HELP!! -unknown tail discoloration??
- Thread starter Elfeuilly
- Start date
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Thats not good.... I hate to be 'that person' but he may loose part of his tail... Is there any way you can call the vet and ask for advice ? SQ and lilspaz may have better ideas of what to do so I hope they come along soon..
it is definitely worrying. I looked it up some more and the most likely cause seems to be that he had a stroke and lost circulation. I gave him a little bit of tetra to see if it can help. Thank you for the concern
ViciousCurse
Well-Known Member
That tissue is losing circulation and is dying, by the looks of it. I would get a vet appointment asap. Necrotic tissue, if left alone, will not only wither away (after being a hindrance to the animal) but it will STINK, because an infection will set in. The vet may be able to remove a portion of the tail and prevent an infection.
Not to mention it's uncomfortable for the rat, but if left alone, the skin may just start peeling off and causing a serious infection. Very few things gross me out more than the idea of skin just slouching off and revealing bone. Or the stench. I've never experienced any of this, but I've seen enough videos to at least have an idea.
Not to mention it's uncomfortable for the rat, but if left alone, the skin may just start peeling off and causing a serious infection. Very few things gross me out more than the idea of skin just slouching off and revealing bone. Or the stench. I've never experienced any of this, but I've seen enough videos to at least have an idea.
Thank you. I’ll see if I can get an appt at the emergency vet today. I appreciate the help
If it is from tissue death, he will also need antibiotics. I don't know if I'd do just the 10-14 days either. I'd probably do more like 4 weeks or more to be safe. Have you looked at www.ratguide.com to see if anything is on there about it?
SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
please take him in to see a good vet that has the knowledge and experience to treat rats asap
Update: my parents don’t want to spend the money or time to take him to the vet. I’m 16 and don’t have the money to take him myself. I’ll see if I can get some basic antibiotics from the pet store. Thank you all for your concern : (
Awwwww! Poor baby! It's not his fault. Most people think they are "just rats", but to us owners, they are much more! If it's dying tissue, without the proper antibiotics, and care, he will get septic, and that's a hard way to die. Do you have any antibiotics in your medicine cabinet? Or maybe a friend does?
SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
Medicine from a pet store is not a good idea. - Pet store meds may not be appropriate and you will be medicating without even knowing what the problem is.
I really can not tell from the pictures what is going on or how serious it is.
I will ask Lilspaz68 to see if she has any suggestions for you.
You need to get a part time job to pay for present and future medical expenses - rats are expensive pets ..... for now perhaps sell things, borrow money, do odd jobs etc
Or try to find a good rat rescue that will take him and get him medical care.
Sorry but part of having a pet means providing them with the care they need, including medical care
and since you are a teen, your parents should be providing medical care for pets with your assistance
I really can not tell from the pictures what is going on or how serious it is.
I will ask Lilspaz68 to see if she has any suggestions for you.
You need to get a part time job to pay for present and future medical expenses - rats are expensive pets ..... for now perhaps sell things, borrow money, do odd jobs etc
Or try to find a good rat rescue that will take him and get him medical care.
Sorry but part of having a pet means providing them with the care they need, including medical care
and since you are a teen, your parents should be providing medical care for pets with your assistance
My older sister said she’d pay for it for me (yay!) I’m supposed to start working next week but since it’s such an urgent issue I felt it best to get him in as soon as possible.
I’m trying my best, and as he’s so old, I felt it was best to just let him live his course without the stress of moving homes. I am a first time rat owner- which is no excuse for not treating my pet, but I am learning as I go. I really really appreciate the advice you’ve given and will keep in mind not to treat him with anything until I can get him to the vet
Fidget
Senior Member
My heart goes out to you. God bless older sisters! especially yours. I hope your boy will be alright.
Update: I have an appointment scheduled for him tomorrow, but I don’t know if he’ll last the night.
I cleaned his cage, gave him his favorite food (although he didn’t eat much), and took him for a walk outside on my shoulder. If this is his last day with me, I want to make it happy for him. I’ll update tomorrow if there’s any progress.
Thank you all for your prayers.
I cleaned his cage, gave him his favorite food (although he didn’t eat much), and took him for a walk outside on my shoulder. If this is his last day with me, I want to make it happy for him. I’ll update tomorrow if there’s any progress.
Thank you all for your prayers.
So he's not doing too well huh..? Any way you can make his food into a mush with cool water for him to lap up.?
SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
I hope that everything will be ok ……. He likely needs surgery and antibiotics (I am not a vet just guessing)
If he needs to be put to sleep, make sure it is done properly as most vets do not know how
(gas/oxygen mix used for surgery, reflexes tested, when unconscious to at least a surgical level then injected, kept unconscious with gas/oxygen mix until dead - never allow a conscious rat to be injected into the heart)
If he needs to be put to sleep, make sure it is done properly as most vets do not know how
(gas/oxygen mix used for surgery, reflexes tested, when unconscious to at least a surgical level then injected, kept unconscious with gas/oxygen mix until dead - never allow a conscious rat to be injected into the heart)
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SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
He likely needs his tail amputated and antibiotics - good luck at the vet
Okay, final update: the vet said that his issues are caused by his age and there isn’t really anything to do for him. He gave me some antibiotics for his tail and some nutrition supplements since he hasn’t been eating, but said he’s too old to amputate for. Overall he has a couple weeks at best.
Generally it’s about what I expected, though it doesn’t make it any less depressing.
Thank you for all y’all have done for me and my boy. I hope my experience might help someone else eventually.
Generally it’s about what I expected, though it doesn’t make it any less depressing.
Thank you for all y’all have done for me and my boy. I hope my experience might help someone else eventually.
