What to combine with Baytril?

Question
QUESTION: hi,

 I was just wondering if you could give me your opinion on what should be combined with my rats Baytril?

I took her in because she was haveing very wet sneezes, red eye, laboured breathing and always puffed up. Her lungs definatly sound congested.

The vet gave my injectable Baytril for 4 weeks, we are now 4 days into the treatment. Her breathing is better, her porphorin cleared up and she no longer sneezes BUT. Some of her symptoms seems like they are here to stay: she is still alittle laboured in breathing, still puffed up and her lungs still sound congested (not wet, but sticky and kinda sounds like her lungs are scarred, her lungs do feel heavy and solid)

My previous rat passed away from the exact same symptoms only 10X worse and i dont want to wait that long for my Allie to go the same way (well, i want to supress the symptoms).

What should i mix with the baytril? i feel amoxil will not do the work...any suggestions?

Thankyou for your time

Kerry

ANSWER: When you say your using the injectable baytril, your using it orally, not via injection, correct?

If so, you need to stop with the injections but before I go on about why, I will wait to see how it is being dispensed first.

If your rat has a secondary infection to mycoplasmosis, the amoxil may work just fine, but usually the normal protocol is to use baytril and doxycycline first. If after three days there is no improvement, I would use the amoxil. To be honest, you can use all three drugs simultaneously and they will not have any negative interactions with each other. Amoxil is better for possible streps but is useless on mycoplasmosis since myco is an organism that does not contain a cell wall and most antibiotics work to destroy the cell wall rather than the actual cell. Baytril does not. It will destroy the cell, which is why there are few choices to use when it comes to fighting myco.

If she has lung scarring, antibiotics are useless. Damage is done. usually the symptoms are treated such as using steroids for inflammation of the lung tissues and to open airways, albuterol or something similar should be used. If there is fluid, a diuretic such as lasix should be used as well.  Sometimes with long term lung problems, it starts to involve the heart and when we assume the rat is having long term problems with the lungs, sometimes the heavy breathing and shortness of breath is caused by heart disease.  At this point its a process of elimination. usually we put rats in the hospital that are having problems breathing, put them on oxygen and start trying various drugs to see what they respond to. This way at least they are more comfortable with the oxygenated air while waiting for the medications to start to work.
If there is a stubborn bacteria, the vet usually gives the rat a few days of gentocin injections too and can nebulize the baytril, doxy, steroids and albuterol to get it into the lungs faster. This has been a miracle worker in some cases (along with the use of gentocin)

When dealing with rats and any future respiratory infections, the key is to treat it for 30 days with some experts now suggesting 6 weeks on the meds.  If there is a second attack, the rat should be put on baytril for the rest of their life to prevent new infection since the second attack is what often leaves the lungs scarred or blistered. Sometimes there is even a partial collapse of one of the lungs, all from improper treatment of the disease from the first time the rat was stricken.  This is why its vital for all Vets that plan on seeing rats as patients to study in great depth the proper way to treat mycoplasma pulmonis when it strikes the first time in order to prevent future attacks that usually end up shortening the life of the rat when they are already jipped on a long life in the first place.

How old is your rat and is this the first or second time she has had a respiratory infection?

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

QUESTION: Hi,

  I compund the injectable and feed it orally. This is her first attack, and that is why i want the symptoms to be almost gone, i have seen too many rats relaps and die within days from the stress.

She doesnt make the 'owl' sound anymore from congestion, but i dont think her breathing has gotten better either.

She is spayed and is a 1yr5month top eared rat.

She will be kept on baytril for at least 6 weeks no matter what, i would just like to figure out which combo would be best.

Answer
All good......spayed *makes me happy!!* and the fact this is her first attack and the hooting sound is gone is good news, too.

I would add doxycycline and see how that works for a few days plus steroids. I have always had luck with prednisone when they had breathing difficulties. It has saved my life several times when I had pneumonia and has saved many of my rats lives as well as clinic rats too.

Is your vet open to your suggestions?