Almost two year old rat suddenly can barely walk

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Ailliekat55

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So I came in this morning to clean my two boys cage, check food levels and water and play with them. I noticed my one boy want out, he was in his hideaway. I also noticed health acting weird. Can barely walk, stumbles, his body will jerk like a spasm. Little sneezing... But he looks miserable. He wasn't like this yesterday or the day before. It won't let me upload the video, it says it's too large.
 
Hi. I'm sorry to hear about your baby. At this hour, I can't think what the problem might be, other than possibly a stroke, but I understand it's upsetting and you need help. It's great that you shot a video; you can post it to youtube and post a link here. Someone with more knowledge than me will see it when they get up and about, and they'll have better advice for you. For now, make sure he's warm and see if he'll eat. Will he hold his food normally, chew, and swallow ok? You may need to give him some baby food, warm it if he seems cold. (Just make sure to stir it with your finger to make sure it won't burn his mouth.) Try to comfort him and observe his behavior more so you can answer questions when someone else responds. I hope that helps.
 
I can't even think right now. I have no vehicle to get to a store or anywhere. He's really lethargic and it just sitting here. :/ I don't know what to do. He seems... Not himself????
 
I forgot to say, look up a vet clinic open for emergencies, since your regular vet won't be open. You can call to see if they treat rats. If he has an ear infection, they could give him antibiotics, at least.
 
2 years old, sudden onset , could be a few things like a stroke, pituitary tumor or inner ear infection.
Try to upload the video on YouTube as Lookup suggested.
First pick him up and listen to his breathing by holding his side's to your ears. Ideally there should be no sounds or just a light whoosh of air in and out.
See if he's able to grasp a light treat with his front paws.

Look for a head tilt that is making him tip over a little especially when he moves. You can also sniff his ears for any infection smell.

Check to see if one side seems weaker than the other. Even the mouth may droop on one side.
 
He can sort of hold things. No smell. Nothing abnormal on breathing sounds.
 
Ok 2nd video is better. He's got a slight head tilt, he's very unbalanced, see how he's splayed out and flat to the floor and even wobbles then? It looks like he may have an inner ear infection, causing pain, extreme dizziness. The ideal treatment would be steroids for 5-6 days (or a dexamethasone injection) and a good combo.of antibiotics for 3-4 weeks.

Any chance of that?
 
Honestly no, fiance's still trying to get our car up and going.we just sank everything into the car and he just lost his second job.
 
He needs antibiotics (such as baytril + clavamox) and an anti-inflammatory (as lilspaz68 said) such as Metacam, or prednisone (pred can not just be stopped, has to be gradually decreased by half over time)

Although taking him to see a good vet is important
Lilspaz68 can recommend what to get and tell you where some can be ordered from

He likely has an inner ear infection - this takes weeks, sometimes months to treat
and intreated it will cause permanent damage and eventually kill

http://ratguide.com/health/auricle_ear/otitis_media_otitis_interna_labyrinthitis.php
http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_agents/enrofloxacin_baytril.php
http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_agents/clavamox_amoxicillinclavulanate.php
http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_agents/amoxicillin.php
http://ratguide.com/meds/endocrine_hormones/prednisone_prednisolone.php
http://ratguide.com/meds/nsaids/meloxicam.php
 
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