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CNA=Certified Nurse's Assistant. Not a nurse. Not a paramedic. Not even close to an RVT or Vet. So, basically, not qualified to be doing anything related to rats and definitely not qualified to be speaking in this manner here.

ETA: CNAs take blood pressure and temperature, shift bedridden patients, feed unable patients, clean bedpans and linens, and hold things for nurses. It takes 4-12 weeks to become a CNA and you don't need a degree (including Associate's degrees) to become certified.
 
jorats said:
What exactly is a CNA?
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CNA is a certified nursing assistant. (Ratly5 has a great explanation of what a CNA does in the post above me).

Rocket99 said:
Am I a vet tech? No, I'm better.
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I'd like to politely disagree... CNA's have knowledge on the human body, not a pet animal's (in this case, rat's) body. I'm sure you understand that animals and humans have different anatomies (and physiologies as well). What affects humans does not affect our pets in the same way. You have the education for care of humans, but not for rats, hence why vets and doctors have separate schooling and separate degrees.

Rocket99 said:
Where did you get the idea I do not use any numbing when I need it? That's what I'm talking about, you are making assumptions and then applying that assumption to me! You have no right to speak upon that which you do not know about or even understand! So you owe me an apology because I would never use a scalple on my pets without giving a lidocaine injection around the site. As for sutures, many of my rats wouldn't be good candidates for them without anesthesia because they can't keep still and I would never restrain them for such a procedure since tiny little movements could cause mistakes, or more appropriately, accidents. That's when I use Vetabond, if it is feasible, where I CAN restrain if I need to momenmarily with a second pair of qualified, gloves hands, and if it's not, I call my vet. So you can apologise for your incredible lack of understanding of how I home treat my pets, which, as I previously stated, is always under strict adherence to medical ethics. Thank you very much.
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Now I understand. When I think of sutures, I typically think of needles and thread, not the glue. Now that I know your credentials, I still disagree with you administering lidocaine, and making incisions on your pets.
 
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Ratly5 said:
CNA=Certified Nurse's Assistant. Not a nurse. Not a paramedic. Not even close to an RVT or Vet. So, basically, not qualified to be doing anything related to rats and definitely not qualified to be speaking in this manner here.

ETA: CNAs take blood pressure and temperature, shift bedridden patients, feed unable patients, clean bedpans and linens, and hold things for nurses. It takes 4-12 weeks to become a CNA and you don't need a degree (including Associate's degrees) to become certified.
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Wow, did you write that all by yourself? How about, no kidding, really? Did you miss the part where I said I would have been a paramedic if I had been able to finish my last year? And... I know a LOT more than a CNA, I just didn't bother to mention it because I can not say I am certified, so I left out that I studied and learned far more than my title leads you to believe. Now go back to your own business and stay out of mine.
 
Ratly5 said:
CNA=Certified Nurse's Assistant. Not a nurse. Not a paramedic. Not even close to an RVT or Vet. So, basically, not qualified to be doing anything related to rats and definitely not qualified to be speaking in this manner here.

ETA: CNAs take blood pressure and temperature, shift bedridden patients, feed unable patients, clean bedpans and linens, and hold things for nurses. It takes 4-12 weeks to become a CNA and you don't need a degree (including Associate's degrees) to become certified.
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And for your information, a CNA does much more than you wrote, you just wanted to put low limitations on a title which I have studied far above anyway. But as I stated previously, I did not get my degree because I had a daughter to raise myself, and I had to work and just her daycare alone was enough to force me into 2 jobs and no school. But I could still visit the school library and the local library and study on my own at home at night, I just couldn't afford to take classes and I could not get student aid with 2 jobs, nor did I have the time to be in classes anyway, but I could still study the curriculum for when there came a time that I could. So put that in your pipe and light it! Not everybody is as fortunate as you seem to be. Lucky you, I hope you're happy. As I said, I DO know more than a CNA would, and fortunately I was able to get private employment, so I was not just changing bedpans, so go back to your own business, you were not in this conversation, and you are not invited.
 
ViciousCurse said:
CNA is a certified nursing assistant. (Ratly5 has a great explanation of what a CNA does in the post above me).


I'd like to politely disagree... CNA's have knowledge on the human body, not a pet animal's (in this case, rat's) body. I'm sure you understand that animals and humans have different anatomies (and physiologies as well). What affects humans does not affect our pets in the same way. You have the education for care of humans, but not for rats, hence why vets and doctors have separate schooling and separate degrees.


