SDA

Swollen eye

SDA is an airbourne virus which does not kill of itself, but which weakens the immune system and allows secondary infections to take hold. The symptoms include swollen eyes, porphyrin around the eyes and swollen neck glands, although not all rats will show symptoms. Secondary infections can cause respiratory problems, loss of appetite and pneumonia.

Treatment is supportive, as the disease is viral. Suggestions include soluble asprin in drinking water for fever and pain relief, at a dosage of one tablet to two pints of water; Children's Sudafed for congestion; Bathing affected eyes in mild saline; antibiotics for secondary respiratory infection.

All rats in an affected home should be quarantined for at least two weeks after symptoms have gone.

Eye after recovery

1. Rats who get eye symptoms, will get better, honestly. The odd one may lose an eye because they have scratched it however....
   

2. If you have kittens in the nest they should be ok, and certainly fine to breed with later, plus they will be immune. However weaners are especially at risk. Pregnant does who have not had this infection previously may also become very ill, as their immune response is impaired at this time.
   

3. Once you have this you don't 'keep getting it back'. Rats only carry this virus for a couple of weeks and are immune post infection.
   

4. The incubation phase is 4-6 days when the rat will also begin shedding virus. Most rats are improving after 14 days but they stop shedding a few days before this. Rats who are still ill after this point have a secondary infection, probably with mycoplasma, as this infection is activated by SDAV and Sendai.
   

5. the initial symptoms are sneezing, some never develop any other symptoms. Otherwise rats can go on to get rattles, swollen eyes and neck glands, red and crusty eyes and pneumonia. Secondary problems (not due to the virus itself) are damaged or lost eyes and activated mycoplasma respiratory disease. Death, where it occurs, is usually down to pneumonia.
   

6. Treatments are mostly supportive and include blanket treatment with soluble asprin in the drinking water for all affected rats to reduce fever and pain (1 tablet in 2 pints), children's Sudafed, bathing the eyes of affected rats with mild saline, abs for the worst affected to help prevent myco, fluid replacement for the worst affected. Very sick rats will need nursing care if they are to stand a chance. I have found that a spot of brandy in sweetened milk can work wonders.
   

7. It is strongly advised that anyone with rats that they suspect of having this condition stays away from other rats until 14 days after the last rat became ill.

NFRS Article on Rat Coronavirus

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