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RatmomTracey

Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2021
Messages
10
Location
Alton Missouri
Hi there. Been taking care or my kids rat for 3 days. He has a severe respiratory infection and I have been treating him am and pm with meds from the vet. The vet gave him a 50/50 shot. He hasn’t eaten a thing, but I have gotten pedialyte into him. He is still dehydrated though and I worry I’m causing more stress with the syringe feeding. He has gone from heavy, rasp, loud breathing with …what sounded like crying with every breath, to mostly just raspy, labored breathin. He can rest now, but sometimes he is standing up trying to get air. I have tried the vetRx. My question is how do I know if he is suffering and not going to get better? It’s heartbreaking to see and hear, but I’ve read these infections can take 3 weeks to clear up. My kids are heartbroken and I will be his nurse as long as he may get better, but his suffering kills me. Thank you.
 
What antibiotics were you given? Any steroids? How old is he?
The crying/whine with every breath is constricted breathing which is a lot worse than congestion or pneumonia (fluid in the lungs).
He's been on the antibiotics for 3 full days? It often takes 4-5 days for antibiotics to show improvement.
 
What antibiotics were you given? Any steroids? How old is he?
The crying/whine with every breath is constricted breathing which is a lot worse than congestion or pneumonia (fluid in the lungs).
He's been on the antibiotics for 3 full days? It often takes 4-5 days for antibiotics to show improvement.
Prednisone, doxycycline, and enrofloxacin. He is 1.5 years old and he’s been on the meds since 9/20. This morning he was gasping, before, he was heaving through his body
 
Can you either lean down and press your ear on his back and listen to his breathing or hold his side's to your ear? It's called ratphoning. Tell us what you hear.

Was he open mouth breathing and clicking or gasping for air and panicking?
 
I sent a video. I just can’t tell if he is getting better. He still grooms, though he is looking rough. And he may have been panicking this morning because he is not doing the open mouth gasp now.
 

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Can you either lean down and press your ear on his back and listen to his breathing or hold his side's to your ear? It's called ratphoning. Tell us what you hear.

Was he open mouth breathing and clicking or gasping for air and panicking?
ok. I’ve been praying A LOT for this little guy. And I think he turned a corner. He is way more active and drank on his own. ❤️
 
That sounds like a lot of nasal congestion to start with, it may be why he was mouth breathing. Give him soft liquidy food like flavoured baby cereal. He will be able to lick, swallow, breathe and it will be easier for him until he feels better.
 
That sounds like a lot of nasal congestion to start with, it may be why he was mouth breathing. Give him soft liquidy food like flavoured baby cereal. He will be able to lick, swallow, breathe and it will be easier for him until he feels better.
I can’t get him to eat at all. He won’t even lick soft food off his paws.
 
Sorry, I just answered your other post. Your vet's meds sound good to me--the steroids are a good idea, given the circumstances. But they may make him act a little batty.

I don't think you should be too worried if he's not eating, as rats should be able to go a bit without food. It all depends how long, of course. But if he's been stressed and he hasn't eaten, the antibiotics may really make him feel lousy. I feel like this is an area that a lot of vets miss when it comes to rats; I don't know if you've ever taken antibiotics on an empty stomach, but it's not fun. So try to get him to eat some probiotics. There's a probiotic paste that a lot of vets have, and my rats love it. Or search for Probiocin Oral Pet Gel on Amazon. For foods, try baby food or whatever he will eat (even if not healthy). Critical care powder is good and can be bought both from vets and from Amazon. Good luck, I'm sorry for your trouble, and Lilspaz is a very good resource.
 
Sorry, I just answered your other post. Your vet's meds sound good to me--the steroids are a good idea, given the circumstances. But they may make him act a little batty.

I don't think you should be too worried if he's not eating, as rats should be able to go a bit without food. It all depends how long, of course. But if he's been stressed and he hasn't eaten, the antibiotics may really make him feel lousy. I feel like this is an area that a lot of vets miss when it comes to rats; I don't know if you've ever taken antibiotics on an empty stomach, but it's not fun. So try to get him to eat some probiotics. There's a probiotic paste that a lot of vets have, and my rats love it. Or search for Probiocin Oral Pet Gel on Amazon. For foods, try baby food or whatever he will eat (even if not healthy). Critical care powder is good and can be bought both from vets and from Amazon. Good luck, I'm sorry for your trouble, and Lilspaz is a very good resource.
Thank you. I’ll get on it. It didn’t even occur to me the meds might be making him feel bad.
 
I can’t get him to eat at all. He won’t even lick soft food off his paws.
he Looked like he was coming out of it, he even started drinking and eating a little bit. I think his breathing isn’t going to improve. How do I know when he’s not going to get better and the suffering outweighs any quality of life?
 
Ok I saw this video and that is severe constriction of breathing caused by either a mass pressing on his lungs or the dreaded pulmonary abscesses in the lungs. These take up room where air should go, the lungs become harder and less able to function, the rat uses so much energy trying to breathe they get this nipped in waist and skinny body. In my opinion the meds/antibiotics are not going to cure him and he's starting to suffer...the agitation, always moving trying to get air into his lungs. :(
 
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