanne suggest and keep the rats separate until the new one is
well again after being treated with anti-biotics. Vets usually treat rattie
respiratory infections with Baytril (especially here in UK), although this
anti-biotic can stunt a young rat's growth. Azithromycin (brand name
'Zithromax') is an anti-biotic which has been used successfully in treating
youngsters.

Here is a handy link if you want to learn more about myco.
http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/health/myco.php

Tracey

by **dawn** » Fri, 16 Jan 2004 08:39:10

If you have any young children, ask their pediatrician for a sample/trial
size of zithromax. My child's pediatrician did that for me. It never hurts
to ask *smiles*

Quote:

> > I used to have two rats, Ratella and Creamscicle. Recently, I had to
> > put Ratella down because she was very sick. Now that Ratella is gone,
> > Creamscicle is all alone and has no friends to play with. I went to the
> > pet store today and saw the most absolutely perfect rats for her to be
> > friends with. Unfortunately, as the helpful person who worked there
> > pointed out to me, one of them seems to have a respiratory disease.
> > They are a pair of rats and and it is only one who is sick. I was
> > hoping to buy both.

> > I don't mind buying a rat with a respiratory disease as long as that rat
> > is not going to pass that disease on to Creamsicle. I was reading in my
> > rat book that most rats have the bacteria (mycoplasma?) that causes the
> > disease and that it was only a few that actually developed problems.
> > This leads me to suspect that my rat Creamscicle will be OK if I put her
> > in the same cage with this new rat (Creamsickle wouldn't be encountering
> > anything new.) Would I be doing harm to Creamsicle if I was to
> > introduce this rat into her cage?

> > I suppose I wouldn't want to buy this rat if it is going to cost me a
> > lot of money. Will it cost a lot of money to care for a rat with a
> > respiratory ilness? I don't mind it costing me a BIT of money... like,
> > two hundred dollars.

> > Thanks to all you helpful rodents out there...

> I'm sorry for your loss of Ratella. Unfortunately it would be likely that
> the new rattie would pass the respiratory infection on, but perhaps you
> could do what Joanne suggest and keep the rats separate until the new one
is
> well again after being treated with anti-biotics. Vets usually treat
rattie
> respiratory infections with Baytril (especially here in UK), although this
> anti-biotic can stunt a young rat's growth. Azithromycin (brand name
> 'Zithromax') is an anti-biotic which has been used successfully in
treating
> youngsters.

> Here is a handy link if you want to learn more about myco.
> http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/health/myco.php

> Tracey

by **Kate** » Fri, 16 Jan 2004 11:34:08

Ok... I bought a Rat who had respiratory problems. Cairo lives with 13
others all together in there Big House. I got him a year ago and to this
day none of the others have shown signs of illness. As to cost.... I have
had to have Cairo treated twice for noisy breathing which was quickly made
better with the combination of the two Antibiotics..:) I have had no
regrets to this day. I also have his brother as I always try to get my Boys
in pairs. HE has never had the breathing problems that Cairo has. Hope
this has been of some help.

Regard Kate.

Quote:

> I used to have two rats, Ratella and Creamscicle. Recently, I had to
> put Ratella down because she was very sick. Now that Ratella is gone,
> Creamscicle is all alone and has no friends to play with. I went to the
> pet store today and saw the most absolutely perfect rats for her to be
> friends with. Unfortunately, as the helpful person who worked there
> pointed out to me, one of them seems to have a respiratory disease.
> They are a pair of rats and and it is only one who is sick. I was
> hoping to buy both.

> I don't mind buying a rat with a respiratory disease as long as that rat
> is not going to pass that disease on to Creamsicle. I was reading in my
> rat book that most rats have the bacteria (mycoplasma?) that causes the
> disease and that it was only a few that actually developed problems.
> This leads me to suspect that my rat Creamscicle will be OK if I put her
> in the same cage with this new rat (Creamsickle wouldn't be encountering
> anything new.) Would I be doing harm to Creamsicle if I was to
> introduce this rat into her cage?

> I suppose I wouldn't want to buy this rat if it is going to cost me a
> lot of money. Will it cost a lot of money to care for a rat with a
> respiratory ilness? I don't mind it costing me a BIT of money... like,
> two hundred dollars.

> Thanks to all you helpful rodents out there...

by **Andrew Macaula** » Fri, 16 Jan 2004 12:00:28

I love you.