Now I understand. When I think of sutures, I typically think of needles and thread, not the glue. Now that I know your credentials, I still disagree with you administering lidocaine, and making incisions on your pets.
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As I said, my "credentials" do not describe the extent of my schooling and especially the degree in which I self-educated, and although I understand your apprehensive opinions, I think you should give consideration to the fact that formal education is highly overrated. That said, I am definitely qualified to do more than give my rats medication, but I will refrain from discussing it here. And I do mean, MY rats, NOT the subjects I am in charge of, which I like to think of as mine, but which I technically have no authority over, and get permissions and advice on for which route to follow with respect to their care. So do not think I just perform procedures on a rescue agencies foster rats, as I would never do such a thing as there are rules to adhere to and ethics to swear by. But know this, I am absolutely qualified in the limited capacity that home environments allow, and I do NOT subject my rats, whom I love and cherish deeply, to ANY unnecessary pain or distress, but there are many, MANY people who visit this forum who can not afford to take their rats to the vet, and rather than help them (if possible) to home treat their I'll or injured pets, you'd rather tell them to just call a vet, when you should KNOW they are not going to do that since that already stated as much by saying they can not afford it. Really? So you uktiultima cause the suffering and distress of an otherwise treatable pet rat because of your hard line policies. It's just sad. Now I have to go bury a rat my vet was treating, which we were unable to find the cause of his strange patterned hair loss, but which Presniy was helping since the hair was coming back in, and who also had a cyst we treated, but who unexplainably passed overnight, likely due to CHF, as he was over 2 years old and overweight. He was a recent arrival, and has 2 brothers, 1 of which is slowing way down, so I have him under hospice care and am monitoring him closely. And negative comments as to my approach with these guys? BTW, the boy who passed arrived with the diagnosis of... Tumor, which it was NOT, as any even slightly experienced or educated caregiver (including a CNA) would immediately see. So thanks for your opinions, they're not necessary here.
 
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BTW, I am also currently treating a RES for shell rot and some degree of flesh rot, but not critical. I received him yesterday in a 10 gallon tank, and he's 10 years old but looks sevetely undersized, with very restraining shell deformity. I removed several layers of scutes to both carapace and plastron, leaving the carapace scutes around his head and tail. Unfortunately, he has some slight injury to his sides where the scutes do not form because his body is so confined in his undersized shell that the area continued to expand while his shell couldn't. So his sides, right where his scutes ended, is slightly raw, with the typical grayish pinkish color signifying a rot situation uncovered and needing drying out and healing. But my biggest concern is his gray flesh areas, which could not have gone another year before serious infection killed him. My question, barring any snide remarks about calling a vet, as I do not yet require the services of one, is this...what is the best way to treat his condition as I explained it. I want to dry him out to kill any fungus or possible bacteria, but moreso I want to treat his flesh rot (no debriding needed at this time and likely never) and sides where he is weeping a very tiny amount in several very tiny areas. I can upload phitph if anyone can help with a prognosis and a home treatment plan, which IS all he needs at this point. Thank you and I know this is not the proper forum, but I'm hoping to find help anywhere I can and intend to search out turtle forums soon, when time allows. But now,ci need to bury Travis, who inexplicably passed overnight, likely due to natural causes such as CHF. Thank you for understanding.
 
Rocket99 said:
As I said, my "credentials" do not describe the extent of my schooling and especially the degree in which I self-educated, and although I understand your apprehensive opinions, I think you should give consideration to the fact that formal education is highly overrated. That said, I am definitely qualified to do more than give my rats medication, but I will refrain from discussing it here. And I do mean, MY rats, NOT the subjects I am in charge of, which I like to think of as mine, but which I technically have no authority over, and get permissions and advice on for which route to follow with respect to their care. So do not think I just perform procedures on a rescue agencies foster rats, as I would never do such a thing as there are rules to adhere to and ethics to swear by. But know this, I am absolutely qualified in the limited capacity that home environments allow, and I do NOT subject my rats, whom I love and cherish deeply, to ANY unnecessary pain or distress, but there are many, MANY people who visit this forum who can not afford to take their rats to the vet, and rather than help them (if possible) to home treat their I'll or injured pets, you'd rather tell them to just call a vet, when you should KNOW they are not going to do that since that already stated as much by saying they can not afford it. Really? So you uktiultima cause the suffering and distress of an otherwise treatable pet rat because of your hard line policies. It's just sad. Now I have to go bury a rat my vet was treating, which we were unable to find the cause of his strange patterned hair loss, but which Presniy was helping since the hair was coming back in, and who also had a cyst we treated, but who unexplainably passed overnight, likely due to CHF, as he was over 2 years old and overweight. He was a recent arrival, and has 2 brothers, 1 of which is slowing way down, so I have him under hospice care and am monitoring him closely. And negative comments as to my approach with these guys? BTW, the boy who passed arrived with the diagnosis of... Tumor, which it was NOT, as any even slightly experienced or educated caregiver (including a CNA) would immediately see. So thanks for your opinions, they're not necessary here.
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As long as you don't deliberately cause pain to your animals, I won't get too upset. However, I will agree to disagree with how you treat your rats and I will leave it at that.
I will always recommend at least talking to a vet for advice and then seeing if you can do it yourself or not. Personally, I like to come here and get advice from more experienced members first, and then talking with an experienced rat vet. Can I necessarily afford a huge vet bill? No, but I'm going to find a way to get them that vet bill if I can't help them myself. And, if the care recommended to me is way above my knowledge and skillset, I WILL go to a vet. I am not subjecting my animal to needless pain and suffering because my hands are too inexperienced to help them. Then, if the vet shows me, I can apply that knowledge later on.

