Rattie gone quiet

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Georgie

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Joined
Jun 26, 2018
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Location
Australia
Hi, I have 2 girls Jasper and Elfie about 20 months old, and although Jasper has always been the gentler, sweeter one out of the 2, and Elfie the crazy rat bag that picks on Jasper a bit!
Lately Jasper has gone very slow and quiet and although she’s eating ok etc, can this be normal?? Would love some advice about this please :)
 

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She may be ill.
What do you mean by slow? Can you describe how she is and describe all the changes you have noticed?
Can you post a video of her walking?
If you post a video to a place like youtube, then you can just post the link on here
 
I had a similar experience recently with my babies Luna and Licorice. Luna started slowing down and seeming lethargic but was still eating and drinking normally. It seems in my case she was simply reacting to the heat, did this behavior change coincide with the beginning of a heat wave? Try giving her ice cubes in a glass jar to sleep next to and frozen bits of fruit for snacks and see if she perks up any.
 
Thanks so much for your replies, soon after she’s quickly gone downhill As she is falling to her right side when walking, bleeding through nose and eye, went to vet and have pain killers and antibiotics and wait and see and she was in my arms all night coz it was the only place she would stay settled and just slept Hoping infection and antibiotics will help, soon see, keep u posted, thanks all xx
 
Awww I am sorry. It could be inner ear infection (which hopefully the antibiotics can cure) or PT (pituitary tumor) which steroids are needed for. She won't improve on the antibiotics if it is PT. Good luck with your girl :(
 
here is some info that may be helpful as it includes info on how to care for your rat as well as treatment and meds

http://ratguide.com/health/auricle_ear/otitis_media_otitis_interna_labyrinthitis.php
for ear infection - antibiotics for at least 6 weeks + anti-inflammatory to help prevent permanent damage

http://ratguide.com/health/neoplasia/pituitary_tumor.php
for neurological issue- baytril + steroid ……. in addition if it is prolactin secreting type of pituitary tumor, then you can try cabergoline to see if it helps

I hope this info helps
ratguide.com is a vet approved medical site for rat owners
 
Thank you so much amazing people I really appreciate it She is on the pain/anti inflammatory meds and antibiotics and have 4 weeks worth (on hand so far to see what happens) and does seem more settled and was keen to eat a little by hand of her favourites when offered last night and this morning. Thank you as seeing the suffering and determination I thought I was going to need to have her put down last night but thanks to u and the vet I realised there’s hope she might get through this with quality of life (really thought untreatable tumour and was just going to be suffering)! Thank you all
 
so glad that Jasper is feeling a bit better
btw, when antibiotics don't start to help within a few days, then you go back to the vet for more or different antibiotics
in my experience an inner ear infection takes quite awhile to get better … at least 6 weeks, sometimes a few months

The bleeding through the nose and eyes could be porphyrin http://ratguide.com/health/eyes/porphyrin_secretions_red_tears.php
and being weak on one side could be a stroke http://ratguide.com/health/neurological/stroke.php

Hope Jasper continues to improve and is soon back to her usual self
 
so glad that Jasper is feeling a bit better
btw, when antibiotics don't start to help within a few days, then you go back to the vet for more or different antibiotics
in my experience an inner ear infection takes quite awhile to get better … at least 6 weeks, sometimes a few months

The bleeding through the nose and eyes could be porphyrin http://ratguide.com/health/eyes/porphyrin_secretions_red_tears.php
and being weak on one side could be a stroke http://ratguide.com/health/neurological/stroke.php

Hope Jasper continues to improve and is soon back to her usual self
I think you’re right SQ, the time thing, luckily Jasper at least is walking a tiny bit better so can at least be safe in her cage and seems to sleep when I’m at work but at home she’s in my arms and will settle and sleep with little whimpering (breaks my heart), so I’m hoping it’s just time and patience. I did ring the vet and asked bout steroids but he said won’t work with the antibiotics she’s on and wants to try this first and eliminate one thing before he’ll try that do I don’t know If she deteriorates at all of course I’ll go back and try something different. Anyway, thanks again and I’ll let u know the eventual outcome since you all went to the effort to kindly help out with replies
 
Metacam can help as it has anti-inflammatory properties and some vets use it, along with antibiotics when treating inner ear infections, Since it is not a steroid, I assume it does not impact the immune system the way a steroid would.

Oral prednisone is often given for inner ear infections and for neurological issues - it is a steroid and must be given with antibiotics and rats need to be carefully weaned off it by cutting t in half every few days ……………… what antibiotic is she on - asking because I am not aware of any that can not be used with prednisone

Info on this can be found on ratguide.com

I hope Jasper is soon feeling much better
 
Metacam can help as it has anti-inflammatory properties and some vets use it, along with antibiotics when treating inner ear infections, Since it is not a steroid, I assume it does not impact the immune system the way a steroid would.

