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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / October 2007Art really ill
A fair bit of blood on and around the nose (pretty sure it is blood) labouring a bit to breathe. He will not eat or drink, I've tried yoghurt, complan , melon etc. He seems to have lost weight even from yesterday. The lump on his stomach that the vet said was a tumour, I'm pretty sure it is an abscess as it has a scab at the side of it, would that cause the not eating etc ? I'm really concerned about him and our vet is closed until tomorrow. I have him in a smaller cage with a warm fleece in his bed and a hot water bottle under the cage. Any advice please? > A fair bit of blood on and around the nose (pretty sure it is blood) > labouring a bit to breathe. He will not eat or drink, I've tried yoghurt, [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > under the cage. > Any advice please? I don't have any experience with abscesses in rats, but have some experience with abscesses in cats. If he has an infection that may put him off his food. Do you have any antibiotics you can give him. Doxycycline would be good for this. The other thing is to drain and flush out the abscess. In cats I'd pick of the scab and gently wipe off the pus and wash the wound with tap water. In regards to Art not eating, soy baby formula may help. It certainly has with my rats. He might prefer to be syringe fed, but make sure you aren't forcing it into his mouth just in case the liquid gets into his lungs. Are there after hours vets that you can use. Alternatively you could talk with your vet on the phone, he/she may have some good advice. I hope Art is okay. Dewi > I don't have any experience with abscesses in rats, but have some > experience with abscesses in cats. If he has an infection that may put [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Dewi I went to the 24 hour asda earlier and got a selection of baby food, some blackcurrent re-hydration drinks, dextose tablets which I crushed and mixed in with the re-hydration powder, and some yoghurt. Art licked some of the rice pudding baby food from my finger and let me syringe some re-hyration/dextrose mix into his mouth. Tar is really down as well and he is now eating less than Art. I've put them both in a one level cage with low dishes of baby food etc. I had them on the couch for ages but Art was getting a bit stressed after a while. Both Art and Tar were given a baytril injection 2 days ago and are on baytril orally now. At the moment I am still not certain as to whether it's an abscess or not, his coat has been patchy round this area since he had a tumour removed earlier in the year. It's a good couple of inches away from the place were the tumour was, all though he does have a small tumour in the same place as the last one was. There are no out of hour vets in my town , the nearest I feel is too far away for them to travel in their condition. If I phoned the vet out of hours he would suggest just to keep them warm and try to keep them hydrated. I will stay up with them tonight and phone for an appointment as soon as they open. Poor Behn, Fhean and Doowie are feeling pretty neglected, but I will make it up to them. >> I don't have any experience with abscesses in rats, but have some >> experience with abscesses in cats. If he has an infection that may put [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > Poor Behn, Fhean and Doowie are feeling pretty neglected, but I will make > it up to them. I'm sorry to hear Art and Tar aren't doing so good, well wishes and healing vibes being sent their way. Please let us know what the vet says. Tracey > I'm sorry to hear Art and Tar aren't doing so good, well wishes and > healing vibes being sent their way. Please let us know what the vet says. > > Tracey Thank you Tracey, I called the vet as soon as they were open the receptionist told me there were no appointments, I left my phone number and the vet called me when he got into the surgery. He said that considering the size of the mass he felt inside of Art and how badly enlarged his liver is that he feels there is no more he can do medically for him, he feels the same about Tar as well. He does like Art and Tar but does not vast knowledge of rats. He told me I could have an appointment today if I still wanted one. I didn't feel it fair to drag them out of the house to a stressful situation when the vet felt he could do no more for them. He reminded me that they are open until 12pm tomorrow and then they are closed for the weekend, I told him I would review things today and tonight and then decide if I need to go down tomorrow. They both still enjoy their hugs and both are eating a little now even if it is things that they shouldn't be having, but I figure that any food is better than no food. Art has less blood around his nose today and is eating better than Tar. They are both eating a little now, and Art loves the rehydration / dextrose mix, I really think that helped a great deal as less than 24 hours ago I had to syringe it into his mouth and now he drinks it from the bottle. I tried halfing the superpet cage but Tar cannot manage even one short ramp now, he almost fell off the side of it. I tried the superpet with no shelves but they seemed to be lost without them. So I have them back in the ferplast (I think it's a Mary) I moved the coffee table over to where the superpet cage normally was so they have the same view. Poor guys, they don't like the smaller cage but it is not safe for Tar any other way at the moment. At least they are both eating a bit and they enjoy their hugs. > They are both eating a little now, and Art loves the rehydration / dextrose > mix, I really think that helped a great deal as less than 24 hours ago I had [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > At least they are both eating a bit and they enjoy their hugs. Getting them to eat is key. I'm sure they'll get used to the cage. Safe if what matters now. I'm so glad they are doing better.  