Very poorly rat

[Holly]

Hi guys,

One of our boys Remy is extremely poorly at the moment but we don’t know why.

He’s just over a year old, he’s normally extremely hyper and loves running around everywhere, however, recently he’s been sluggish; and now he’s barely even able to walk, he just kind of wobbles around and falls down a lot or opts not to move at all. He has had a huge amount of porphyrin coming out his nose and eyes. We have been having to hand feed him and use a syringe to get fluids into him. We took him to the vets and they said all his vitals are fine and he’s perfectly healthy, they did say he was a bit dehydrated so they got some fluids into him and he perked up, but now he’s gone downhill again and gotten worse.

We are planning to get a second opinion from another vet so specialises with exotics and has more experience with rats but we can’t get a appointment for a few days I’m so so worried Remys health will decline more.

Has anyone experienced anything similar and can give some advice?

 

[jorats]

Without seeing him, from your description and the fact that a vet has listened to his lungs and didn't hear anything off... it could be kidneys or bladder infection which is not easy to spot at a vet. He's young for a pituitary tumour. My first thought would have been respiratory but a vet listened to his lungs. I would definitely get a second opinion. A lethargic rat is not a healthy rat.

 

[lilspaz68]

To add on to what Jo said, does he look "dizzy" when he does try to walk? Does he have a head tilt, does he seem to stagger or lean in one direction mostly? if so that could be an inner ear infection.

Are you able to post a video of him trying to walk around on a flat non-slippery surface?

 

[Holly]

Sorry for not replying sooner guys and thank you for the advice and help.

Unfortunately our little Remy is gone we saw the exotics vet a couple of times and he gave us medication to treat him for a inner ear infection which we tried. He however continued to decline really fast and it got to the point where he could no longer walk at all. He was completely on one side which caused his eye to dehydrated and it looked like it had basically “popped out”. He wouldn’t eat or drink without us syringing him and practically forcing him too.
We rushed him back to emergency vets last night and they said it was most likely a extremely fast acting pituitary tumour or a stroke. He was in so much pain and that the kindest thing we could do was let him go. So we did.

My heart is completely broken.

 

[Debbymaree]

I'm so sorry , they get in ya heart. Xo

 

[SQ]

I am so sorry {{hugs}}

 

[jd1723]

Hi guys,

One of our boys Remy is extremely poorly at the moment but we don’t know why.

He’s just over a year old, he’s normally extremely hyper and loves running around everywhere, however, recently he’s been sluggish; and now he’s barely even able to walk, he just kind of wobbles around and falls down a lot or opts not to move at all. He has had a huge amount of porphyrin coming out his nose and eyes. We have been having to hand feed him and use a syringe to get fluids into him. We took him to the vets and they said all his vitals are fine and he’s perfectly healthy, they did say he was a bit dehydrated so they got some fluids into him and he perked up, but now he’s gone downhill again and gotten worse.

We are planning to get a second opinion from another vet so specialises with exotics and has more experience with rats but we can’t get a appointment for a few days I’m so so worried Remys health will decline more.

Has anyone experienced anything similar and can give some advice?

I had a similar issue with my female rat a few years ago. She was extremely sluggish and almost flopping around with no energy and couldn't keep her balance too well. I researched online and came across an article on Cabergoline. It helps the nervous system. Can also help shrinks pituitary tumor if there is one. I told my vet about it and she had never heard of it so she read about it and agreed to let me try it. Literally, a day later she was back to her old self. Her balance was back as well, she was active and could feed herself. This medicine gave me another almost six months with her. It has to be compounded if i am correct, but it saved my rats life and I didn't mind paying for it. Worth it! Mention it to your vet! My email address is [email protected] if you have any questions.

 

[Holly]

I had a similar issue with my female rat a few years ago. She was extremely sluggish and almost flopping around with no energy and couldn't keep her balance too well. I researched online and came across an article on Cabergoline. It helps the nervous system. Can also help shrinks pituitary tumor if there is one. I told my vet about it and she had never heard of it so she read about it and agreed to let me try it. Literally, a day later she was back to her old self. Her balance was back as well, she was active and could feed herself. This medicine gave me another almost six months with her. It has to be compounded if i am correct, but it saved my rats life and I didn't mind paying for it. Worth it! Mention it to your vet! My email address is [email protected] if you have any questions.

Thank you so much unfortunately our little Remy was pts after seriously declining
If it happens to any of our other ratties in the future I will definitely bare it in mind and mention it to the vet!