CHF - Does NEBULIZING help? Congestive heart failure

Hey there-
My baby isn't well. I'm taking her into the vet tomorrow in the morning. Until then I'm trying to make her as comfortable as possible. I've been treating her for Myco, but I'm beginning to think she has CHF. Her stomach is firm and distended and she is having a hard time breathing.
Do you know if a NEBULIZER would help sooth her breathing from CHF until she gets to the vet tomorrow? I am making a nebulizing container now....but so lost as to if this will help or hurt.
Would an oxygen tank help?
I just gave her a DEX shot and it didn't help...so I'ts looking like CHF.
I'm freaking out. She is very uncomfortable.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!~
-M.

The stress from nebulizing made my rats with chf much worse, so I never do it.

Her chest/lungs may be filling with fluid, making it difficult to breath.
She may also need to be on a combo of antibiotics.
You can test for a heart issue with benazepril, if it helps add atenolol ......... then if an xray shows an enlarged heart add digoxin to the benazepril and atenolol

I would suggest an emergency vet visit if her abdomen is firm and distended and her breathing is bad ... she might not last until tomorrow

http://ratguide.com/health/cardiovascular/congestive_heart_failure.php

http://ratguide.com/health/cardiovascular/cardiomyopathy.php

Abdomen enlarged/bloated
Bacterial or Viral illness
Congestive Heart Failure
Megacolon
Tumor growth
Pyometra
Abscess
Organomegaly (organ enlargement such as: spleen, liver)
Obesity
Clostridial enteropathy (e.g., Tyzzer’s in weaned rats)

Click to expand...

from http://ratguide.com/health/basics/clinical_signs_symptoms_guide.php

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Thank you so much! I'm at the emergency vet now and they are taking X-rays.
I appreciate your advice! I will talk about all these methods with the vet today.
Love-
M.

Is it possible that she has mega colon or a tumour blocking her intestines?

http://ratguide.com/health/digestive/megacolon.php

I agree with SQ. My vet once told me that nebulizing could actually cause death in a rat with heart disease.

@jorats @SQ
Heya! Just giving an update on this, just so the information is out there for others to read.

Turns out from the xray her lungs and heart are normal. Apparently she has something in her spleen or abdomen area. They said they can't tell what it is and she would need an ultrasound for that....which is too expensive. But the vet said this "growth" or obstruction is pushing her organs which is why her body is in distress with respiratory, etc. Her distended stomach was due to her gasping for air....it made her stomach full of gas.

I scheduled for her to go to rest today....but then last night a miracle happened. She got better! I know this is temporary....and she may go back to distress at any point....so I decided to keep monitoring and medicating....and when her quality of life is compromised ....I will let her go. But today, her eyes are brighter, she is eating and walking around and her breathing...although not perfect is soooooooo much better.

This is what she is on now:
Prednisone - for inflamation
Tramadol - for pain
Doxy/Orbax (although we suspect this isn't helping, we are keeping her on this just in case)
Dex injection for emergencies

That's it! Thank you guys for always helping. Whether I get her for another day, days, week, weeks, months.....I savor every single moment with these ratties. They are angels. :rose2:

Thank you for the update .... That is wonderful news !!
now we need pics

I once had a rat with a growth on his spleen. Oddly enough, Baytril made it shrink and disappear. I hope your sweetheart continues to do well.

@jorats @SQ My heart is broken. I realized quickly that unless I am constantly giving my little one dex shots and sub q fluids and pain killers, she goes back to suffering. Because it's not an infection, but probably a tumor, the only options were to do exploratory surgery (since whatever was in her stomach was pushing her organs) or letting her go. My vet looked at the xrays and felt her tummy. Her spleen was as large as a feret's. Her lymphnodes were all swollen, so they are thinking Lymphoma cancer. It was time to let her go.....so I did.

I did however, give her allllll the meds the day before so that she would feel comfortable before she left this earth. I had quality beautiful beautiful beautiful time with her. She nuzzled her head into me and bruxed. We were very bonded....she is my heart rat. This one hurts so much.

But I am so grateful to have had her in my life. We all know...... these rats teach us so much about love and open our hearts up.

By the way, the vet took a sample of her cells to test it. I will know soon what she had. We are very curious, because her symptoms were mysterious and we couldn't put our finger on what she had.

Thank you again for always being so helpful here! You guys are the best.
Much love-
-M.

I am so very sorry
She sounds like a wonderful little girl ... I am so glad that the two of you were able to share some special time together

{{hugs}}

I'm so very sorry. You did the very best for her.