The rat is panting (opens its mouth, wheezes or grunts when breathing)

Domestic rat in most gadfly rats becomes a close friend and favorite of the whole family. Sometimes the host

Why does a decorative rat have breathing problems

Wheezing in a rat, a violation of the rhythm of breathing, and the appearance of extraneous sounds during inhalation and exhalation indicate deadly diseases of the heart or lungs in a domestic rodent, such as:

• Bronchitis;
• Pneumonia;
• Asthma;
• Mycoplasmosis;
• Heart failure;
• heart attack or stroke;
• Neoplasms or abscesses in the lungs.

IMPORTANT!!! In domestic rats, against the background of increased metabolism, pathological processes develop rapidly; at home, it is impossible to correctly diagnose the disease and cure the animal. Do not waste time, if you have any breathing problems, contact your veterinarian immediately!

Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases often present with similar symptoms but require completely different treatments.

Heart failure occurs in individuals of any age and is manifested by a vivid clinical picture:

• the domestic rat quickly recovers, the animal has a huge belly or, conversely, the pet is rapidly losing weight, a disheveled coat appears;
• the rodent becomes less active, quickly gets tired during walking, sleeps more, apathy is sometimes observed;
• the rat wheezes when breathing, coughs, there is a wet shortness of breath;
• the tips of the fingers and tail of the animal are cold and blue, weakness of the pelvic limbs appears.

A heart attack or stroke occurs in older rats and can be identified by the following symptoms:

• the animal falls on its side and convulses;
• the rat gasps and opens its mouth, trying to grab the air with its teeth;
• limbs move randomly.

With immediate first aid, you can stop a heart attack, but the prognosis for diseases is cautious. Sometimes there is a sudden death of a pet. When the condition worsens, they often resort to euthanasia of the pet to alleviate the pain.

Respiratory diseases are one of the most common pathologies in ornamental rats. The reason that a domestic rat grunts when breathing can be a banal draft or serious pathological processes in the lung tissue. Inflammatory lung disease (pneumonia) develops rapidly against the background of colds, mycoplasmosis, abscesses and tumors in the lungs and becomes a common cause of death in pets. The characteristic symptoms indicate the progression of pathological processes in the lungs:

• the rat often sneezes and grunts with his nose;
• dried red-brown mucus is found on the nose and eyes of the animal – porphyrin;
• the rat breathes heavily and opens its mouth, wheezing, gurgling, cough of varying intensity and humidity are observed during breathing;
• in advanced cases, the rat breathes heavily and often from the sides, whistles appear;
• the animal characteristically hunches its back, moves little and often sleeps;
• the rodent refuses to eat, there is lethargy, apathy, disheveled hair, a “sad” look, mucous discharge from the eyes and nose.

The prognosis for pneumonia, depending on the cause, is cautious or conditionally favorable. Treating a pet involves the use of antibiotics, hormonal and anti-inflammatory drugs, immunomodulators and vitamins; in advanced cases, the animal may die.

What to do if the rat is panting, choking or grunting

Treatment of cardiovascular or respiratory pathology should be prescribed by a veterinarian, but if a respiratory disorder occurs and uncharacteristic sounds appear during inhalation and exhalation, the owner can provide first aid to the animal.

Heart attack

If the rat is panting, gasping, wheezing, and at the same time there is a blue tip of the tail and fingers, a blanching of the tail and ears, or convulsions and chaotic movements of the limbs – this is a heart attack!

It is urgent to put one drop of cordiamine or 2-3 corvalol on the pet’s tongue, give it a sniff of any aromatic oil and immediately take the animal to a specialist or call a doctor at home.

Pneumonia

If the rat breathes frequently and heavily from the sides, sneezes and coughs, wheezes and whistles when breathing, hunches its back, refuses to eat, and red dried crusts are found in the eyes and nose – it may be pneumonia.

It is necessary for the animal to provide access to air; in warm weather, the animal can be carried outside in the shade or on the balcony. It is advisable to examine the oral cavity of the rodent and remove mucus, foam and food debris from the mouth if found. You can pour 10% camphor oil in a saucer or on a cotton pad and let the rat smell it. To stop the asthmatic syndrome, an animal needs an urgent injection of aminophylline, dexamethasone and furosemide in one syringe or an oxygen chamber, but such actions should be performed by a specialist with a veterinary or medical education.

Conclusion

Take care of your smart and funny decorative rats, prevent drafts, pet obesity and the progression of various infectious diseases. Remember, if your rat is wheezing, panting or choking, the pet needs immediate medical attention. With timely access to a specialist and proper treatment, you can save your beloved friend and prolong his life.