Pneumonia in a rat: symptoms and treatment

Pneumonia in rats is a disease that affects the lungs of an animal. In the respiratory organs of the pet, inflammatory processes begin.

Cause of illness

The causative agent is pneumococcus, which affects the lungs and spreads throughout the body. Due to the fact that the pathology has a lightning-fast course, the pet dies suddenly. Pneumonia in a rat may be the result of some other respiratory disease. Pathology usually affects young and weakened animals. The spread of the microbial agent throughout the body causes heart attacks and abscesses of the internal organs.

Sources of

The infection is transmitted by airborne droplets. This means that she can pick it up from another sick relative. This is a highly contagious disease. A pregnant female infects the cubs immediately after birth.

Symptoms

The disease has an acute and chronic form.

Acute, lasts 3-4 days and ends with the death of the pet. And also there are such clinical signs:

• weakness and inactivity;
• refusal to feed;
• cough;
• disheveled coat;
• frequent and difficult breathing;
• purulent discharge from the eyes and serous discharge from the nose.

The chronic form of the disease affects up to 75% of individuals. It is manifested by mild bronchitis and pneumonia, which then subsides, then reappears. This form is characterized by the fact that recovery occurs only after 12-15 days.

Forecast

In acute and fulminant types of the disease – unfavorable. In chronic – unknown, since it is accompanied by additional infections. And also pneumonia provokes a number of complications: damage to the auditory organs, keratitis, runny nose. The situation is aggravated by the fact that it can proceed without visible symptoms. But with the right diagnosis and proper therapy, the disease is curable.

Treatment

Sick animals with an acute form are not treated. Killed immediately. Decorative rats that have been in contact with them are placed in another cage for quarantine and observed for 20 days. The place where the sick animal was located must be disinfected.

The fight against chronic pathology is aimed at destroying the infection with the help of injections of antibiotics. They also carry out symptomatic treatment aimed at improving the patient’s condition.

Prevention

Prevention of pneumonia comes down to a few rules:

• maintaining the purity of the cells;
• reduction of stress;
• improving the nutrition of the animal;
• good ventilation of the room;
• careful monitoring of the health of domestic rats;
• refusal to use dusty bedding;
• avoiding crowded pets.

Prevention of respiratory diseases and their timely treatment guarantee a long and happy life of the pet.