How should pneumonia be treated in a pet rat? - briefly
Treat the rat with a veterinarian‑prescribed antibiotic (e.g., enrofloxacin) and provide supportive care, including a warm, stress‑free environment, adequate hydration, and close monitoring for improvement.
How should pneumonia be treated in a pet rat? - in detail
Treating a respiratory infection in a domestic rat requires prompt veterinary assessment, targeted antimicrobial therapy, and supportive measures to stabilize the animal.
First, a veterinarian should confirm the diagnosis through clinical examination, auscultation, and, when possible, radiography or laboratory analysis of airway secretions. Identifying the causative agent—commonly bacterial pathogens such as Streptococcus spp. or Klebsiella spp.—guides antibiotic selection.
Antibiotic protocol
- Choose a drug with proven efficacy against typical rodent respiratory bacteria (e.g., enrofloxacin, trimethoprim‑sulfamethoxazole, or a third‑generation cephalosporin).
- Administer the medication orally or subcutaneously at the dosage recommended for rats: enrofloxacin 5 mg/kg once daily, trimethoprim‑sulfamethoxazole 30 mg/kg divided into two doses, or cefotaxime 25 mg/kg every 12 hours.
- Continue treatment for a minimum of 7–10 days, extending the course if clinical signs persist.
Supportive care
- Provide a warm, draft‑free enclosure maintained at 24–26 °C to reduce metabolic stress.
- Ensure constant access to fresh water; consider syringe feeding of electrolyte solution if dehydration is evident.
- Offer high‑calorie, easily digestible foods such as softened pellets, cooked egg, or commercial rat recovery formula.
- Administer a mucolytic agent (e.g., acetylcysteine 5 mg/kg subcutaneously) if excessive mucus hampers breathing.
- Monitor respiratory rate, nasal discharge, and appetite twice daily; record any changes.
Adjunctive measures
- Use nebulized saline (0.9 % NaCl) for 5 minutes twice a day to humidify airways and facilitate clearance of secretions.
- If hypoxia develops, provide supplemental oxygen via a small‑cage mask at 1–2 L/min for short intervals, adjusting flow to avoid barotrauma.
- Re‑evaluate with repeat radiographs after 3–5 days to assess resolution of pulmonary infiltrates.
Prognosis improves markedly when treatment begins within 24 hours of symptom onset and when the animal receives consistent supportive care. Failure to address the infection promptly can lead to septicemia, severe hypoxia, and mortality.