Oral prednisone is often given for inner ear infections and for neurological issues - it is a steroid and must be given with antibiotics and rats need to be carefully weaned off it by cutting t in half every few days ……………… what antibiotic is she on - asking because I am not aware of any that can not be used with prednisone

Info on this can be found on ratguide.com

I hope Jasper is soon feeling much better
 
Thanks SQ, it just says “Doxy” in a paste via syringe (I’m in Australia, don’t know if we use different meds or names over here!), the pain killer/anti inflammatory Loxicom. She seems to be struggling more today and sometimes moving/opening/half yawning her mouth, I’ve booked the vet for Monday, figured should see something (hopefully improvement) by then but if she’s going down further by then.....
 

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I am not a vet etc but my vet prescribes antibiotics for ear infections that penetrate tissue better then doxy ….. like clavamox (amoxicillin) or chloramphenicol or baytril + clavamox

You might want to see if the vet will change the antibiotics
See http://ratguide.com/health/auricle_ear/otitis_media_otitis_interna_labyrinthitis.php

Loxicom is similar to metacam as both contain meloxicam so that should be helpiThe amount of meds given depends on the weight of the rat and the strength of the med (mg/ml) so if you provide that info, we can check to make sure she is not being under dosed …….. over here vets often do not give rats the right dose as many are not very knowledgeable about rats

How is her breathing?
Does it appear laboured? Does she prop her head up or hang it down in order to breath easier?
What does it sound like when you hold her up to your ear and listen to each side of her chest?
 
I am not a vet etc but my vet prescribes antibiotics for ear infections that penetrate tissue better then doxy ….. like clavamox (amoxicillin) or chloramphenicol or baytril + clavamox

You might want to see if the vet will change the antibiotics
See http://ratguide.com/health/auricle_ear/otitis_media_otitis_interna_labyrinthitis.php

Loxicom is similar to metacam as both contain meloxicam so that should be helpiThe amount of meds given depends on the weight of the rat and the strength of the med (mg/ml) so if you provide that info, we can check to make sure she is not being under dosed …….. over here vets often do not give rats the right dose as many are not very knowledgeable about rats

How is her breathing?
Does it appear laboured? Does she prop her head up or hang it down in order to breath easier?
What does it sound like when you hold her up to your ear and listen to each side of her chest?
She’s on 1mg/day of Loxicom, 2.5mg twice a day of Doxy. Her breathing has become quite laboured over the last 24 hours I noticed and has become faster over the last couple hours, just timed 60bpm. (Easy when she’s sleeping in my lap!!) She was wheezing breathing as she slept I tried to take video but too much outside noise and she stopped
 
It does sound like she needs better meds. I would ask for enrofloxacin in combination with the doxy. It's sounding more respiratory issue which can happen when they are stressed and or sick.
 
or enrofloxacin in combination with azithromycin (10mg/Ib, orally twice a day for 6 weeks ….. my vet calls in a prescription to a human pharmacy)

*** I hope you can get her in to a good vet for am exam and get her meds changed asap because rats get sick and die fast.
See if the vet will add enrofloxacin (5mg/Ib) now, please do not wait until Monday
http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_agents/enrofloxacin_baytril.php
 
Thanks for the advice I am going to the vet this morning definitely will ask for sure bout this med to add but has declined further and she is only dragging herself now and cannot hold self up at all I would do or pay anything to get her better, but I don’t want her suffering like this, so it might be time I hate this decision as just don’t know what’s right as I’m not here to comfort her all the time and that seems the only time she’s settled (even then she whimpers sometimes
 
This info may help .... http://ratguide.com/health/lower_respiratory/pneumonia.php
http://ratguide.com/health/bacteria/mycoplasma_mycoplasmosis.php
ratguide contains info about other resp. illnesses, including heart issues

With stubborn resp infections, my rat has given a combo of all 3 antibiotics ….. enrofloxacin + azithromycin + doxy …………………… and sometimes my rats have needed a diuretic such as Lasix if their lungs were filling up with fluid

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If you do have to have her put to sleep, please make sure it is done properly as most vets do not know how ….. many vets will allow you to stay with her
Here what is done is the rat is given the oxygen/gas mix used for surgery, vet tests reflexes to make sure they are unconscious to at least a surgical level, when deeply unconscious then they are injected, and kept unconscious with the gas/oxygen mix until dead ….. this is the only humane way to put a rat to sleep that is having breathing problems ….. the oxygen will help her to breath easier

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I hope everything goes ok for both you and Jasper,
I am sorry that you are both going through this
 
Thank you, at the vet with check over and not able to walk at all, Jasper had no reflexes in the right eye so tumour likely, I had read and contemplated so many different things, and hopefully did the right thing for Jabby as if I thought she had a chance at any quality life I would have done it for her I can promise that. She did have the mask first and I was with her holding her all the way through so I hope it was done right. Thank you so much for all the advice, you were incredible. I learnt so much and hope I didn’t make too many mistakes and also hope I learnt from it for Elfie xxx
 
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