safe rat sedation

Question
I have a pet rat that is not comfortable with being handled. He was originally bought as a feeder for a snake belonging to a neighbor of mine. I took him when the snake ....sadly, but thankfully was not able to feed and died. Spaz, my rat was struck at for 2-3 days before being removed...that was about 1 year ago and he has grown big and healthy but very untrusting, though still sweet. He really screams when I try to pick him up- he has never tried to bite.
He now has an open sore/abscess on his left shoulder area...I dread taking him to work with me and having him more stressed out then necessary...(I work at an animal derm clinic) is there anyway of tranquilizing him in order to get his abscess cleaned up and also mabye an antibiotic injection if safe?  Would gassing him down a little be safe..we do use isoflorine gas?
I'm asking you before getting teased by my own dr's at work...I do tend to ask for help with my pets a lot and I figure if I can get an idea of what is best, my vet's will appreciate it...I also worry we don't have he proper 'resources' to get this info...I don't want to have Spaz be 'experimented on' so to speak...
I do understand liability falls on me when it comes to my rats care.
Thank you for any info you can relay-

paula

Answer
Rats can safely take (Diazepam) valium in liquid form. It would be safer than using isoflurane. To be honest, you can treat him at home cant you? If you can get a prescription for the liquid valium and give it to him at home to make him a bit more relaxed, you can clean that abscess out with normal saline solution and pack it with an antibiotic ointment.  I do not recommend injections for rats. They have very little body mass and its hard to give an accurate injection. If it is vital the rat is injected, the flank area is the only acceptable area to inject. The scruff area of the neck is a joke to inject as there is nothing there but skin and bone.

I would prefer using oral antibiotics such as Trimeth-sulfa.

Othere names for this drug may be: Co-trimoxazole sulfonamide (abbreviated SXT, TMP-SMX, TMP-SMZ or TMP-sulfa)which is an antibiotic combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole.

It penetrates the pus so much better than most antibiotics. You can make it into a tasty elixir or else mix it with something ymmy at home like ice cream or yogurt. this drug can be given safely with dairy unlike some other drugs like tetracycline.

The valium can be given as follows:

Oral Solution: 1mg/mL, 5 mg/mL (Diazepam Intensol)

2.3 mg/lb  every 6 to 8 hours but if you want it for this purpose, no reason to repeat it again.


Last but not least, check out my website, sandsycrittercity.com and refer to the topic on trust training shy rats. I have had many people say my method of training shy rats work and it has for me esp with my wild rat that I  saved, so lets hope this way works and you wont even have to worry about sedation!  

Also when using meds, dont bother trying to make him take it through a syringe. Simply mix it with some ice cream or yogurt on a flat dish and offer it to him that way.  Works like a charm!