Zoey (diabetic) going to specialist on Thurs Update 6/27

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Slapdash

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2009
Messages
501
Location
Massachusetts
My sweet Zoey who was diagnosed with diabetes in April isn't doing well today. :sad3: I haven't had a chance to post an update on her, it's been so overwhelming lately, caring for her, and having two rats in the past 3 weeks with PT's.

So starting this afternoon she's been having a lot of resp. problems. She's had the hiccups on and off but we couldn't exactly treat her with traditional meds because her kidneys are already compromised from the diabetes. The vet felt it best not to put her on antibiotics for that reason and she was breathing just fine 95% of the time.

I noticed her laboring pretty hard to breathe and she has made a few of the crackling like sounds. Shes also very lethargic, her sides are sunken in, her eyes are squinty and her ears go back every now and then in an expression of pain :( What can I do for her? I gave her albuteral but I'm worried it's her heart since most of the research I've done on the diabetes says that heart failure is usually one of the first causes of death in diabetic rats. Is there a way aside from waiting to see if meds work, to tell if it's her heart? Anything I can look or listen for?

And I don't know what I can do for her pain? I can't give her ibuprofen because of her kidneys as well? I gave her her subq fluids, hoping that will help her some. She's not really wanting to eat, and isn't getting around well. Also, weather it's her heart or her lungs I'm not even sure her body will handle the meds, but if she needs them we'll have to see I suppose? I'm so not ready to lose her :sad3: Trying to get a decent video, will upload asap.

Thanks
 
I'm really not sure what to say. I have no experience with diabetes but it sounds like she needs meds.... even with the risk I think it's more harmful not to give her anything. If you can call the vet and talk about the pros and cons of giving her something to make her more comfortable (I believe Metacam is not as harsh as Ibuprofen on the kidneys) that would probably be the best at this point. I'm really sorry :hugs:
 
victoria said:
I'm really not sure what to say. I have no experience with diabetes but it sounds like she needs meds.... even with the risk I think it's more harmful not to give her anything. If you can call the vet and talk about the pros and cons of giving her something to make her more comfortable (I believe Metacam is not as harsh as Ibuprofen on the kidneys) that would probably be the best at this point. I'm really sorry :hugs:
Click to expand...

Thanks, unfortunately, my regular vet isn't in until Saturday, and he knows her history well. But if it comes to it I'm going to bring her somewhere else, and tell them what to give me lol We'll definitely be at a vet either way by tomorrow morning if she's still like this.
 
Sounds like she needs to see a vet as her lungs are in bad shape regardless of the cause
If she is having difficulty breathing, eating would interfer with it thus she is eating little
Hope she soon sees a good vet to get the help she needs
 
Yeah, I knew as soon as I saw her she'd need some sort of abs but I wish I could give her something for pain tonight. I can get to the vet in the morning, already found another.
But, does anyone know what I can do for her tonight? Any ideas on making her more comfortable...do you think a one time dose of the ibuprofen is risky?
 
Aww poor little one and you :cuddle: Its so horrible knowing our ratties are going through any type of bad time, I know it always makes me feel sick thinking about my babies being uncomfortable. I think if shes that uncomfortable Id get meds too and take the chance :)
 
Back from the vet, only have 5 min till I need to leave for work so I will update more later. But basically, she's doing a lot better today, still not 100% but the vet said her lungs and heart sound good and she didn't want to start her on any abs but rather increase her daily sub q fluids, (she seemed dehydrated) and most likely start the insulin. She thinks somehow it was related to her diabetes. Good news was her ketones were normal, had they been off it would have been an indication her diabetes had gotten really bad and she was potentially on the verge of diabetic shock.
How could she have looked so awful last night, and her breathing was so labored but her lungs and heart sound good?

Going to try and post more later when I'm home from work, thanks again everyone!
 
So, Zoey is basically back to her normal self, not sure if she was on the stage of diabetic shock but the vet said her ketones were normal? I definitely heard abnormal respiratory sounds though a few times that night? I'm still confused over that and the next morning her lungs sound perfect?
The AWESOME part of all of this is that the doctor referred me to a specialist exotics(specializing in small companion mammals) at the MSPCA-Angell in Boston, and we have an appointment on Thursday :joy: The vet we saw said, I've seen hundreds of rats and hundreds of patients with diabetes but this is the first rat. lol She commended me on the maticulous care I've been doing, with her diet, sub q fluids, and preventative supplements but now that she seems like shes at the point of needing insulin and more specialized treatment and she suggested that we go there. I'm actually quite excited to really set up a detailed customized treatment plan for her :thumbup: even despite the hole it will leave in my pocket lol

She's feeling much better today :heart:
zy8PT.jpg
 
I'm so glad that she will see a specialist. I have been told that for humans with diabetes they often prescribe an ACE-inhibitor ( a heart med) to ease the load on the kidneys. I will be interested to see whether they do that kind of thing for rats, too. I have never had a rat with diabetes, so I am looking forward to hearing how things go on Thurs.
 

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