Rocket99 said:
BTW, I am also currently treating a RES for shell rot and some degree of flesh rot, but not critical. I received him yesterday in a 10 gallon tank, and he's 10 years old but looks sevetely undersized, with very restraining shell deformity. I removed several layers of scutes to both carapace and plastron, leaving the carapace scutes around his head and tail. Unfortunately, he has some slight injury to his sides where the scutes do not form because his body is so confined in his undersized shell that the area continued to expand while his shell couldn't. So his sides, right where his scutes ended, is slightly raw, with the typical grayish pinkish color signifying a rot situation uncovered and needing drying out and healing. But my biggest concern is his gray flesh areas, which could not have gone another year before serious infection killed him. My question, barring any snide remarks about calling a vet, as I do not yet require the services of one, is this...what is the best way to treat his condition as I explained it. I want to dry him out to kill any fungus or possible bacteria, but moreso I want to treat his flesh rot (no debriding needed at this time and likely never) and sides where he is weeping a very tiny amount in several very tiny areas. I can upload phitph if anyone can help with a prognosis and a home treatment plan, which IS all he needs at this point. Thank you and I know this is not the proper forum, but I'm hoping to find help anywhere I can and intend to search out turtle forums soon, when time allows. But now,ci need to bury Travis, who inexplicably passed overnight, likely due to natural causes such as CHF. Thank you for understanding.
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My condolences, but this is a rat forum, so many of us may not be experienced in turtles. You can put this under the Other Companions forum to see if any turtle-lovers are also on this form.As you already mentioned, reptile or turtle forums (possibly even amphibian forums, although I know turtles are not amphibians). I'd still recommend at least talking to a reptile-experienced vet. In the end, vets can help answer those difficult questions.
 
Do you realize that you almost word for word said exactly what I said? Ok so not word for word, but very similar, so I agree without exception other than one thing, as I said before, some people, who may or may not have the ability to own a pet in the first place due to financial reasons, just can not go to a vet. Personally, I believe they should surrender their pet if that's the case, as I would regrettably have to do, but responsibly so. But you said you would get info here first, then call your vet. But what if there IS no exotics vet within a days drive of you, nevermind a rat specializing exotics vet. Then what? I have to tell my vet what to do, what I want done, and why. She is an exceptional general vet, so she can make very well informed decisions based on a simple rat medical book, but she doesn't have any career length experience to draw from, which gives me pause with difficult cases. But she immediately thought to give my hair loss boy Prednisone, which worked immediately. So so knows her stuff in regards to cross species conditions.
 
Rocket99 said:
Do you realize that you almost word for word said exactly what I said? Ok so not word for word, but very similar, so I agree without exception other than one thing, as I said before, some people, who may or may not have the ability to own a pet in the first place due to financial reasons, just can not go to a vet. Personally, I believe they should surrender their pet if that's the case, as I would regrettably have to do, but responsibly so. But you said you would get info here first, then call your vet. But what if there IS no exotics vet within a days drive of you, nevermind a rat specializing exotics vet. Then what? I have to tell my vet what to do, what I want done, and why. She is an exceptional general vet, so she can make very well informed decisions based on a simple rat medical book, but she doesn't have any career length experience to draw from, which gives me pause with difficult cases. But she immediately thought to give my hair loss boy Prednisone, which worked immediately. So so knows her stuff in regards to cross species conditions.
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If there wasn't an exotics vet near me? I wouldn't keep rats. It's arrogant and selfish to think that my rats, no matter how many I've had for however many years, will never not need professional attention. Accidents happen, sometimes completely out of my control. Okay, let's say I've kept rats for ten plus years, never had an accident, but it comes time that my rat need to be euthanized. An example would be my Owen who was recently euthanized from suspected renal failure. He was suffering, even if it wasn't obvious. It's not fair to him to keep him alive because I don't have access to the vet or the tools to humanely euthanize him.
Same goes for birds, lizards, dogs, cats, horses, etc. If there were no vets in my area with that specialization or knowledge, I wouldn't keep those animals.

If I kept rats because I wanted to and didn't account for the inevitable future vet visits, then I'd be selfish. You said yourself there are procedures beyond your abilities and that need a vet's attention. People deserve doctors and our animals do too.
 
Ok, so everyone has said their piece about this. I will close it.
Also, I'd like to remind everyone to remain polite in their posts.
Thank you.
 
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