Rats swollen feet

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

My rat, last of 4, he is the one that still is alive, all of a sudden got with a very BIG leg, swollen for sure, it hurts when i touch it because he squeaks.

I have no idea what happened, he is 2 years and 5 months and it got like that all of a sudden, he doesn't more all that much because it hurts him.

He eats and drinks, cause we put the food next to him...

Do you have any idea on what can it be, and how to treat? We are from Portugal, so take him to a vet it's impossible cause there is no specialist vets in Portugal for rats, at least not nearby.

Kind regards,
Nelson

ANSWER: Check out my website, sandyscrittercity.com and refer to the page about swollen foot/bumblefoot.

Compare the photos that  you see and that of your rat, let me know if this is  the same as your rats.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


Rat swollen foot   QUESTION: Hello,

Here is an image of the swollen foot of my rat! What do you think?

Kind regards,
Nelson

ANSWER: Oh yes thats exactly like the photos on my site.  Your rat NEEDS oral antibiotics, trimeth sulfa..if not, this will travel to his blood stream and cause sepsis, which is fatal.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello,

I went to the vet and she told me to give him antibiotics, enrofloxacin, and the vet said that it's the only medicine that they give to small animals.
I already gave him the first dose, about 10mg of it, tomorrow morning I'll give another 10mg... Do you think enrofloxacin will make the same effect?

Also we are applying a local desinfectant, and tomorrow we will put cream called Helosan, usually does good to the skin.
It is commonly used for bruises and small cuts.

What do you think of all this?

Thanks for the awnser.

Answer
Sad sad sad how Vets outside of the US are clueless about rats.  Just sad.  rats can take EVERY DRUG made known by man, every single drug, even narcotics.....so no, baytril is NOT the only drug small animals can take.  Sheer and plain ignorance on their part.  I feel sorry for rats that live in countries where vets are not taught anything about their PROPER care. The good news is at least the vet gave him medicine and doesnt think its a  broken foot like I have had reports of other assanine Vets think.

He should start to heal...at least I hope.  This isnt usually the best choice of antibiotics for this condition but it is better than nothing.

I am sorry your choice of vets is so limited there.