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Ratty sneezing2007-11-24 22:14:51

My two rats have been sneezing pretty much all their life, and we have been to the vet more than once, but it just does not seem to get better! other than that they are totally healthy and active, eating normally and bouncing around..but should I be worried?

Answers:

two possible causes

1. bedding problems. wood shavings too small, or wood scent too strong and irritating causing respitory irritation. switch bedding and wait for 2-3 weeks for signs of improvement. shredded newspaper never irritates, but must be changed more often.

2. colds. rats can catch colds just like we can, and if your rats are suseptible, well then make sure they are out of drafts and give them fresh fruits and vegis to supplement their diets with some vitamin C.

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*Don't give them too finely cut wood shavings, or they may get it up their noses and start sneezing all over again.

*Give them LOTS of bedding.

*With your own hair, lean down and tickle their noses and whiskers!

Good Luck

emeita xxxx

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try a bedding mixture like shredded paper and wood shavings, sometimes rats have allergies to the bedding or something in the bedding. i have found that the best bedding is half paper shreds and half cedar chips.

hope this helps, and good luck

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they may have allergies. try to change the shavings in the rat cage.

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try changing the bedding to something different. My boys sneeze when i use aspen.

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Respiratory problems are so common with rats. Once they have them they never really go away - they will always flare up from time to time. It's important to treat the problem when it flares up, usually with antibiotics and mucolytics from the vet, just to prevent the problem becoming really bad. Unfortunately there's no getting rid of the problem for good, just managing it.