Mycoplasmosis shower/humidifyer?

Question

someone sugested i take a shower or buy a humidifyer for my rats, the shower would involve them being on the counter while the shower produced steam or fog, and this is supposed to healp with my rats congestion, he makes this clicking noise sometimes in his nose, and i think he has mycoplasmosis, the really really sad part is i can not afford his treatments, i dont know what to do, i know you may say, just get a job, but that would break child labor laws, and my parents cant even afford thier medical bills, the vet isnt an option, but its the first on the list for when i do get money, but i dont think he can wait it out long enough, he has kinda become lethargic, he sleeps alot while his brother runs araound when i turn on the light, the beding produces no dust of any kind, and its like a paper cardboard recycled clumpy stuff, no dust, they live in a fish tank, 10g with a cage on top, would me taking a 5 minute shower help thier comgestion?

i mean, i would provide a place to cover so if they dont like the steam, but like i said, i wont do it if it would harm them in any way, but if its something like psycological, id have my little brother fix that, he can get almost any animal to trust him, dogs, cats, birds, lizards, hamsters, anything, but like i said, i dont want him to freak out and have a heart attack, there is 2 male rats, one is not sick, but starting to show symptopms similar to the sick one, he is 1 year old, the sick one is 1.5 years old, and it getting worse, is there some kind of low cost clinic or something for rats, because i couldnt find any in my aeira.

Answer 1

Stress or other illnesses can weaken your rat's immune system and cause your rat to break with an active mycoplasmal infection. If left untreated, this can lead to pneumonia. Therefore, it is very important to ensure a stress-free environment for your pet. This includes providing an uncrowded, well-ventilated, clean cage with a safe bedding product in which to live at all times. This will eliminate any chance for ammonia buildup from urine and feces, or phenols from cedar and pine, to damage the respiratory system's own protective capacity. It is also very important not to expose your pet to other rats who may be sick since a secondary bacterial or viral infection could allow the mycoplasmal infection to accelerate to pneumonia very quickly, possibly causing death.

The symptoms of the upper respiratory disease, which involve the nasal passages and middle ears, can include sneezing, sniffling, occasional squinting, rough hair coat, and porphyrin staining around the eyes and nose. If the inner ear becomes involved, head tilt (wry neck) and rolling may occur.

As the disease progresses, it will enter the lungs. If exacerbated by bacterial infections, viral infections, or ammonia, symptoms may include lethargy, rough hair coat, hunched posture, porphyrin staining, chattering, weight loss, labored breathing, and eventually death. If the mycoplasmal infection is not complicated by any other bacterial infection or viral infection, the terminal stage of the disease can last for weeks or even months.

There is no cure or vaccine for mycoplasma pulmonis. However, infection and symptoms can be suppressed with antibiotics in the early stages of the disease, but will most likely become a chronic condition requiring periodic or even constant treatment. This disease progressively worsens, eventually causing consolidation of the lungs and abscesses in the lungs, leading to death.

Some antibiotics proven to be effective against mycoplasma are tetracycline, tylosin, gentamicin, amikacin, chloramphenicol, doxycycline, and enrofloxacin (Baytril). Doses are as follows:

Tetracycline orally at 5 to 10 mg per pound three times daily for at least 14 days
Tylosin orally at 4.5 mg per pound twice daily or 66 mg per litre of water for 14 to 30 days
Gentamicin (best used in combination with Cefadroxil) at 1 to 2 mg per pound injected twice daily for 7 to 14 days
Amikacin at 5 mg per pound injected twice daily for 7 to 14 days
Chloramphenicol at 15 to 25 mg per pound injected twice daily for 7 to 14 days
Doxycycline orally at 2.5 mg per pound twice daily for 14 to 30 days
Enrofloxacin (Baytril) orally at 5 mg per pound twice daily for 14 to 30 days.
Baytril and doxycycline also work extremely well in combination.
In the advanced stages of the disease, or in cases of wry neck and rolling, a corticosteroid such as Prednisone (given in addition to an antibiotic) may be helpful in reducing inflammation. By reducing inflammation in the infected lungs, the rat may breathe easier, resulting in less frequent gasping attacks, allowing the rat to live an extended life more comfortably. In the case of wry neck and rolling, reducing inflammation in the inner ear will stop the rolling within a few days. Prednisone dose: .25 to 1 mg per pound once daily. Normal use of prednisone would be only for a few days, but in terminal cases where comfort of a dying rat is the goal it can be used longer.

Another drug helpful in severe cases of pneumonia is Aminophylline. This drug relaxes and expands bronchial tubes, helping the rat to breathe easier. Dose: 2.5 to 5 mg per pound orally or injected twice or three times daily.

Good husbandry, breeding only from mycoplasma resistant rats, and early treatment are the only things we can do to fight this deadly disease at this time. Someday, maybe we'll be lucky enough to have a drug company develop an effective vaccine. We can only hope.
http://www.rmca.org/Articles/myco.htm

Provide humidification with a humidifier, or stay with rat in a closed steamed bathroom at 10 to 15 minute intervals, to loosen secretions.
*Note: cool mist humidifiers or vaporizers may be helpful where steam has not benefited.
It is important to remember to clean humidifiers or vaporizers following each use to prevent growth of organisms from standing water.

If antibiotics are given remember to include Benebac or yogurt with live active cultures, to prevent normal gut flora from being destroyed by the antibiotics.

Provide additional warmth using a hot water bottle or heating pad on a low heat under one half of the cage (ensure rat does not overheat and become dehydrated).

Provide additional nutritional supplement , such as Soy baby formula, Ensure, Boost, NutriCal paste (for dogs and cats found in pet store), mashed avocado, and baby foods. If the rat is not willing to eat on its own, provide feeding in an oral needless syringe every 2 hours being careful to prevent aspiration. Providing small amounts of food in this fashion will help to promote intestinal motility during illness. Include additional multi-vitamin supplement (can be found in pet store) if food intake is poor.

Place food and water close and on same level with the rat to prevent from exerting itself. Over exertion in a rat who already has difficulty breathing will prevent the rat from wanting to eat.

Provide fluids to prevent dehydration. If the rat is willing to drink on its own or by syringe (using needless syringe), the following are suggested: fresh water, or a glucose mixture of 3 teaspoons of honey in 1 pint of warm water (be sure water is warm enough to dissolve honey and then cooled just enough so as not to burn rat’s mouth), or Jello water , or electrolyte replacement drinks such as Pedialyte or Gatorade which can be found in local grocery stores. Please note that Pedialyte is only good refrigerated for 24 hours after opened, but can be frozen as ice cubes and kept longer, and then thawed when needed. Care should be taken to prevent aspiration when giving fluids with an oral syringe. If the rat is not drinking discuss providing warmed SQ fluids with your vet.

If possible let rat remain with cage/litter mate for additonal comfort, unless there is competition for food or undue stress.

Contact vet to discuss changes in treatment options if condition does not seem to be improving. If condition continues to deteriorate and precludes further comfort or quality, discuss euthanasia with veterinarian.
http://ratguide.com/health/bacteria/mycoplasma_mycoplasmosis.php