relationship between groin abscess and hind quarters paralysis

Question
I have a male rat who is 12 months old. He has previously had an abscess in his groin area. The abscess eventually burst and healed (we cleaned it and applied anti-bacterial powder).

He recently developed a second abscess. At the same time he began to drag his hind legs slightly, which we assumed was due to the abscess. The abscess has now burst and drained (after about 2 weeks), but his movement has deteriorated significantly. He seems to have very little power in his back legs and is mostly dragging himself with his front legs. He is also dragging his tale rather than lifting it and can no longer jump across gaps.

He can no longer use his back legs to scratch himself, clean his fur his face or ears which he used to do.

I know that older rats can suffer from degeneration of their spinal cord. But this rat seems a bit you for that to be the cause, I have one of his brothers who is currently the picture of health and very active. His problems also seem to have coincided with with the abscess quite precisely.

Could this loss of function in his hindquarters be related to the abscess, some kind of infection or something? I'm going to try taking him to a vet, but we don't know a vet that specialises in Rats so I am also looking for other sources fo information.

Answer
Hi

It could still be infection in the bone possibly.  The fact that he isnt lifting his tail tells a tale of its own.  Pain can also cause this but if the abscessed has subsided, I dont know how it would be related.

Please let me know your location.  There are not vets that are rat specialists to be honest. A good vet that sees exotics but also has focused on rodent health is what you want, and not readily available sadly.  If they DO claim to see exotics, sadly many of them only think they know what they are doing and treat the rat on a wing and a prayer. Its pathetic.  Please let me help you find a good vet if possible that can help. This is not something for a general vet that only knows the basics on small mammal medicine.