[XMarye_T]

Allright, here's the update: my friend found a different vet in the area that specializes in rodents. She listened to his breathing and gave him antibiotics. We're not entirely sure what is causing the respirory problems, but after giving him the meds and he fell asleep his breathing was a little slower and more steady.
She also gave him something to relieve the itching so his cuts can heal up.
Right now he just pouched a bunch of food I gave him and started to eat them in his nest. I'm taking that as a good sign. I also gave him more toilet tissue and he's currently busy working on his nest, which I'm also taking as a good sign.

Could you explain why you don't think it's an allergic reaction? I feel like a few hours after we put him on this new bedding he got sick, so it's a little hard for me not to connect those two things. But I'm interested to know what could have caused this so I can avoid it in the future. Was it stress from changing his bedding so much? Was it a bacteria in the bedding? Was it something completely else? I'd love to know. Thanks guys!