Degloving

Question
QUESTION: I had to put my sweet rat to sleep yesterday over what I think was degloving but my vet said it was a blood clot.  I had a cat pass from a blood clot and I really don't think it was the case.  About 5 days ago I noticed he had about a two inch tail section with a bad scrape on it.  I washed it with soap and water and but antibiotic cream on it.  I really didn't think much of it.  I thought maybe had a fight with my other rat.  Then on Monday night I noticed that whole area was black and shriveled up.  By Tues he was dragging his hind legs & I had to get him put to sleep.  I think the infection spread to his body. If for one second I thought the wound was anything serious I would have immediately brought him to the vet.  Do you have any idea on what this may have been?
Thank You,
Donna

ANSWER: I am really not understanding the need to euthanize the rat to be honest.
If it was a blood clot, which I am thinking it was more along the lines of necrotic tissue due to an injury like from getting it caught etc...
Also, five days isnt long enough for infection to spread to his body and it would not cause the loss of use of his hind limbs like that.
He probably had some issues with pain possibly that kept him from wanting to walk.  What was the method of treatment from the vet? Did he give him antibiotics orally?  Did he use any other medications such as steroids or pain medication?   I am not understanding why the vet felt it necessary to put him down.

Was this vet a certified avian/exotic vet or just a vet that sees pocket pets along with dogs and cats?

Either way this wont bring the rat back, but if the vet used poor judgment and misled you into thinking he was some exotic vet that was board certified and isnt, you can do plenty about it legally.  Please make the next message private and let me know the name of your vet so I can check out his credentials.  

I am very sorry for your loss.

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

QUESTION: Sandra,
Thank you for responding to me so quickly. I've had many critters over the years, but "Rattie" was my first rat, and I fell in love with him. I've been pretty much crying for 24hrs over the loss of this sweet baby.  He wasn't even one yrs old yet.    
I absolutely agree with you that he had Necrotic tissue in his tail.  I thought, OK amputation or put to sleep.  My usual vet doesn't work with rats so I called the vet at PetSmart where I got him from.  (I know, I know, but my other 6 pets are all rescues) Rattie did have blue pads on his paws, but I still don't agree with the blood clot diagnosis.  The vet offered no alternative treatment.  And honestly, once I saw his legs dragging, I knew it was over.  He was treated for rat lice (and his cage mate, a rescue) a couple of months ago & he never quite bounced back from that.  (Same vet) Could this also be an issue?  I think the vet treats pocket pets if I had to guess.  And to add insult to injury, they didn't even spell his name right on the paper work.
Vet info:
Leonard Candela
219 Stafford Park Blvd
Manahawkin, NJ 08050


Thank you so much for your help.
Donna


Answer
 The vet you saw, Dr. Candela, is far from being any kind of vet that has business seeing exotics.  He is not qualified at all and in fact he probably would not have been able to have amputated the tail anyhow. He would not even have the proper small scale tools meant for small mammal surgery. Banfield pet hospitals do not have the funding or should I say, PREFER not to use their funds to pay for small scale machinary meant for exotics to ensure safe surgery etc..nor do they have the capability to house a sick rat or small critter in oxygen if they have respiratory disease and canot breathe etc..in other words, its much easier to euthanize these animals rather than try to save them using substitutes. Ego plays a big role in some cases too where the vet would rather act as if he did all he could for him when the reality is, he had no idea where to even begin to help.  Sad sad.  The part that bothers me is that why did he allow pride to stand between he and the rat?? If thats the case shame on the vet.

Anyhow, as for good vets for rats, in your area, there are not many. I have two that are good exotics, but both are at least 30 minutes but very much worth the trip.


1st choice. This place even has a 24 hr. emergency for small mammals too.:

Dr. Michael Doolen
Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital PA    
225 Monmouth Road
Oakhurst NJ 07755
Phone:    732-531-1212
Website: www.oakhurstvet.com

***********
Dr. Warren Briggs
Ocean County Veterinary Hospital    
838 River Avenue (Route 9 & 70))
Lakewood NJ 08701-5218
Phone:    732-363-7202
Website: www.ocvh.com

If taking Garden State Pkwy N
drive should be   41 mins