Eeks! VAGINAL DISCHARGE after spay.

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thegoldenrat

thegoldenrat

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2012
Messages
177
Location
Los Angeles
Hey guys!

Just wondering if anyone has experienced this? I can't seem to find much info on the internet.

My rattie got spayed 2 weeks ago, she is 1year 4 months, and had a rough recovery.
This past week she has been improving, eating more and drinking normally. yay!

However, I just recently discovered puss oozing out of her staples and incision. My vet told me to put Betadine on it...so today when I turned her over to put it on, I noticed a clear/white-ish ooze coming out of her vagina. It smells fishy. When I wiped it clean, one minute later, I looked again, and more discharge was coming out.

Her behavior hasn't changed. She is still eating and drinking. I was just wondering if anyone experienced this post-spay or after surgery?

I'm assuming this means an infection within? But she is on Baytril right now, so I would think that would remedy this situation. Confused. :(

Thanks! Man...this spay has been a doozy!
 
From what you have said I really don't know what your vet did here. If there's pus oozing from incisions weeks post-op while she's been on antibiotics you have a serious problem. She may need to be opened up again. Can you get a pic of the incision? I assume this wasn't a normal spay where they removed her uterus and ovaries?
 
Good rat vet immediately!
This is not normal ...... poor little girl

She may need a to be opened up as lilspaz68 mentioned
and she definitely needs other antibiotics .... she may need clavamox, chloramphenicol, or another antibiotic
 
lilspaz68 said:
From what you have said I really don't know what your vet did here. If there's pus oozing from incisions weeks post-op while she's been on antibiotics you have a serious problem. She may need to be opened up again. Can you get a pic of the incision? I assume this wasn't a normal spay where they removed her uterus and ovaries?
Click to expand...


@lilspaz68 - After using betadine for the last two days, I think the incision is looking much better. I'm attaching a photo of some of the puss and then after 2 days. I JUST got her staples removed today, so she is at least more comfortable now.

I have a feeling her incision will heal nicely...
My concern is the discharge from her vagina. When I took her in today, the vet took out the staples, squeezed out the puss from her incision and squeezed out the discharge from her vagina.

She said she wants to monitor her for the next 2 days. If her vagina keeps having discharge, I have to contact her for the next step.

The spay was a normal spay and my vet said Ella had such a hard time with the surgery, that it's not advisable opening her up again.... if it can be avoided.

Luckily, Ella is eating and drinking like her usual self. If she doesn't improve in the next 24-48 hours, I'm calling the vet asap!

Here are the photos:
puss.jpg

photo 2.jpg
 
jorats said:
She definitely needs extra meds, I would try Clavamox as well as the baytril. That poor little girl.
Click to expand...

@jorats @SQ - I may ask for Clavamox....I've heard good things about it.
Would she do Clavamox WITH baytril?

I will inquire about this with my vet!
 
Ummm that alone is concerning, squeezing our the pus from incision and vagina. It doesn't work that way at all. :( definitely ask for the clavamox with the baytril.
 
lilspaz68 said:
Ummm that alone is concerning, squeezing our the pus from incision and vagina. It doesn't work that way at all. :( definitely ask for the clavamox with the baytril.
Click to expand...

@lilspaz68 - I will definitely do that and contact my vet tonight! I know....the infection shouldn't last this long and I'm worried about her. :(

I'll let you know how it goes.

Thank you so mcuh!
-M.:love7:
 
@lilspaz68 & @SQ -

Heya!
Okay, so the vet told me instead of putting her on antibiotics (she is currently on Baytril), I should do a Betadine flush. I guess this means I get the betadine solution and syringe about .55cc of it into her vagina and then let it do it's thing.
Twice a day.

I hope this works. I just want her to get better....

-M.:undecided:
 
PS- I can't find anywhere on the Internet of people doing flushes on rats. Have you his heard of this before??? I know this is done on humans.
 
Flushes are very effective with such infections but I would have her on antibiotics for sure. Flushing directly onto the infected area is ideal. I would be a little worried though with putting a syringe into the vagina.
 
As Jo said flushes are good for minor infections that are surface or localized (like an abscess) but this sounds systemic and needs antibiotics as well. I would not flush the vagina. The vet did tell you how to dilute the betadine for flushing?
Think of it this way...flushes for this type of infection alone is like using medicated ear drops for a serious inner ear infection... Nowhere near enough.
 
You need to find a good vet with successful experience and knowledge in treating rats
Also a vet that is open to consulting with other vets
 
lilspaz68 said:
As Jo said flushes are good for minor infections that are surface or localized (like an abscess) but this sounds systemic and needs antibiotics as well. I would not flush the vagina. The vet did tell you how to dilute the betadine for flushing?
Think of it this way...flushes for this type of infection alone is like using medicated ear drops for a serious inner ear infection... Nowhere near enough.
Click to expand...

@lilspaz68 @jorats @hopefloats @SQ - Hiya! Yes, the vet told me betadine 1/4 - water 3/4 only .05 cc flush in vagina. I think she thinks my rattie has an infected stump on her uterus.

The doctor I go to is actually a specialist with rats and was recommended. She has a ton of experience with ratties, but I think she likes to avoid antibiotics as much as possible.. There is another vet in Irvine who is supposed to be amazing, but unfortunately that is an hour and a half away and doesn't work weekends, so I don't think that is an option for me. :(

The vet I have currently is very kind and cares about these animals, so I will reach out again and request antibiotics since the Baytril is not working. IF she doesn't give me antibiotics, then I will try find another vet in Los Angeles who knows rats...it's so tough to find one in this city!

I'll keep you posted! Ugh....I hope I could get her back to being healthy again soon. Poor thing has been a warrior...

-thank you as always!
-M.
:rose2:
 
@lilspaz68 @jorats @hopefloats @SQ

By the way, I noticed the discharge is NOT puss-y. It's actually very very watery and clear, but it still smells of fish.

I've heard of rats having cloudy or thick discharge, but what's weird about this is it's similar to water.

Has anyone had this happen before?

I'm just curious!

thanks so much-M.
 
jorats said:
I had a rat with a stump infection and it took about 3 months of Baytril to clear her up.
Click to expand...

@jorats - wow 3 months!

Was the discharge coming out of her thick puss or fishy watery discharge?

I'm curious because I've experienced the thick discharge with rats, but not the watery type where it's very clear like water, smells of fish and dribbles out all day!

Lord have mercy.:cry2:
 
So....I put my rattie on Amox since I heard it's good for urinary infections and although she still leaks liquid from her vagina....the smell disappeared! I'm assuming the smell comes from an infection, so I'm happy that stopped.

My question is, the entire 10 days on Amox, the smell went away but the leaking was still happening. And now she has been off the medication for a week...I could tell the smell is coming back again. :(

Has anyone had this experience and if so, did you put your rattie back on Amox? My only worry is the AMox gave her diarrhea, so I worry about her being on it for too long.

Any advice! Thanks so much!

By the way, the vaginal discharge is not colored or thick. It is almost like water. And she eats and drinks and acts normal....thank God for that.

-M.

:rathugz:
 

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