Question
xray
the life of amelia tan hooded rat: 12/2: how do i know if i just have a bloated rat that needs to pass gas or a megacolon rat that needs medical assistance. amelia is about 12 mo old and in the last couple weeks she been getting 'fat'. today i said, 'if i didn't know better, i'd think she was pregnant'. thus the internet search. i am very confused about all that i have read... but i gave her a warm bath because i know it makes her poop. she passed 2 small 'normal-squish' poops.
she is a little cool compared to our other rat. i am trying some of the things that i have read that seem 'safe' to do. i got the heating pad. started the 'poop' massage i have read about.. an hour later out came a average size 'normal' poop. i can definately 'hear' gas moving in her stomache. it's been about 2 hours now and she's still hanging out on the heating pad on my lap of her own free will. she doesn't mind me pushing on her stomache and i've been doing it for quite some time. she's getting simethicone drops.
12/3: This morning, I gave the simethicone every 20-30 min. She sat on my lap for an on and off 3 hour massage this morning. she pooped 'normal' about 5 times and one really goey small one. She is still large. You can hear the little popping noises while you massage her. She seems completely fine (except her size).
I saw a picture of the 41 day old megacolon rat and that is what she kinda looks like???
12/4 I ended up taking my rat to the vet (one who does exotics) $150 and 2 hours later they had no idea about anything. i do have an e-copy of her xray. she is full of air and they see no blockage. i told them i saw pictures of megacolon rats on the web and that she looked very similar, but they never heard of it. i told them about the simethicone. they said it won't hurt if i want to keep giving it to her. they gave me a prescription, metronidaz. .3ml for 10 days. did that. amelia never got any smaller. she is still pooping and eating 'normal' but getting larger. she was about 2 times her size when i took her in.
12/13 i called the doc back. told her she's still huge. she said she'd contact a friend at CSU.
1/15 she finally got back to me today. said her doc friend said he didn't have any ideas. i personally don't think she even sent the xrays or contacted him, but who am i. she is now, i'd say 3 times bigger. she looks like a balloon that is going to burst, but she still acts normal. (except the waddling like a penquin) i don't know what to do. my husband almost died and he thinks it was only about $100 that i spent. he will have a fit if i spend more money on her. i don't have a problem doing it, but $150 is rediculous and to know nothing or have a treatment plan i can't justify it either. i was also offered a prescription for metoclopramide. is this something i should persue? thanks for your time. btw, she is starting to smell stinky.
AnswerIf you took your rat to a vet that sees exotics and he or she never heard of megacolon, that is very very scary. Megacolon is NOT just a rat disease, but other animals as well as HUMANS can develop this painful and sometimes fatal disease. I am so shocked they told you that they never heard of megacolon...I dont know what to say.
I am going to contact a friend of mine who is a Vet and let him look at this film to see what he thinks. This way it wont be just my opinion but also I will have the advice of a licensed Vet as well. I will get back to you, but do answer this so I have a follow up to answer, this way it will get posted faster.
REVISED:
FIND A NEW VET! This is not all gas but TONS of fecal matter!! Your rat possibly has late onset megacolon. You were absolutely right!!
He needs an enema and also needs to take this:
Cisapride- 0.2 mg/lb to 0.4 mg/lb OR 0.1 mg/kg to 0.5 mg/kg every 12 hrs.
This x ray was read by a certified Veterinarian, BTW. I wanted a second opinion before I gave you my opinion but I knew right off it was megacolon. I am stilled floored your vet never heard of megacolon. That is just BS. Please be sure the rat is very well hydrated as well.
bump, medicine
QuestionQUESTION: Hi Sandra. I sent you a question a wh
Rat play or foul play?
QuestionQUESTION: When my 5 week old rat is playful and
rat baby growth
Questionmy baby rat
QUESTION: First of all, than
Tumor, Abscess, or Cyst and What to do
Question
Robin 1 Robin 2
Hey Irene, this i
Rats ear bleeding, face swollen
Question
my rats face and ear
my pet rats is almost 2 y
