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02 Sep 2014
Signs of Rodent Respiratory Disease
Posted By : Guest Filed Under : Guinea Pigs | Bedding | Veterinary News | Hamsters | Rats and Mice
How well do you know the signs of rodent respiratory disease? Read our guide and the 7 must know treatments. Respiratory infections in rodents are common, primarily in rats, mice and guinea pigs. We rarely see respiratory issues in gerbils and degus. Check you know how to spot the signs and what to do.



Signs of respiratory problems
  • Weight loss – always make sure you check the weight of small mammals in the clinic. Do you have mini-scales capable of weighing to the nearest gram?
  • Loss of appetite or anorexia – check how much has been eaten, not just how much is fed/offered.
  • Poor coat condition – look for a dry, matted, clumped, scurfy or greasy coat.
  • Discharge from eyes or nostrils – often seen as a red discharge. This colour change is the result of porphyrin pigments.
  • Sneezing – has the owner noticed a watery, purulent or bloody discharge?
  • Breathing difficulties – are there any signs of dyspnea, tachypnoea or hyperpnoea? Perhaps you can hear abnormal sounds such as wheezing, clicking or rattling noises?
  • Head tilt – with upper respiratory infections, otitis can occur from infections and inflammation progressing up via the estuation tube.
Diagnosing rodent respiratory infections for Vets
  • History – ask lots of questions. For general health care of rodents, we have some handy guides on our web site which you are very welcome to share.
  • Clinical signs – look for all signs of health and ill-health. It goes without saying that your clinical examination must be methodical and repeatable to ensure you don’t miss anything.
  • Culture and sensitivity – take swabs when appropriate. Deep nasal swabs are more appropriate with rhinitis than a swab from the nasal discharge. If it’s appropriate, tracheobronchial lavage can also be performed to collect samples for culture and cytology. One of the most common infections we see is Streptococcus pneumonia.
  • Serology – particularly if you suspect Mycoplasma. Try to use an external laboratory that specialises in exotic species.
  • Cytology – in-house cytology can be a cheap and effective way of understanding disease. If you are not so confident in your own cytology skills, send the samples away to an exotics pathology lab.
  • Radiography – x-rays are an ideal and non-invasive way of collecting evidence of changes to lung and upper airways. Ideally you will use general anaesthesia or sedation to get the most valuable views, but in many cases, you will be able to get valuable information from x-rays taken without any chemical restraint. A small Perspex induction box makes an ideal container to retain the small pet for radiography.
7 treatment tips for respiratory rodent disease by Vets
  1. Use a nebulizer – not only will you be able to provide moisture in the air, but you can also add medications such as antibiotics and bronchodilators. They are affordable, and many practices loan them out to clients for short-term use.
  2. Humidify the air supply – if you have an oxygen tent or cage, why not provide relief to small mammals in respiratory distress using oxygen bubbled through a humidifier.
  3. Fluid therapy – many animals with respiratory disease stop eating and drinking. This results in dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. If you are unable to place an intravenous catheter, you can provide fluid therapy via subcutaneous, intraperitoneal and intramedullary routes with minimal stress.
  4. Antibiotics – many antibiotics are suitable to use against respiratory pathogens. Some of the more common ones include enrofloxacin, doxycycline and tylosin. Always check the dose rates for the species. A good resource is the Exotics Animal Formulary by Carpenter and the BSAVA Manual of Rodents and Ferrets . It goes without saying that we must all follow the rules of the Cascade. If you need a quick refresher, check the VMD Guidance notes on the use of the Cascade.
  5. Mucolytics such as bromexine, and bronchodilators such as salbutamol and clenbuterol are also used to good effect.
  6. NSAID’s such as meloxicam, and steroids such as dexadreson are effective at reducing lung inflammation.
  7. Euthansia – don’t forget that offering a painless way out is important in many situations.

Prevention – always the best way
  • Provide good ventilation – reducing a build up of ammonia
  • All bedding should be dust free – also avoid certain wood shavings such as cedar as these can contain irritating aromatic oils. Have you seen our new bedding product for small mammals from Burgess Excel?
  • Avoid stress – for example don’t overcrowd
  • Keep out of direct sunlight
  • Don’t overheat – never keep small mammals in glass vivaria
  • Provide clean and fresh water every day
  • Avoid boredom – provide safe toys for these intelligent mammals
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