Velo
Well-Known Member
Hey all.
So one of my boys, Duke (approx 16 months old) has had some breathing mysteries for the past 7-8 weeks or so.
Approximately 7 weeks ago, I noticed that he was breathing faster than everybody else. We went to the vet, suspecting a heart problem. We decided to try out Lasix to see if that helped - it didn't. So shortly after, we came back and got an x-ray done.
The x-ray showed "stuff" around his lungs. We of course are not sure what it is - fluid, infection, cancerous cells? So we decided to treat for pneumonia. We started out with Baytril, Doxy, Metacam & Theophylline. We added in Zithro after 3 weeks of no response from the Baytril/Doxy.
As of this point, it has been 6 weeks since the x-ray. The antibiotics have not improved his fast breathing. The Zithro has run out, although I do still have some Baytril so I have been keeping him on that (for my own sanity I suppose).
He does not have any other symptoms - no sneezing, wheezing, coughing, pory, chest noises, grunting, etc. He eats, drinks, poops, pees & sleeps well. He has not lost any weight throughout this, he has actually gained some (the whole colony is on a diet now =_=) He does have less energy than his brothers, but still comes out to play every night - at least an hour at a time, sometimes even two hours.
I am starting to feel like the mass in his chest is cancer. I'm just not sure where to go with my options as of this point. Per the vet recommendation, we are staying on the metacam and I have decided to try out nebulizing with him - it will be a mix of Aminophylline (he will be taken off the theophylline) and Amikacin.
I plan to keep giving him his Baytril till I run out, because I figure what is the harm?
Anyway, back to the choices I have for further testing. The plan now is to try the nebulizer for a week, see if it helps. I'm not very hopeful it will, but of course I am willing to try.
We have to go back next week for a re-check. We have a couple of testing options we can try at that point.
We can run a blood sample through a virology panel - she says we can see if we get any matches for viruses or mycoplasma. He will have to be sedated and I understand it is a small amount of blood. She feels it is possible that he has Myco (or some other infection/combination of) along with scarring. If the panel yields results, we may be able to develop a better antibiotic therapy. Of course, it could yield results that show no effective antibiotic therapy, or no result at all.
And/Or we can do another x-ray. I am not sure on the xray. It will only have been 7 weeks since he last had one, and I have read that x-rays are very bad for humans. I don't know if it is a good idea to x-ray a rat again so often.
I'm also not convinced the x-ray will show anything. If the mass had grown any smaller or larger, would I not have seen a difference in his breathing? At most - the x-ray would show a size change - if larger, I don't think we learn anything, if it is smaller then I suppose we believe that they antibiotics are slowly working?
I'm just feeling really conflicted. I don't suppose the blood panel is super awful - however I do hate sedating him because I know it is very scary and I worry with his breathing. But it could help. I believe it is also very expensive. But honestly, cost is the very very very least important thing to me.
So ya, anyway. Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions on any of this? Has anyone ever done multiple x-rays on one rat, especially in a <2 month period?
Let me know what you think. Thanks.
So one of my boys, Duke (approx 16 months old) has had some breathing mysteries for the past 7-8 weeks or so.
Approximately 7 weeks ago, I noticed that he was breathing faster than everybody else. We went to the vet, suspecting a heart problem. We decided to try out Lasix to see if that helped - it didn't. So shortly after, we came back and got an x-ray done.
The x-ray showed "stuff" around his lungs. We of course are not sure what it is - fluid, infection, cancerous cells? So we decided to treat for pneumonia. We started out with Baytril, Doxy, Metacam & Theophylline. We added in Zithro after 3 weeks of no response from the Baytril/Doxy.
As of this point, it has been 6 weeks since the x-ray. The antibiotics have not improved his fast breathing. The Zithro has run out, although I do still have some Baytril so I have been keeping him on that (for my own sanity I suppose).
He does not have any other symptoms - no sneezing, wheezing, coughing, pory, chest noises, grunting, etc. He eats, drinks, poops, pees & sleeps well. He has not lost any weight throughout this, he has actually gained some (the whole colony is on a diet now =_=) He does have less energy than his brothers, but still comes out to play every night - at least an hour at a time, sometimes even two hours.
I am starting to feel like the mass in his chest is cancer. I'm just not sure where to go with my options as of this point. Per the vet recommendation, we are staying on the metacam and I have decided to try out nebulizing with him - it will be a mix of Aminophylline (he will be taken off the theophylline) and Amikacin.
I plan to keep giving him his Baytril till I run out, because I figure what is the harm?
Anyway, back to the choices I have for further testing. The plan now is to try the nebulizer for a week, see if it helps. I'm not very hopeful it will, but of course I am willing to try.
We have to go back next week for a re-check. We have a couple of testing options we can try at that point.
We can run a blood sample through a virology panel - she says we can see if we get any matches for viruses or mycoplasma. He will have to be sedated and I understand it is a small amount of blood. She feels it is possible that he has Myco (or some other infection/combination of) along with scarring. If the panel yields results, we may be able to develop a better antibiotic therapy. Of course, it could yield results that show no effective antibiotic therapy, or no result at all.
And/Or we can do another x-ray. I am not sure on the xray. It will only have been 7 weeks since he last had one, and I have read that x-rays are very bad for humans. I don't know if it is a good idea to x-ray a rat again so often.
I'm also not convinced the x-ray will show anything. If the mass had grown any smaller or larger, would I not have seen a difference in his breathing? At most - the x-ray would show a size change - if larger, I don't think we learn anything, if it is smaller then I suppose we believe that they antibiotics are slowly working?
I'm just feeling really conflicted. I don't suppose the blood panel is super awful - however I do hate sedating him because I know it is very scary and I worry with his breathing. But it could help. I believe it is also very expensive. But honestly, cost is the very very very least important thing to me.
So ya, anyway. Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions on any of this? Has anyone ever done multiple x-rays on one rat, especially in a <2 month period?
Let me know what you think. Thanks.