Unepuce
Well-Known Member
Weirdly enough, I haven't cared for an old rat in a while (since Pollux, actually) so I guess I forgot what is normal and what's not in the aging process, but... Chester is worrying me. He is now a little over 28 months old, which I believe is pretty old for a Newfoundland rat (I only base this assumption on ages at which Ratty Momma was losing her ratties), he has HED but not to the point he has to drag his legs entirely, and is obese ( ) although he lost quite some weight these last few weeks.
I started getting concerned a little over 1 month ago, when he would look more and more tired, and feel a bit limp. Up until 2 Saturdays ago, where I found him flat out limp and overly tired - I had to leave for the day and was soooo scared he wouldn't make it through the day! I forcefed him before leaving, hoping it would help... and it apparently did. Since that day, he is on soft food, a sample from his sneezing was send for culture and he's been on Chlor Plam, then Trim Sulfa for para-something and e-coli (??? - probably from eating poop, which I saw him do). His lungs sound fine, but he's got some kind of a "bubble" noise from his nose when he's breathing, but nothing seems to help with that, even those two meds that were prescribed following the culture, so I am wondering if allergies could be a cause, since he started at the beginning of pollen season. I was also wondering whether he was incontinent, but I now believe he does have some control over his bladder (his poops are fine).
Now... I have been suspecting something neuro for awhile, but only kept watching him as he is getting old. Here's what is ticking me off:
Chester is a gem to me, I went through hell to have him get to me from Newfoundland (which was made possible with the help of some wonderful people from here (and BF too) who went out of their ways to help us :heart: ). I truly, TRULY hate to see him like this. I have a vet appointment on Monday with my second vet - I want her to take a look at his molars since his incisives seem OK to me - but I am now considering asking for a bromo prescription as well, eventhough I don't feel I have a very strong case just yet.
Need your opinion - should I try him on bromo before it gets worst, or is it just old age? My emotions are probably blinding me, so I thought I would ask more knowledgeable and less emotionally-involved people for their input...
I started getting concerned a little over 1 month ago, when he would look more and more tired, and feel a bit limp. Up until 2 Saturdays ago, where I found him flat out limp and overly tired - I had to leave for the day and was soooo scared he wouldn't make it through the day! I forcefed him before leaving, hoping it would help... and it apparently did. Since that day, he is on soft food, a sample from his sneezing was send for culture and he's been on Chlor Plam, then Trim Sulfa for para-something and e-coli (??? - probably from eating poop, which I saw him do). His lungs sound fine, but he's got some kind of a "bubble" noise from his nose when he's breathing, but nothing seems to help with that, even those two meds that were prescribed following the culture, so I am wondering if allergies could be a cause, since he started at the beginning of pollen season. I was also wondering whether he was incontinent, but I now believe he does have some control over his bladder (his poops are fine).
Now... I have been suspecting something neuro for awhile, but only kept watching him as he is getting old. Here's what is ticking me off:
- He cannot grab with his hands so is unable to eat blocks; [/*:m:1rctb3nr]
- He seems to be losing strength in his jaw or ability to cut with his teeth (he has a hard time taking a bite in a Oxbow block I am holding for him, but his best friend is now a lava block that he destroys with lots of confidence or so it looks like...); [/*:m:1rctb3nr]
- He is uncoordinated (could be from trying to balance from HED, but it looks worst than it should); [/*:m:1rctb3nr]
- He clubs his hands often, but it looks different from the clubbing from PT I have seen in my girls - less stiff I would say; [/*:m:1rctb3nr]
- He looks like he has to "think" before he starts eating his meds or mushed food; and [/*:m:1rctb3nr]
- Yesterday for the first time I got head bumps out of him, but I am not sure whether they were voluntary or not...[/*:m:1rctb3nr]
Chester is a gem to me, I went through hell to have him get to me from Newfoundland (which was made possible with the help of some wonderful people from here (and BF too) who went out of their ways to help us :heart: ). I truly, TRULY hate to see him like this. I have a vet appointment on Monday with my second vet - I want her to take a look at his molars since his incisives seem OK to me - but I am now considering asking for a bromo prescription as well, eventhough I don't feel I have a very strong case just yet.
Need your opinion - should I try him on bromo before it gets worst, or is it just old age? My emotions are probably blinding me, so I thought I would ask more knowledgeable and less emotionally-involved people for their input...