Suspected PT?

[barrelgirl8899]

Hello all, I just joined your group and I am here for advice.
My boyfriend has a 2.5yo male rat named Smokey. About 2 months ago we noticed he seemed a little lethargic (just not as active in his cage generally) and brushed it off due to his age. He progressively seemed to get worse; more lethargic, dull coat, porphyrin around eyes and nose, he got mites, penis plugs, poor appetite and very poor hydration, and developed a sneeze. His lethargy included loss of balance, and not being able to hold his food with front paws (which I know now, through research, are typical symptoms of PT). Treated the mites, began feeding him a mash of bananas (his favorite), avocado, ensure, and Pedialyte. Which he has been eating 30-35ml a day for about 3 weeks. He will also snack on solid food, bananas, cashews, strawberries, grapes, but is really only into the sweet stuff.
However, because of funding issues we are unable to take him to a vet. Because of the lethargy, sneezing and porphyrin; myself and a fellow nurse self diagnosed with respiratory infection. Started him on IM injections of tetracycline Q12h for 5 days, today is the end of day 5. Not noticeable improvement, if anything, he is gradually getting worse. Today is when I continued researching possible ailments and PT is definitely the culprit. With his progression of symptoms I found on this forum and other rat sites, I'm 99%. Loss of appetite/drinking, inability to hold with front paws, loss of balance (kind of 'slinks' around and falls over often), weightloss, porphyrin, inability to clean himself resulting in penis plugs and no improvement with tetracycline.
Now, my questions. Am I correct in thinking PT is the culprit? I have many animals or many species and I have been reading dexamethasone can be used to to suppress inflammation and improve comfort. I have injectable dex on hand (for the horses), and was wondering about dosaging (was reading .01ml, but how often, for how long? IM, or subQ?) Following dex with prednisone like I've seen suggested is not possible due to funding. I'm honestly just looking to keep him as comfortable as possible and maintaining his dignity during his journey. Any help is greatly appreciated, so are prayers and good thoughts for our boy Smokey. THANK YOU for taking the time to read my novel and welcoming me to your group.

 

[Lookup]

Hi Barrelgirl. I assume you're a barrel-racer. I used to raise/train/show Saddlebreds and Arabians. Welcome to the forum, though it's under sad circumstances. At 2.5 yrs, your boy Smokey is quite old, so he must've been well-loved and cared for. It sounds as though your diagnosis of PT is correct. I'm afraid I don't know anything about injectable dex with rats, though it should help if you can find correct dosing info. Your antibiotic effort could be greatly improved, though, with baytril (enrofloxacin) and/ or doxycycline which you can purchase online for pigeons. Dosing info is easily found online as well. Also, cabergoline or bromocriptine can be very helpful if the tumor is of the most common type, but it requires a script. There's a great deal of info on this forum if you have time to search old threads. Hugs to you and Smokey.

 

[dspch911]

Sadly you sound correct in your diagnosis. PT is not curable and is a god awful disease. You can try the dexamethasone, but you need to give it with bromo or cabergoline. You will also need to start him on antibiotic like baytril, doxycycline, or both since the steroids will suppress his immune systems. I also give my fur kids peptic since these medications are hard on their tummies. Truthfully, I never treat PT rats, its awful and I feel like they just see me has the person constantly sticking with them needles and/or sticking meds down their throat for a disease they are going to die from anyway. Your guy seems pretty far gone and is probably blind by now too - just a warning, I didn't know that happened and let my first guy with PT walk off the end of my couch - twice... You will need to syringe feed him like you're doing because it may look like their eating, but their not. You may need to give him SQ fluids also if he is dehydrated, which I believe you said he was. If this was my boy, I would keep him as comfortable as possible and let him go peacefully. I am only treating this guy I have now, because he loves taking medication - he loves the syringes and takes his medication and wants his cage mates too! I also had access to cabergoline which meant I didn't have to give dexamethasone. If he had shown no response to the cabergoline or the prednisone, I would of stopped and let nature take its course.

On that note: I did stop the cabergoline and he started the head tilt and became unbalanced within 24 hours. I was hoping it wasn't PT, but sadly it seems to be so I restarted his cabergoline and I will give it for as long as he continues to do well. He hates it, even though I mix it with a bit of strawberry syrup ..... he'll take about 1/4 - 1/2 of it before I have to give it to him.... This is much better though then the last rat I tried to treat with the bromo and dexamethasone......

ratguide.com is a good referrence

 

[barrelgirl8899]

Thank you both for your responses. I don't believe he is blind yet, although I didn't know that was a symptom. I had him on the bed last night near the edge and he didn't go off, and slithered to me to snuggle. You both suggest letting nature take its course, which I understand. Would euthanasia be an option? I also did research on that and it seems quite difficult to do it humanely/effectively for a rat. And I'm not sure of prices either. Just don't want him to suffer, hard seeing him like this, although it's a part of life and death.
(And yes, primarily barrel racer but have dabbled in western pleasure, dressage and competitive trail)

 

[SQ]

It sounds like it is likely pt, although some of the symptoms are the same as an inner ear infection. http://ratguide.com/health/auricle_ear/otitis_media_otitis_interna_labyrinthitis.php http://ratguide.com/health/neoplasia/pituitary_tumor.php
It also sounds like he may have a respiratory infection and the treatment is antibiotics. http://ratguide.com/health/lower_respiratory/pneumonia.php http://ratguide.com/health/bacteria/mycoplasma_mycoplasmosis.php http://ratguide.com/health/cardiovascular/cardiomyopathy.php http://ratguide.com/health/cardiovascular/congestive_heart_failure.php

Dexamethasone http://ratguide.com/meds/endocrine_hormones/dexamethasone.php

Signs of pain in rats http://ratguide.com/health/basics/signs_of_pain_in_rats.php

If you can not provide him with needed medical care, and if he is suffering or having breathing problems,
then yes, humane euthanasia - most vets do not know how to do it properly so you would need to be his advocate and make sure it is done correctly - and be with him and pet and cuddle him throughout if at all possible …… an injection into the heart of a conscious rat is so painful that it is illegal in many places.

Humane Euthanasia for Rats: Rats are given the gas/oxygen mix used for surgery, once unconscious to at least a surgical plane (vet needs to test eye reflex and gently pinch the toes), then the rat is injected (I believe it is a lethal injection of a barbiturate, usually in the abdomen or liver) and the rat is kept unconscious by breathing in the gas/oxygen mix until dead. He will stop breathing and awhile later his heart will stop, his brain will stay active for awhile. Vet checks for a heart beat several minutes after being unable to detect a heartbeat to make sure …….. (I always take bodies home so their friends will know what happened and to freeze until I have enough for a private cremation)

I am very sorry that Smokey and you are going through this {{hugs}}
Please give him a cuddle from me