- Take a hot, steamy shower and bring your rat into the bathroom with you to let him breathe in the steam. Do this 1 - 3 times daily. If you can afford the water bill, allow him to stay in the steamy bathroom for a while. Afterward, he may cough up some phlegm.
- Wipe his eyes and noses with a warm washcloth to remove any porphyrine. This will also make him feel good. :)
- Give him small amounts of dark chocolate, dried cranberries (Craisins) and other dried fruit for vitamin C, and some Emergen-C dissolved in some yogurt or melted ice cream (not the whole packet, though, about 1/4). Don't worry, the ice cream won't hurt your rat and the Emergen-C has vitamin C and minerals in it. If you give him too much, though, he may get dysentary.
- If you give him echinacea, make sure it is alcohol free.
- Try to see when he's wheezing. The time of day/what they're doing/etc. This information is very helpful, because if you can treat them now while its still in the AM/PM, you can eliminate the infection and help stop him from having long-term health issues.
- You can try buying Baytril for dogs and cats online and dosing your rat with 0.2 mL two times daily for 3 weeks. Baytril is the best antibiotic for him, unless he is under 8 months old. Then you'll want him to have Amoxicillin.
- If he doesn't stop wheezing in about 7 - 10 days, try taking him to a vet. It costs anywhere from $25 - $75 for an exotic visit, and $10 for the Baytril. If you can't afford this, try borrowing money from family and friends. If they care about you they'll understand your rat's health is important to you!
