Rat Help Please
I have four rats. Just recently, three of my rats began getting red stains around their eyes (I know what this is, I just can't spell porphyrin?). The fourth rat has nothing wrong with her. I changed their bedding thinking it might have been just some irritation, because a friend of mine had the same problem and changing the bedding helped his rats. Unfortunately, one of the rats is now making weird noises when she breathes, and I have to bring her to the vet. My question is, should I separate her from the others until I find out for sure if she has an infection? And should I bring them all to the vet to be checked?
Answers:As others have said you rats probably has a respiratory infection. Since they are already together, there is no point in separating them, as infections are passed from rat to rat. Since your other rats have been getting the discharge they most likely have an upper respiratory infection as well, its just not as far along.
They need antibiotics, as this is the only way to treat an infection. You may want to call the vet ahead of time and ask if you bring all four will you be charged four separate exam charges. In my experience taking my rats to the vet most vet only charged one exam fee, or a reduced fee since they are small. You may want to call around to see.
It is good idea to put all of them on the antibiotic, as they are all showing symptoms(discharge).
Ya i think u should separate them and maybe bring them all to the vet if they act strange.
take all of them, if you have 1 infrected it may pass to the others. Better safe than sorry.
Not to be cruel but I don't think the life span of rats is more than a year on average and this sounds like an expensive deal for you.