Runt with swollen limbs

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Emily

New Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2018
Messages
3
Location
Montana
The runt of my litter (her name is Piglet because she scrunches up her nose and looks like a little pig) has swollen wrists and ankles. The mother stopped nursing her when she was 16 days old, but still nurses the other 3 pups. Piglet isn't even allowed to sleep with the rest, the mother pushes her away. I know something is wrong with her, but I hate to see her starve. She is eating solids but I still bottle feed her kitten milk 4 times a day.

Her wrists and ankles are large and occasionally the skin looks tight and shiny like theres a blister. Also the mother wont clean her and by the time I noticed , her butt was glued shut with old poop.

I cleaned her up and she seems ok. She eats and drinks like all the other pups, but she also has trouble walking. She's 3 weeks old and still walks like she just opened her eyes. Now she seems to get small random nose bleeds.

I know she probably wont live very long, but is there anything I can do? She's with me 24/7 so I can clean and feed her. She likes to stumble around and explore but she sleeps a lot. More than her siblings. I feel bad for poor Piglet.
 
Are you feeding kitten milk replacer (KMR)?
I am very glad that she has you to care for her and love her
Is her nose bleeding or is it porphyrin? http://ratguide.com/health/eyes/porphyrin_secretions_red_tears.php

I do not know what is wrong, but hopefully she will be ok if she is eating and drinking and growing
Many seriously handicapped rats have had long, happy lives

Can you post videos (post to youtube and post the link on here) and pictures of her

Edit: does the baby seem to be in pain ? http://ratguide.com/health/basics/signs_of_pain_in_rats.php
Do you have a good vet that treats rats?
 
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It might take me a while to get a pic, but she doesn't seem to be in any pain and loves to play with me. Whatever comes out of her nose is a brown color like dried blood. It never seems to bother her though.
 
Pictures of her and of her swollen joints etc as well as videos will help lilspaz68 to have an idea of what is going on

Are you feeding kitten milk replacer (KMR)?
I am asking because she needs formula and sometimes people mistakenly feed things like cat milk
 
I am using KMR. I shall go get a couple pics to post. I do have a vet who will look at rats, but she is out of town for the next month.
 
Here are some pictures of Piglet.
 

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I am sorry Emily. Piglet looks like she's not going to be able to hold on. if you cannot get her to the vet, watch for any signs of discomfort and if she has any give her infant liquid ibuprofen to help with that. Every 4-6 hours if possible. Sweet girl :(
 
I am so very sorry :(
Piglet looks like a very sweet little girl
It is unfortunate that you do not have a good vet available, because depending on what is wrong, treatment might be possible.

I hope that you are able to keep Piglet comfortable, give her lots of love, and be with her throughout this
{{hugs}} to both of you

If you are able to find a vet to have her humanely put to sleep
the vet gives the rattie the oxygen/gas mix used for surgery, and when the rattie is unconscious to at least a surgical level, then the rat is injected. The gas/oxygen mix is keeps the rat unconscious until they are dead.
Most vets do not know how to do it properly so rat owners need to make sure it is done right.
Often vets will allow the owner to hold and comfort their rattie while this is happening.
 
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She doesn't seem to be i pain and is still playful, she's just. . . slowing down. :( I'll keep y'all updated on her.
 
To those who are curious, Piglet is doing great!

She still can't quite use her back legs completely and I don't think she ever will, but she is getting bigger and more active. Two days ago she jumped on her brother to play and today she stood on her hind legs for a second (using her brother as a footstool and then falling over almost immediately, but small steps).

I wouldn't say her mother has accepted her back, but just puts up with her. She rarely nurses Piglet, but I still bottle feed her. Probably will until she's 6 or 7 weeks old.

She's a little cutie who loves to cuddle and enjoys watching the tortoise.
 
Thank you so much for the update :)
I am so glad that Piglet is doing so well
I hope you will start a thread about her and keep us updated
Wonderful that she is able to use her back legs a bit and that she is playing with her siblings :)

btw, a former Admin, hopefloats had a couple of rescue litters several years ago and several of the babies had difficulty walking (Turtle etc). She called them the "rolly polly" babies. She modified their environment and they had happy long lives
 
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