Heart failure URGENT

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@SQ @lilspaz68 I buried Rubi in a large plant pot with a pretty succulent. I would like to keep her in my room with me which is where I spend most my time. My rats are in my room too, I was wondering if any of know if it would harm their health to have her decompose inside the room? She's not exposed, there's a few centimetres of dirt unter and over her. It just crossed my mind and I wanna be safe.
 
Hello, my Rubi recently started becoming extremely exhausted just from walking a bit. We took her to the vet last Friday and she took an X-ray, her heart is inlarged. Our vet prescribed Meloxidyl for inflamation, Laxis and Benazepril and she's been on this for 4 days. After a little research I believe this isn't really the best medication and will be asking for other meds soon. Correct me if I'm wrong please. After the vet trip (4 hours total by train ), the next day, her health deteriorated and we took her in to this other vet nearby for oxygen and a shot of Laxis. She perked up a bit but now, even tho I feel the medication could be making her feel a bit better, her condition seems to be worsening again, I would say because she barely drinks anything. I tried to springe feed her and give her water but she refuses to swallow. I found a thread here where someone mentioned Sub Q fluids and I was wondering how much for a kit? Do all vets have this in hand and can sell kits? If my vet doesn't have this/ won't sell it, ihr s there any other way to keep her hydrated? Also, I already turned her cage into a one level low setup cage but what else can I do to make her comfortable? I would appreciate if I could get a quick reply to this, don't think she has much time.

I am so very sorry for losing her. I just wanted to mention this.... If your rat had a difficult time drinking from her bottle due to advanced URI complications, give her Ensure in a small rounded bottom bowl. It's not easy to find the exact right style, but a flat bottomed, vertical sided type bowl is not helpful. They need something that has a "spoon-like shape so that the rat can lap up the liquid (thick consistency is what you're looking for here. Water just drips off their tongue, they need the liquid to stick to their tongue) and still be able to breathe without feeling like they are going to choke. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a common disease with rats and the symptoms are not unlike URI's. Also, try to keep your rat calm and comfortable. If he has to exert himself he will not be able to supply himself enough oxygen, and that leads him to become frightened. If he continues to get more agitated, he will become frantic, running around wildly, not knowing what to do, and doing the exact worst thing possible! If you ever see this behavior, you should try to soothe him and calm him down. I have a rat who has been living solely on Ensure for almost 6 months, and hasn't even lost much weight. Granted, he spends all his time just hanging out with no moving around, but I cimfort him every day and he's never in any distress, but for one time because I bathed him, which caused him to become frantic, so he had a bout of panic and started gasping. Anyway, sorry for the long winded reply. While you await getting a SubQ setup, give him Ensure in a small rounded bottom bowl, or, a tablespoon. Also, whipped cream is always a big hit. Just about anything that works for you is good when it comes to dehydration. Good luck .
 
I am so very sorry for losing her. I just wanted to mention this.... If your rat had a difficult time drinking from her bottle due to advanced URI complications, give her Ensure in a small rounded bottom bowl. It's not easy to find the exact right style, but a flat bottomed, vertical sided type bowl is not helpful. They need something that has a "spoon-like shape so that the rat can lap up the liquid (thick consistency is what you're looking for here. Water just drips off their tongue, they need the liquid to stick to their tongue) and still be able to breathe without feeling like they are going to choke. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a common disease with rats and the symptoms are not unlike URI's. Also, try to keep your rat calm and comfortable. If he has to exert himself he will not be able to supply himself enough oxygen, and that leads him to become frightened. If he continues to get more agitated, he will become frantic, running around wildly, not knowing what to do, and doing the exact worst thing possible! If you ever see this behavior, you should try to soothe him and calm him down. I have a rat who has been living solely on Ensure for almost 6 months, and hasn't even lost much weight. Granted, he spends all his time just hanging out with no moving around, but I cimfort him every day and he's never in any distress, but for one time because I bathed him, which caused him to become frantic, so he had a bout of panic and started gasping. Anyway, sorry for the long winded reply. While you await getting a SubQ setup, give him Ensure in a small rounded bottom bowl, or, a tablespoon. Also, whipped cream is always a big hit. Just about anything that works for you is good when it comes to dehydration. Good luck .
Thank your for the info :) it should helps with my other rats
 
I am so very very sorry.
You did your best for your little girl and Rubi knew that you loved her.
{{hugs}}

As lilspaz68 said, Rubi was likely had a stroke or seizure and therefore was unconscious and unaware.

I had a girl who died as I was in the car rushing her to the vet to be put to sleep ….. she also had an enlarged heart and started having difficulty breathing late at night. She was frightened and panicking but seemed less frightened and calmer when I was present (I talked to her and petted her). Although she did not have a seizure etc as lilspaz68 suggested may have occurred, she did become unconscious before she died. I was unaware that she had died until we arrived at the vets.

So please know that Rubi was comforted by your presence and would have become unconscious and unaware prior to her death either due to a stroke, seizure, or decreased oxygen.

(Some people do bury their pet rats in a pts as you mentioned. I have not heard of any health risks but I can not answer your question. What I do is wrap them in fleece, put them into a plastic container and put them in the freezer. When I have quite a few then I pay for a private cremation - their bodies are cremated and their ashes returned to me. I am charged the same fee as someone cremating one cat.)
 
I am so very very sorry.
You did your best for your little girl and Rubi knew that you loved her.
{{hugs}}

As lilspaz68 said, Rubi was likely had a stroke or seizure and therefore was unconscious and unaware.

I had a girl who died as I was in the car rushing her to the vet to be put to sleep ….. she also had an enlarged heart and started having difficulty breathing late at night. She was frightened and panicking but seemed less frightened and calmer when I was present (I talked to her and petted her). Although she did not have a seizure etc as lilspaz68 suggested may have occurred, she did become unconscious before she died. I was unaware that she had died until we arrived at the vets.

So please know that Rubi was comforted by your presence and would have become unconscious and unaware prior to her death either due to a stroke, seizure, or decreased oxygen.

(Some people do bury their pet rats in a pts as you mentioned. I have not heard of any health risks but I can not answer your question. What I do is wrap them in fleece, put them into a plastic container and put them in the freezer. When I have quite a few then I pay for a private cremation - their bodies are cremated and their ashes returned to me. I am charged the same fee as someone cremating one cat.)
Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm sorry about your girl, I am sure she knew you loved her dearly as well..

The plant is still outside but I can't think of any health risks either so I'll probably get it inside soon. Cremation is a lovely idea but I just couldn't afford it atm. I didn't think about the freezer thing but, I haven't move out yet and I'm pretty sure my parents wouldn't really like the idea lol anyway it's great info for the future :)
 
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