Ongoing respiratory problems

Question
QUESTION: Hi

I hope you can help me with my ratty medical problem.  My lovely 18 month old female rat Fly has ongoing breathing problems (rattly and laboured breathing), which she has been suffering from on and off for nearly a year.  I have tried a variety of medications and some work but within a few days the symptoms are back again.  Here is a list of the medications I have tried:

Baytril
Marbocyl/Doxy
Baytril/Doxy
Synulox
Septrin
Zithromax

(Sorry I am in the UK and these are the brand names - I am not sure of the proper drug names.)

She has now developed a lump in her groin which I would like removed but I know that I need to get on top of the respiratory problems before any surgery.  I took her to my amazing vet today and he has given her a steroid injection (Dexafort) which will hopefully relieve some of the symptoms.  He has also suggested trying the doxy/marbocyl combination again.  Most recently she has been on zithromax and before that doxy/baytril.

Any advice you could give re possible other combinations or a different drug would be gratefully received.

Many thanks.


ANSWER: All of the drugs used are the best for mycoplasmosis.  However, it could be a secondary infection and in that case, another drug should be added as well.  I prefer something very aggressive called gentocin but many vets that are not really exotic educated fear that it will be nephrotoxic to the rat and cause kidney damage.  This can happen when used long term but not if it is used for just 5 to 7 days.  Rats have a fast metabolic rate and this will help move it along through their system much faster than any other animal, thus in turn, it is not known to cause any of the feared side effects it can cause in other animals.  Its a great drug. If the vet is still leary despite my claims, the next best drug to use would be amoxil.If the rat has not only myco, but a secondary infection, a penicillin based drug would help immensely.  The steroids may make a huge difference too, so let me know how things go in a day or two.  Also, a good drug to open the airways would be albuterol. I would ask the vet about this and use it twice a day.  Also, has your vet ever used a nebulizer on your rat?  If not, this would also be a good way to get the medications into the rats lungs very fast. I also suggest once the rat is stable to never stop giving the rat these antibiotics.  I would use them for the rest of the rats life.  In this case, the benefits greatly outweigh the risks.

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

QUESTION: Hi Sandra

Thank you so much for your reply.  Its great to know that there are alternatives out there I was starting to become a bit desperate that we had run out of options.  Sorry another question - is gentocin an injectable or an oral drug?  Just wondering if it would need to be given by my vet (he is an hour's round trip and the journey stresses my poor little girl out quite a bit).  I will speak to him about amoxil and the nebulizer option too.

The steroid has seemed to calm the laboured breathing so that is good, however, she is still rattly.  I have just read that doxy does not work with calcium - now I have been giving it with soya yoghurt which may explain why there has not been any response to this drug?  I have switched to a fruit puree baby food so hopefully this will allow it to work better.  Fingers crossed.

Thank you very much for your response again Sandra, it has given me a new sense of hope!

Answer
Certain drugs do not work as well if dairy is used during the treatment, but there are some exceptions with doxy.  This is not always the case and in fact, the Vet would have or should have warned you if the form of doxy given was not to be used with dairy. I dont think it made any difference.  Also, soy is non dairy so it should not have caused any interaction with the medication.  Doxy alone is not the drug of choice to use however.  The gentocin is an injection, but you can easily give them to her at home and I can guide you how if needed, or the vet can show you.  ALWAYS inject in the flank, never the nape of the neck.  There isnt enough fat there and it can make the rat a bit uncomfortable.  Ask the vet to dilute it also to prevent stinging and to give you two needles per syringe.  This way, once you draw the medication, the needle will not be as sharp so a new needle should be used.  The sharper the needle the less pinching and stinging for rattie.  The vet can also draw up a few syringes for you full of the medication and also give you a few with saline so you can practice.   I promise, its easy and she wont mind a bit.  Also, see about steroids given orally daily, such as prednisone. This will help so much if she gets it daily.  It helps inflammation of the lungs and also helps calm the inflammation of the airways as well.