Quote:

> Ok... I bought a Rat who had respiratory problems. Cairo lives with 13
> others all together in there Big House. I got him a year ago and to this
> day none of the others have shown signs of illness. As to cost.... I have
> had to have Cairo treated twice for noisy breathing which was quickly made
> better with the combination of the two Antibiotics..:) I have had no
> regrets to this day. I also have his brother as I always try to get my Boys
> in pairs. HE has never had the breathing problems that Cairo has. Hope
> this has been of some help.

> Regard Kate.

>>I used to have two rats, Ratella and Creamscicle. Recently, I had to
>>put Ratella down because she was very sick. Now that Ratella is gone,
>>Creamscicle is all alone and has no friends to play with. I went to the
>>pet store today and saw the most absolutely perfect rats for her to be
>>friends with. Unfortunately, as the helpful person who worked there
>>pointed out to me, one of them seems to have a respiratory disease.
>>They are a pair of rats and and it is only one who is sick. I was
>>hoping to buy both.

>>I don't mind buying a rat with a respiratory disease as long as that rat
>>is not going to pass that disease on to Creamsicle. I was reading in my
>>rat book that most rats have the bacteria (mycoplasma?) that causes the
>>disease and that it was only a few that actually developed problems.
>>This leads me to suspect that my rat Creamscicle will be OK if I put her
>>in the same cage with this new rat (Creamsickle wouldn't be encountering
>>anything new.) Would I be doing harm to Creamsicle if I was to
>>introduce this rat into her cage?

>>I suppose I wouldn't want to buy this rat if it is going to cost me a
>>lot of money. Will it cost a lot of money to care for a rat with a
>>respiratory ilness? I don't mind it costing me a BIT of money... like,
>>two hundred dollars.

>>Thanks to all you helpful rodents out there...

by **Andrew Macaula** » Fri, 16 Jan 2004 12:10:43

Thank you for your support with regards to Ratella.

The little one's symptoms are hard to describe. The lady at the pet
store called it "sniffles." There is a wet sort of sound whenever she
breathes in and out. Very hard to describe.

If it is the new addition and the loss of Ratella that would cause the
infection in Creamsickle, wouldn't the introduction of any rat have the
same effect regardless of whether or not it has an infection?

Thank you for your help.

Quote:

>>I used to have two rats, Ratella and Creamscicle. Recently, I had to
>>put Ratella down because she was very sick. Now that Ratella is gone,
>>Creamscicle is all alone and has no friends to play with. I went to the
>>pet store today and saw the most absolutely perfect rats for her to be
>>friends with. Unfortunately, as the helpful person who worked there
>>pointed out to me, one of them seems to have a respiratory disease.
>>They are a pair of rats and and it is only one who is sick. I was
>>hoping to buy both.

>>I don't mind buying a rat with a respiratory disease as long as that rat
>>is not going to pass that disease on to Creamsicle. I was reading in my
>>rat book that most rats have the bacteria (mycoplasma?) that causes the
>>disease and that it was only a few that actually developed problems.
>>This leads me to suspect that my rat Creamscicle will be OK if I put her
>>in the same cage with this new rat (Creamsickle wouldn't be encountering
>>anything new.) Would I be doing harm to Creamsicle if I was to
>>introduce this rat into her cage?

>>I suppose I wouldn't want to buy this rat if it is going to cost me a
>>lot of money. Will it cost a lot of money to care for a rat with a
>>respiratory ilness? I don't mind it costing me a BIT of money... like,
>>two hundred dollars.

>>Thanks to all you helpful rodents out there...

> Hi Andrew... I'm so sorry for Ratella's passing.
> Yes, the new sick rat could make Creamsicle sick.
> But there's hope. You can buy the two little gems and keep them in a
> separate cage in a separate room while the sick one is being treated for the
> resp. infection. Meds are not that expensive...ask for zithromax.
> What are the exact symptoms of the sick little one?
> You are right in which all rats have the myco bacteria, it's the secondary
> infections that are hard to treat and eventually kills our ratties.
> Creamsicle could become sick only because she will be under some stress
> because of 1. the loss of her cagemate and 2. new additions.
> So get the new rats checked by a vet.

by **J&S Bouchar** » Fri, 16 Jan 2004 12:39:54

Quote:

> Thank you for your support with regards to Ratella.

