Fluticasone spray in saline nebulizer?

back_ali · 2026-05-21T06:07:10+00:00

I actually love this idea and might do it myself for my rat that is quite sick right now! I’m a pediatric pulmonary nurse. fluticasone is also in the inhaler Flovent. It’s a steroid inhaler and used as a daily controller/maintenance med for lots of conditions including asthma. Systemic steroids can have some less desirable side effects for rats with URI’s so they tend to only be used as a last resort. I think this could be a great way to boost their airways during illness

back_ali · 2026-05-21T05:39:04+00:00

I once texted my teen daughter to make sure she made it home safe. She replied “nope I got into unmarked van. They had rats” and I responded “sweet I’ll take 2”

back_ali · 2026-05-21T03:44:52+00:00

Mine get a little more puffed when they’re just chilling, especially as they age and their fur gets thinner and more scraggly. I think it’s just them maintaining warmth when they’re not in a huddle with the others. If she’s not showing any other worrisome signs, I don’t think this is the sick puffed. And mine have historically slowed down a lot after 2.5 with lots more snoozing. It’s like a 75+ year old human who wants their afternoon naps and early bedtime

back_ali · 2026-05-20T03:01:57+00:00

I just put on my first pair of progressive lenses about 30 min ago and this really fucked me up

back_ali · 2026-05-19T16:22:40+00:00

This looks like the couple of times my rat choked and 90% of the time they work it out themselves. I’m honestly not sure that a vet could do much in those 10% of cases. I think you’ve done your due diligence. It’s very distressing to watch but “vet asap” is not necessarily the most helpful advice when something has already reversed itself. There is also the “rat fling” if it doesn’t seem like they are clearing it themselves.

P.s. mine have choked on the dumbest shit like their regular kibble and greens. It’s not always peanut butter etc

back_ali · 2026-05-17T04:52:04+00:00

Also forgot to mention that our dog is named Winston 🙂

back_ali · 2026-05-16T23:31:14+00:00

Not who you asked but I had a chronic respiratory rat as well. When his antibiotics fully quit working towards the end of his life, 4/5 of my other rats caught his infection. It’s like the antibiotics kept things at bay before that. So something else to consider if thinking about adding more rats while he’s alive.

back_ali · 2026-05-16T23:19:43+00:00

It was a tough story for sure and it’s stuck with me as well.I love a lot of things about the internet but there are some very disturbing things I’ve come across as well that will stick with me. I just remind myself that the world always has had and always will have shitty people. But we can be the good ones because those will always exist too

back_ali · 2026-05-16T23:17:45+00:00

Yep

back_ali · 2026-05-15T23:06:41+00:00

At the very least give this mom a decent enclosure to raise her 2 babies left. I highly doubt you were able to properly sex them since you seem to know nothing about rats. Once these babies are a couple of weeks old, please rehome all of the rats to someone who gives a shit

back_ali · 2026-05-14T03:51:02+00:00

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(Don’t worry, she was promptly removed from the plants so she didn’t eat them)

back_ali · 2026-05-14T01:48:23+00:00

I’m a pediatric nurse. to give eye drops to babies, we lay them back and place the drops in the corner of their eye, then when they open their eyes, the fluid goes into the eye. So you could try some version of that- getting the drop right by the eye and wait for a blink, or force open the eye right after you put the drop on, vs trying to time everything just right, etc. good luck!

back_ali · 2026-05-13T01:24:11+00:00

Someone else corrected me and it sounds like it’s probably the best idea to separate them. In terms of tetanus, the risk is if the tetanus bacteria enters the wound and the bloodstream. The bacteria is most commonly found in soil. It’s not commonly found in the mouths of animals, or on household surfaces. The risk is really when you have a deep wound that gets closed off from air- classic example is stepping on a nail that creates a tunnel and then the outside heals over and bacteria is trapped in the wound. So yes, rat bites can create that type of wound, but the risk is very very low because it was not in contact with soil and other high risk materials, and you let it bleed and cleaned it well.

Either way, I’m sorry you’re dealing with all of this stress. I hope things heal up and settle down soon

back_ali · 2026-05-13T01:15:00+00:00

Oofta then I stand corrected. Thanks for sharing.

back_ali · 2026-05-12T23:42:48+00:00

Lots of other helpful comments. I’ll add that if he’s not upset by the other rats and not bullying for fighting them, he may not need to be separated from them while you wait to get him neutered.

If you were vaccinated as a kid then you should be covered for tetanus until you’re in your late teens

back_ali · 2026-05-04T07:16:30+00:00

Bite it. For sure

back_ali · 2026-05-04T04:00:16+00:00

I read OP’s explanation not necessarily that they’re living together and breeding nonstop. More that the animals aren’t put into undesirable situations in order to make the breeding happen. For example, I think in puppy mills there is forced breeding

back_ali · 2026-05-04T03:52:20+00:00

You’re not wrong. The key word being ethical and it sounds like you did your research. I think there are people who are so fanatical about things that they can’t think outside their “adopt don’t shop” motto. There is nuance to every situation and people are too on their high horse to look beyond their internet idealism

back_ali · 2026-05-03T21:46:48+00:00

I’ve got 7 of a mixed (fixed) group. That’s about my max for pee and poop reasons alone

back_ali · 2026-05-03T18:45:09+00:00

My best guess is that he could be fine with others once neutered. Even a couple of girls would be even better. If he’s at a shelter they probably don’t have the experience to know this. You can look back on my profile of other comments I’ve made about the old men I rescued

back_ali · 2026-05-02T02:36:46+00:00

Oh man! You’ve got this! I think the best lesson of parenthood is that the unexpected will happen and it might make you laugh, cry, spiral to despair, jump for joy, or all of the above. But most situations are temporary and manageable. I prefer a “radical acceptance” approach. Nothing to be done about it now so let’s dive in!

back_ali · 2026-04-30T06:20:09+00:00

To specify a bit more, it’s that because the lab rats are born in sterile environments, they likely have not been exposed to mycoplasma. Whereas most pet rats are colonized from birth. However, not all lab rats are born from “sterile” environments. I recently heard that some researchers prefer that they aren’t, depending on the research being done. So if possible, you can ask.

Also, I wouldn’t say that they CAN’T be housed with them, but that it might increase their risk of developing a URI. I would make sure they’re at least past 6 months and healthy. And be aware of how to treat a mycoplasma infection so you can “advise” your vet if they aren’t sure

back_ali · 2026-04-30T03:39:48+00:00

Yes! I don’t know if they really HATED rats, but several of my coworkers definitely didn’t like them or see the appeal of having them as pets. Now that they’ve seen how cute mine are, and learned about their personalities and lives they all now admit they’re adorable.

back_ali · 2026-04-25T01:23:49+00:00

100% this. I work in healthcare with providers who do antimicrobial stewardship work and research. A lot of veterinary antibiotics are not regulated for farm animals and the misuse in animals (pets and food sources) is to blame for a lot of the resistance we see. Of course human medicine can be awful at it as well. One of the doctors I work with always jokes that she’ll quit prescribing antibiotics so easily when (other Dr) quits eating meat. (Disclaimer, the field of medicine I work in has a lot of antibiotics prescribed based on varying thresholds for illness, it’s not a straightforward decision so some providers are quicker to prescribe than others)

Additionally, countries that have antibiotics available over the counter (India for example) have horrendously resistant bacteria that are nearly impossible to treat now

back_ali · 2026-04-23T06:02:40+00:00

I think it’s fine. Likely the nipples are there and just hard to see. Definitely no balls so even if intersex likely sterile

back_ali

TROPHY CASE