Rats with porphyrin staining and scabs. Both still eating and drinking, but seem kind of sick/depressed
My baby boy Babaa died about three weeks ago, and his son, who has always been pretty fat and lazy, is left behind.
About three days after Babaa's death I went and got Dill a friend who was 1.5yo, but it didn't go well since they are both in-tact, older males. (Dill is ~1).. Well I brought the other rat back to the store where I got him (and he is now a stud 
) and got a younger rat for Dill to be buds with.. he's ~5 months old.
They get along decently well but I noticed aside from a couple sparse play sessions that I've caught, Dill seems just as depressed as ever.. They DO cuddle, so I know they get along... but wtf! I've also noticed both of them now have Porphyrin staining their noses, and teeny-tiny amounts have been seen on their eyes.. I noticed a little dried spot of it on their cage. I'm just so confused--especially since Dill gets a lot of my attention lately since Babaa died and he bruxes more than ever! He seems happier and depressed at the same time. I've heard him sneeze about 20 times today! Also, they both have scabs.. Dill kind of always has, and Little Rat had a couple when I got him, but now they both have about five each.
I have a baby due in literally three days and I love my little ratties so much, I'm so stressed about being in the hospital for a few days.. I'm so scared Dill is sick like Babaa (he had baaad baaad myco, but lived 27 months!)... I don't know if I can handle another ratty loss...
I want to tell myself to give it a couple days since they are both eating, drinking, and grooming themselves, but I'm afraid "a couple days" will be too much... Do you think it's just a lot of stress for him? Why would the other rat be sneezing too then?
For background information, their bedding is Yesterday's News and I feed them Reggie Rat and the odd human food treat.
Do I call and book them a vet appointment? I'm at a total loss....
Thanks for the quick reply! I think I'm just going to give them a few. Looks like I'm facing going into labor either tonight or tomorrow so I really have no other options.
Regarding the bruxing, if it isn't out of contentment, will they still boggle their eyes? Dill has a hard time keeping them in his head when I talk to him, lol.
I am going to call tomorrow and make an appointment (their vet is really high demand, so the earliest they will be able to be seen will be mid September, which is perfect for me). If they're still snotty/scabby/etc by then I will keep the appointment, if they end up well adjusted, well that's just a bonus!
I think the plan you have sounds like a good one, if I were in your shoes! Rat's eyes boggle when they brux because of how their jaw bones align with the back of their eye sockets. The harder they brux, the more they boggle! Chances are, if he's doing the most boggling when you speak to him that it's contentment bruxing. Usually it's just subtle bruxing when stressed, from my experience anyway. I'm betting they are just out of their element right now and given a few days will be just fine. I certainly hope that is the case for them both! 
I would surely go ahead and get a vet appointement setup if they are that far behind. Looks like the economy isn't effecting them ... I hope everything goes okay for you and keep us posted on how everything is going when you can. Good luck!
I agree with everything Christy and Jason said! I, too, would go ahead and set up a vet appointment. My first thought was the stress could have lowered their immune systems and they might be battling an upper respiritory infection, or it's also possiible the new rattie brought in some germs from the pet store. I hope it's just stress and they feel better soon! Please keep us updated.
Search
Recent Member Blog Posts
- Keep Your Dog Protected from Common Household Hazards
- Take Care of Your Dog - Information on Constipation
- My rats is sneezing someone please help?
- Blue Buffalo Announces Pet Food Recall
- Giant Dawg vs Cattle Dog vs Lil' Black Dog
- hummingbird sugar water
- Pet Health: Your Aging Pet
- Why In Home Pet Sitting and Not Boarding?
- Vanilla in hummingbird sugar water
- Pet Tattoos :)
I'm sorry to hear of the loss of Babaa. :( It does sound like your existing rats are a bit stressed, probably due to Dill's loss and introducing a new cagemate. It is promising that they are snuggling together. It may just be that they have to have a few more days to cope with the change that both of them are dealing with.
Bruxing is usually a sign of contentment, but rats will also brux when they are stressed, so he may be bruxing in a combination of both. The scabs can also come with stress (assuming mites or lice have been ruled out). And the scabs on the new guy could be due to some of their squabbles, common to new introductions.
A vet trip might be worth it just to set you at ease, however if they aren't showing any respiratory distress I don't know that the vet will be able to do much for them. You are in a difficult situation, it seems, especially with your upcoming hospital visit. I'd say at this point go with your gut feeling based on how well you know them. It's been a while since I've had pet rats, but I do remember the angst of figuring out what to do in these situations.
I wish you much luck with your ratties (and your soon to be newborn!).
Christy
Pet Research Admin
"My main goal in life is to be as good of a person my dogs already think I am." ~Anonymous