Female rat urinary problems - metacam

Question

Wanda   QUESTION: Hi,

I have mailed you before about both my rats, Wanda (doe, 22 months) and Simba (neutered male 15 months). Ages are approximate as they were both rescue rats.

Wanda had blood in her urine back in October 08. A course of Baytrill cleared it up. 3 weeks ago I noticed it again and an increased thirst. She's eating as normal and very spritely and active in herself. I took her straight to the vets that day.

I do have an exotic vet who has been treating her but may need to refer me to another vet who is even more specialised with rats. I was given a 2 week couse of Baytrill and although the bleeding stopped, it came back whilst still on it. The vet took a dip stick of her fresh urine after pressing slightly on her bladder to release some fresh urine. She said her bladder was quite full and showed blood. She then said to discontinue Baytrill and has put her on metacam for a week.

Since the metacam, the increased thirst stopped and I can't see any blood in her urine. I took her back 3 days ago as I thoguht she wasn't urinating (there was no urine where she usually goes on the plastic tray). Turns out her bladder was empty and urine was clear. She must have been urinating somewhere else. Later that night, I kept her out for 2 hours as I knew she would wee in her play area and I would see, just to check she really is weeing ok! She did a nice big one so was happy with that.

The vet said she can come off the metacam and see how she goes.

Should I take her to this other vet too? This other vet apprently can do exploritary surgery to see if she has something elese (tumor, crystals etc). Should I do this?

I ask as my last 2 rats (ronnie and willow) both died just before they reached 2 years old. Although they were pet shop rats (I didn't realise how badly they were bred until recenently), I care for them very very well. Willow had a tumor which we had removed but she always had respitory problems which flared up a month after the op very badly (she was on antibitotics most her life) and she died after many different treatments to save her. Ronnie had a massive tumor which was attached to the inside of her stomach and apparently was in-operable.

I'm worried if exploritory surgery is unecassary and also that it may cause Wanda a lot of stress. I am quite willing to have it done if I think it's in her best interests. Money is not an issue as I save every month for rat emergencies!

I know you're not a vet but I wondered from your personal experience, what would you do in my situation? The vet said the blood defineitly seems to be coming from her urinary tract/bladder.

I have attached photos. They have biocatolet bedding, cage is cleaned 2x a week with pet safe cleaner. Fresh water 2 x daily and rat nuggets. daily supplements of banana, grape or another fruit or veg. They have at least an hour out of the cage every day and lots of cuddles.

I hear about all your rats living such long lives and just want the best for mine.

Hope you can give me some advice.

Kind regards,

Amanda.

ANSWER:

For starters, baytril is not really the drug of choice for urinary tract infection. Usually, a fresh sample is taken and cultured so you can determine what type of bacteria it is causing infection.  Often though, to spare the rat added stress of the urine sample, which often requires mild sedation, the vet gives the antibiotic that is a broad spectrum that is used mainly for urinary tract infections.

Trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole is the drug of choice, should be used.

During his episodes of bleeding, did he have to urinate more than normal?  Also, with the higher amounts of water that he was drinking, was he urinating more too?  Was his fur damp all the time around his privates?

Drinking alot is not really a sign of urinary tract infection.  I think he should have some blood work done.  I am also going to assume no urine culture was taken to determine if there was white blood cells present and also a culture to tell what type of organism it was so the right meds could be prescribed.

Your vet must be a DVM that has a strong interest in exotics but is not board certified in exotics which is why he may need to send him elsewhere or consult with one?   Not that it matters, some regular vets see exotics as a special interest and do ok with them but sometimes its a process of elimination as they guess what could be wrong with the rat which takes too long at times (not the case here however) but still there has not been any true diagnosis made unless I am missing that he had a urine culture done?

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

QUESTION: Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Wanda's a girlie rat by the way! Haha.

I live in England but we have spoken before about my vets (myself and you I mean) and she is qualified with exotics (DVM)but has said she can refer me to a different vet (although about an hours drive from me) who can do exploitory surgery or look further in to what the problem is. I'm quite willing to get some time off work to do this though, of course.

The sample she took of urine just showed lots of blood so nothing else.

By the sounds of it I should perhaps take Wanda to the vet who specialises in rats. Then she can look at her better. She has treated more rats for a longer period of time than my current vet but they are both DVM and both board certificated in exotics.

For the time being Wanda is fine at the moment, no blood showing since I took her off the metacam. No more urine than usual. Eating and drinking very well and fine in herself.

So sounds as if I should take her to this other vet too? I;m thinking so, are you?

regards,

Amanda

ANSWER: I would go to the other vet but before you waste your time, stress the rat and spend more money, please let me check the credentials on this vet first to be sure they are totally prepared to do what they want to do as far as testing goes. I want to be sure they are equipped for an emergency situation etc...

Pre anesthesia blood work should be taken too.

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

QUESTION: Hi,

Sure now problem. My normal local vet is www.companioncare.co.uk and they have recommended me to see http://www.allcreatureshealthcare.co.uk/

I know my vet used Isoflurine (not sure of spelling) as anesthetic for my previous rats op which i checked was safe with you first etc. They are never given injections as my vets know all about how bad they are for rats etc.

Kind regards,

Amanda.

Answer

Urine sample that was   Yoiks!   I am sorry......I mean, the little PRINCESS rather than the little prince!  Pardon moi!  :)  I do that alot though....forget names, forget the gender as I clickety clack the key board and yeah, sometimes people get really offended that I forget the rats name or gender as if I dont care enough and believe me, I do, or I would not sit here for hours on end answering sometimes 30 or 40 questions a day falling asleep with my head on the computer desk!  I also love hearing about their progress and seeing photos and if one of the ratties doesnt make it I feel just terrible, even shedding some tears with the owner.

That said, I wanted to show you a sample of a rats urine. SHe had bloody urine as well and had a nasty UTI that cleared up pretty fast. It looked more like tons of blood with traces of urine in it for sure but it was really more urine than blood.