enlarged liver and kidneys

Question
QUESTION: I have a 7month old Dumbo rat.  She has an enlarged liver and kidneys (x-ray confirmed) heart and lungs are good.  Symptoms include lethargy, weight loss, and her fur is thinning out.  The vet said she would eventually just pass, but I can't just let Mercury suffer so I have added tofu, wheat germ, spinach, apples, carrots, yogurt, etc. to her diet.  Mercury seems to perk up and almost act normal sometimes, but I am wondering if there is more I can do for her.  What about Denosyl for her liver?

ANSWER:
Has the vet determined what the cause of her enlarged liver and kidneys are from?

You can try the denosyl to see what it does for her but unfortunately I do not have a dose for her. I can try to figure it out though if you need it.

Also, what type of bedding has she been on and what diet has she been on?

Please see my website, Sandyscrittercity.com and refer to the page on kidney disease and ways to treat it, from diet to supplements.   

Here is the link: http://www.sandyscrittercity.com/heartlungkidneydisease.htm

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

QUESTION: The vet didn't say why she thought Mercurys liver and kidneys were enlarged.  I had the rats on aspen bedding, but I just changed to corn cob.  Mercury was sick before the bedding change, but I just noticed that the other three rats are sneezing and have a red discharge coming out of their noses.  I'm not sure if I should go back to the aspen bedding.
As for the food, All the rats were eatting a brand of pellet from walmart.  I read the kidney diet menu you provide, but it seems kind of confusing to me.  15% of this and 20% of that. I appreciate you taking the time to help me with Mercury, she is my 7 yr. old daughters rat.  And we got her because my 9 yr. old daughters rat died this summer.
And as for the denosyl, I got the 90 gm. crushed it and mixed it with water, put it in a syringe and injected it oraly.  I didn't use the whole tablet.  I don't know how she is responding to it yet because all the rats seem pretty lazy today.

Answer
Stop the corn cob right away.  This is also very bad for them for several reasons. When it gets wet, it grows a very nasty mold beneath the layers of the litter.  Second, if they eat it, even a few pieces, it will swell in their belly and cause a dangerous intestinal blockage. It has done this to birds too which is why there is a grate in a bird cage between the litter and the bird, so they cannot reach it and eat it.  Very bad stuff, as bad as pine and cedar are.

Go back to aspen.

As for the diet, a regular diet in general needs to be 15% protein or less. In a sensitive rat, this will cause kidney damage in no time flat. If the pellets from walmart are high in protein and the first ingriedient is corn of any  sort, this diet can be the possible cause of kidney problems in your blue rat.  

The seed mixes from pet stores are also terrible for rats too, again, high in protein content.
You can order a good pellet from the net, either look up Regal rat by oxbow or harlan teklad rodent blocks.  I use the Regal rat and my own homemade rat diet as per the directions on the page on feeding rats a healthy diet.

As for the liver...it could easily be congential to be honest. I think a change in diet will help alot. Push the liquids too.  Try also feeding baby food to him too in order to get alot of fluids in his body as well.

I  would ask the vet what are some of the possible causes for your rat to be this way....test this vet, see if she has any ideas. Something tells me she has no idea.