Pet rats abdominal cavity is filling with puss, vet has no answer and offered to put him down EMERGENCY

Question
QUESTION: My 9 mo old male rat has some illness and the vet is unsure as to what is wrong with him.  

Around two weeks ago I noticed Iskar's belly looked a little bit more rounded and that he was not as agile (the lack of agility was gradual though).  I played around with the thought of going to the vet but my husband and I did not have the $150 just for the vet to look at him and tell us that he was fat.  

His change in size was not abrupt so I did not worry about it...that was until I picked him up an noticed he smelled like poop.  He usually smells great so I checked his behind and saw it was caked up back there.  The next day my husband took him to the vet.  

He told her about how his belly looked bloated but how he was still eating and almost just as energetic.  He said during the examination when the vet was pushing on his belly he was squealing bloody murder though and that she did not seem optimistic about things.

They kept him and did an xray.  I picked Iskars up and the vet said that they drew some fluid out of his belly and it was puss- except the bacterial count was very low.  She also said on the xray she could hardly see any open space and that his abdomen was filled with puss.

She said he probably had an infection of his liver or another organ- something deep inside.  She gave us three options:  one to try surgery which is life threatening on its own (not to mention we cannot afford it), put him on two antibiotics which she said probably wont help, or to put him down.

Since he was still happy and eating of course I didn't choose option number three.  I got the antibiotics and hope they might help enough so he can fight the infection.

Any advice, we love him to death.  He is the most loving and intelligent rat ever.

ANSWER: For starters, lets go private so you can tell me the name of the vet. I would like to check their credentials to see unless you are positive this vet is an exotic specialist at an all exotic hospital and is board certified in  exotics.  Even though you cant afford surgery, why is it so life threatening? Did the vet claim rats cannot safely be operated on?

Number two, why wont antibiotics work?  How is it that they find pus, yet the bacteria count was low?  Pus IS bacteria.  I am so glad you  have the antibiotics.  What are they?

Number three, I would like to find you another vet should this vet turn out to be a wanna be exotic vet and nothing more than a vet that sees dogs and cats but sees exotics on the side as a special interest.   

It sounded as if this vet had no real clue what to do so you were really being pushed to euthanize rather than make an attempt to treat him.  They can simply check the fluid they took from him, find out what organism there is in it and prescribe the appropriate antibiotics for it.  This doesn't mean that it will work, however. I want to know if this is a tumor that abscessed internally, which it probably is and the clueless vet assumed it was an infected organ. ::rolls eyes::  To suggest you put a rat down that is still full of life is what I call a coward of a vet.  They take an oath to save lives, yet they were too quick to suggest you end his.  I am glad you had the good sense to decline euthanasia. Too many people put their trust into vets that turn out to know nothing about rat care and end the rats life when they had a good chance of recovery and they could have lived several years as a happy rat.





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QUESTION: Unfortunately you are right, it is a vet which also treats cats and dogs.  The antibiotics are  ::me goes to check::  Sulfatrim 2.5 ml 2x's a day mixed with 1/4 of a pill of 22.7 mg of Baytrill.  Currently I've been mixing the meds with a bit of yogurt but Iskars still won't eat all of it.  What is the best way to give antibiotics to rats?

I feel the same way you do about the vet though.  Are there any specialists around 28098?  If we can scrounge up the money we will try to take him.

As for a tumor, she couldn't see anything on the xray but mainly puss.  But she said there wasn't one.  

Last night he didn't have a poopy but and was pretty active so I let him out.  It was so nice for him to be out again and he was so happy to be able to be with us.

ANSWER: Small world.....I was in Charlotte for 12 years, just left to move to southern Florida last month.

I know of an AWESOME exotic vet who is NOT a rip off and will be honest with you 100%.  However, it means going out to Concord, which should not be that bad really.  Its about a 45 min drive which I had to drive when I lived there too.

The info is as follows

Griffin Exotics
Ask to see Dr. Griffin, not the other new doctor there. I dont think this is a case for a newbie exotic vet like this new girl is thaw has only been there for a short time.

Here is the information:


Dr. Chris Griffin
2100 Lane Street, Kannapolis, NC 28083
(704) 932.8111  




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QUESTION: Thank you so much.  I'll call today and get a quote.  I appreciate you taking out the time to answer my question.

Answer
It should be around $50 for the first visit and after that, it goes down to $30 a visit.  he is very very good and very thorough.  he has saved the lives of many of my rats. Should he suggest that he needs put down, this is the Vet to trust.  Please let me know as soon as you can how  it went