Lung tumor Follow-up: new x-rays

Question
QUESTION: Surprise! Me again! lol

My boy Burt was given two weeks to live because he had x-rays showing masses in his lungs. This was two weeks, 1 day ago.

He is still with me, but I did almost say goodbye to him yesterday at the vet's. I decided to take him home one more night, and this morning he seems to be feeling better again. Eating, drinking a little and breathing better.

It's a rollercoaster- he will have 2 very bad days, & I think he will die or I will have to bring him to be euthanized the next day... and he will "miraculously" recover and have 3 or so really good days where he will eat, drink, play and act normal.

Then he will start to cough, and within 12 hours he will be gasping through his mouth, sides pumping in and out like a fish out of water.
This has happened 4 times!!!

I now have him on Prednisone, Lasix at the max dose, and Pimobendan.
[I only neb him with the gentocin/mucomix solution every other day.]

New x-rays yesterday! The "nodules" in his lungs are brighter, but the rest of his lungs now look clearer. He also had gas in his abdomen. Maybe from not eating the last 24 hours anything but Nutri-Cal?? The doctor called it "minimal" improvement, but still was hinting that I'm prolonging his inevitable death and I will need to let go soon.
I know that is true, but I just love him so much and he's only 19 months old.

She can't tell me what he has! I'm so curious.

I personally think it's advanced heart disease caused by mistreated URI. That's my "mother's instinct". They still think those nodules could be tumors and he's untreatable.

My question- is Pimobendan an appropriate drug for a rat? Never hear of its use in a rat before, but the Dr. preferred it for him over Enalapril.
Any experience with it?
Any idea what my baby has?

ANSWER: I have no experience using this drug, however, it is widely used for dogs with congestive heart failure.
I want to know if there is any way possible you can get your hands on that x ray?  It is, after all, your property and if you could get it on here so I can see a copy of it, I also have a friend (He is a Vet and has alot of experience removing mammary tumors and neutering rats etc....) but he can take a look at the film for me as well...this way you will have two more opinions and that sure cant hurt anything, right?

If, like presumed, his past upper and lower respiratory tract infections were not properly treated, this indeed could cause lung scarring or blistering, which leads to COPD. Of course, since lung disease tends to go hand in hand with heart disease, it would not shock me at all to even find that he has a collapsed lung.  I am thinking she is seeing possible scarring or blistering of the lungs.

Do you trust this Vet?  Have ever discussed proper euthanasia and also a necropsy on  the rats remains once she passes?  I hate this subject, trust me, but it is a very important to have done and this way, not only will you finally know what was going on with him , but you will also have helped many vets know what is going on with our rats etc....


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


Burt, lateral x-ray   QUESTION: I'd love to have you look at the x-ray. I was able to pick up a copy today, so one is attached.
This was taken March 3. This was the third and most recent taken.
I was told the lung nodules were brighter and his stomach was gassy, but his lungs looked a little bit more clear.

Yes, I've discussed proper euthanasia and was assured that anesthetic is used and I would watch the whole time. I haven't approached the topic of an autopsy but I will ask if it's possible.

As for Burt, today he is feeling a little better. He's been eating [being a little picky] and drinking and his breathing is relatively good.
However, yesterday he wasn't feeling well at all and I've pretty much decided when he "crashes" again, that if he stays like that more than a day it's time to throw in the towel. I'm tired of seeing him look so bad and I'm sure he has to be getting tired of it too!

Answer

Well....it looks like your Vet has read the film upside down. After I looked over it and had a Vet that is very qualified to treat rats also looked at it, this is what it appears to be.

Those are NOT nodules...your rats chest is full of FLUID and gas!


There is SO much fluid in the chest she better increase lasix and stop pred. The huge amount of gas has got to be from open mouth breathing. I'd be worried that fluid is in chest not in lungs and any way a chest tap could be done? Could even be a pyothorax. If gets pus off of chest likely to be strep. If it is then amoxy or zithromax or trimet/sulfa should be added.


Is the rat on anything for pain? buprinex if they have it


To be honest, I  would feel better if your  rat was in the hands of a different Vet.