SignatureJoanne The Rat Shack www.jorats.com > They are both eating a little now, and Art loves the rehydration / dextrose > mix, I really think that helped a great deal as less than 24 hours ago I had [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > At least they are both eating a bit and they enjoy their hugs. It's good that they've picked up and are eating and drinking. How old are they now? It really is lousy when they age or get ill. Dewi > It's good that they've picked up and are eating and drinking. How old > are they now? It really is lousy when they age or get ill. > > Dewi They are two and a half , both from a pet store which I realize does make a difference :-( Tar is still really bad on his legs, but they changed cage again earlier, I had ordered a ferret nation for them before they became so ill as I was so impressed with the one the wee guys got. Art and Tar are just using the bottom level at the moment , I haven't even put the shelf in yet as I need to think of a way to make it really safe. They are due back at the vets tomorrow, it's an appointment he didn't think they would make, they proved him wrong :-) I just wish I had got them the ferret nation a long time ago :-( >> It's good that they've picked up and are eating and drinking. How old >> are they now? It really is lousy when they age or get ill. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > I just wish I had got them the ferret nation a long time ago :-( For rats needing a single level, the FN really does offer huge space without the need of a level. It's been my experienced, in Canada that is, that breeder rats are no different than pet store rats. Our breeders here really don't try to make healthy rats but rather "beautiful" ones. :( I do only rescues now and I know that most come from the pet stores... so far, I've got Loki, my oldest living rat, she's 42 months old, my Bijou was 41 months old when she died, she was a breeder rat, Loki is a rescue. Now I know that the ages are not the norm, in fact, most are lucky to have a rat reach 24 months. Which just goes to show you that the love and care they get in their home is extremely important and helps make them live longer. 2.5 is amazing for a rat. You are doing something right!! SignatureJoanne The Rat Shack www.jorats.com > For rats needing a single level, the FN really does offer huge space > without the need of a level. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > is extremely important and helps make them live longer. 2.5 is amazing for > a rat. You are doing something right!! I also find the FN is kinder on them when I have to get them out at times they don't really want to come out. They always want out at night but for vet appointments etc. it is so much easier to access them. In the past I have had most rats from breeders, the few I have got from pet shops have always developed tumours around the age of 2 :-( Loki is fantastic, I had a look at her photos the other day :-) Bad news at the vets today :-( Art has a growth internally this time, the vet says he can feel it round his rib cage and it is about the size of a walnut. He also has 2 small tumours on his side. His breathing was worse at the vets as he was stressed. The vet suggested having him PTS but he isn't as distressed at home and is still eating a bit and wants hugs. He gave him a vitamin injection but I refused the steroid injection as I know they can be painful, having the steroid injection could maybe help a bit, but I was worried he may have reacted bad to it and I don't want his last bit of time to be painful. I am keeping him under review on a daily basis now :-( Tars tumour has grown a bit and his legs are getting worse, but he is still very bright eyed and content. Poor little guys. Sending comforting vibes to them. Dewi > Poor little guys. Sending comforting vibes to them. > > Dewi Thanks everyone for all their kind comments aand support. While Art is still eating he now seems to have gotten worse tonight, I now feel that maybe I should have took my vets advice today. His breathing is quite laboured and he seems very down, if he is no better in the morning I feel I should let him go peacefully. Tar will miss him terribly (as will I ) but Tar does not get on with my 3 young boys and his paralysis is getting pretty bad so I don't think he is up to introductions. He also has a tumour and failing kidneys I really don't know what to do for the best. >> Poor little guys. Sending comforting vibes to them. >> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > He also has a tumour and failing kidneys I really don't know what to do > for the best. I'm so sorry to hear Art is very ill. Big hugs, take care. Tracey >> For rats needing a single level, the FN really does offer huge space >> without the need of a level. [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > Tars tumour has grown a bit and his legs are getting worse, but he is still > very bright eyed and content. Poor sweetie. You're doing the best for him. SignatureJoanne The Rat Shack www.jorats.com |
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