> The little one's symptoms are hard to describe. The lady at the pet
> store called it "sniffles." There is a wet sort of sound whenever she
> breathes in and out. Very hard to describe.

> If it is the new addition and the loss of Ratella that would cause the
> infection in Creamsickle, wouldn't the introduction of any rat have the
> same effect regardless of whether or not it has an infection?

> Thank you for your help.

The thing is... it's the secondary infections that will in the end be very
harmful to the rat. So say Ratella died of pneumonia and that didn't
transfer over to Creamsicle, but the new guy has another kind of secondary
infection like say nasal infection...that one may or may not infect
Creamsicle... so each case may be different and Creamsicle may be already
stressed out because of the loss of her sister which makes her more
susceptible to the infection.
--
Joanne
Mom to 14 rats
http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70

remove "no spam"

by **Andrew Macaula** » Sat, 17 Jan 2004 15:31:32

I agree, I think that would be the most reasonable course of action.
Much more reasonable than introducing the rat anyway. I see a potential
danger here and I wouldn't want to put my rats at harm. I can imagine
the rats saying "everything was OK until that stupid owner of ours put a
rat with a disease in with us."

That's going to be quite tricky, changing clothes and such. Maybe I'll
just get one of the ones that doesn't have the sniffles...

Naw, I'll prolly isolate.

Think if I get two from the same batch that I should isolate and treat
them both?

Quote:

> i would imagine it depends on what the new rat is sick with. if it is
> myco, well, pretty much all rats have that anyway. i think there are
> different strains of it, though, and some are more problematic than
> others.

> but there are nifty viruses out there too that can be extremely deadly
> when combined with the myco that most rats have anyway: sendai and sda
> are the two biggies that you hear about most often.

> if you really want that rat, i'd go with what everyone else
> recommended, to take her, treat her while in quarantine, and then
> introduce her to creamsicle. but to do a true quarantine you have to
> house them in a seperate air source and be very careful about
> showering/changing clothes. viruses can be transmitted through the
> air, so just another room doesn't prevent their transfer.

> good luck :)

I have warm feelings about you connected to your response. Thank you
for responding, and take pleasure that I think good things about your
response.

- Show quoted text -

Quote:

>>I used to have two rats, Ratella and Creamscicle. Recently, I had to
>>put Ratella down because she was very sick. Now that Ratella is gone,
>>Creamscicle is all alone and has no friends to play with. I went to the
>>pet store today and saw the most absolutely perfect rats for her to be
>>friends with. Unfortunately, as the helpful person who worked there
>>pointed out to me, one of them seems to have a respiratory disease.
>>They are a pair of rats and and it is only one who is sick. I was
>>hoping to buy both.

>>I don't mind buying a rat with a respiratory disease as long as that rat
>>is not going to pass that disease on to Creamsicle. I was reading in my
>>rat book that most rats have the bacteria (mycoplasma?) that causes the
>>disease and that it was only a few that actually developed problems.
>>This leads me to suspect that my rat Creamscicle will be OK if I put her
>>in the same cage with this new rat (Creamsickle wouldn't be encountering
>>anything new.) Would I be doing harm to Creamsicle if I was to
>>introduce this rat into her cage?

>>I suppose I wouldn't want to buy this rat if it is going to cost me a
>>lot of money. Will it cost a lot of money to care for a rat with a
>>respiratory ilness? I don't mind it costing me a BIT of money... like,
>>two hundred dollars.

>>Thanks to all you helpful rodents out there...

> --
> "I have suffered the atrocity of sunsets." (sylvia plath)
> http://shattering.org
> x-no-archive: yes in the headers

Moon's Graden

Can a rat with a respiratory problem pass that problem on to another rat?

Can a rat with a respiratory problem pass that problem on to another rat?

Can a rat with a respiratory problem pass that problem on to another rat?

Can a rat with a respiratory problem pass that problem on to another rat?

Can a rat with a respiratory problem pass that problem on to another rat?

Can a rat with a respiratory problem pass that problem on to another rat?

Can a rat with a respiratory problem pass that problem on to another rat?

Can a rat with a respiratory problem pass that problem on to another rat?

Can a rat with a respiratory problem pass that problem on to another rat?

Can a rat with a respiratory problem pass that problem on to another rat?