Gizmos breathing

Question
QUESTION: Hi Sandra,

I had 3 rats Gizmo, Gadget (who I wrote to you about before) and Gonzo (all males around just over a year old). Gizmo started to breath more rapidly a few weeks ago and lost a bit of weight and generally was not himself. I took him to the vets a week ago and she had a listen and prescribed him general antibiotics (marcrob or something like that) which he had to have 0.25ml twice a day for 10days with a follow up appointment booked for this coming Thurs to check his weight etc. We also separated him from the other two as she thought that it might be a respiratory problem which she didn't want the other 2 catching. We gave him the antibiotics etc and his breathing did slow down, and although he didn't put on any weight he didn't loose any either. We decided the other day to put him back with the other 2 as he was lonely, and then this evening when going to check on him, he had died.

I have no idea what was wrong with him, he did not make any sounds when breathing and was eating and drinking ok, he was very lethargic though and had quite a lot of porophyin coming out of his nose, could it have been a tumor of the lungs? and if so what could have been done for future reference with the other 2?

I am devisated by this loss however at least he was in with the other 2 at the time and was not alone...

Thanks

Anderley

ANSWER: Hi

I am so sorry for your loss.  For starters, I am against taking sick rats and putting them alone. This causes too much stress and hinders recovery. The only time a sick rat needs isolated is when the other rats are bullying him.  He had already exposed the other rats the day he fell ill providing he was even contagious, so putting him alone would not have kept the other rats from catching it anyhow since they were already exposed.  Thats just silly thinking on the vets part and shows me the vet needs to take a course in rat behavior.
That said, it doesnt sound to me like he was sick with an infection but instead, his weight loss and lethargy was more indicative of heart disease.  Untreated heart disease will cause sudden death in rats.  He could have been put on enalapril for starters and later onto other heart medications.  You can read more about heart disease on my website here:

http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/heartandkidneydisease.htm

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

QUESTION: Hi Sandra,

Many thanks for all your advice, I am still learning when it comes to pet rats and obviously I just took the vets word for it. I feel as though I should have done more for him as I didn't even realise it was a heart problem, I let him down, esp taking him to such a clearly unexperienced vets. :( .

Could you please send me the address of the nearest exotic animal vets to me so that my other 2rats do not have to go though the same ordeal as poor Gizmo.

I am in Egham, Surrey in the UK.

Many thanks again

Answer


This is what I have as far as vets go




Wendover Heights    
1 Tring Road
Halton Aylesbury Bucks HP22 5PN
Phone:    01296 623439
Website: www.whvc.co.uk



Ms. Nathalie Wissink Argilaga
Scott Veterinary Clinic    
405 Goldington Road
Bedford Bedfordshire England MK41 0DS
Phone:    +441234261622
Website: www.scottveterinaryclinic.co.uk