asthma

Question
QUESTION: Hello. I took my female rat to the vet about 3 weeks ago because I thought she had a respiratory infection and mites. Come to find out the vet told me that she had pet lice and asthma. He (the vet) gave me Panmycin Aquadrops for the asthma. He told me to give them to her for 2 weeks, which I did, but now her symptoms are back. She is gasping for air and she is still eating (very little) and she is still drinking. He also told me to get carbaryl powder for her lice. I got a shampoo that has the powder in it but it does not seem to be working well. Is there anything I can do for her asthma so I do not have to keep giving her medication, she does not like it very well. And anything else you might suggest for the lice? Thanks in advance!
-leann

ANSWER: Hi Leann

I am going to be totally upfront and honest with you: You asked what else you can do for your rat?
Yes, there is something you can do for your rat. Find another vet that knows about rat care. I am very serious and the poor vet care your vet is giving has me very concerned. Your rat has severe mycoplasmosis, not asthma.  Myco untreated or not properly treated will progress to chronic respiratory infection that returns again and again, causing lung scarring and blistering resulting in the rats wheezing, gasping, coughing, sneezing and over all ill health. She needs baytril orally,not diluted in water that you have no  idea how much she is even getting and in order to get any decent amount of medication she needs to drinking the entire bottle of water.  The powder for lice made me cringe.  Even if she DID have asthma, any vet that said to use POWDER, of all things, around her delicate lungs is absolutely off his rocker.  it wont work as you have seen.  She needs revolution applied topically or else ivermetcin, all by a qualified vet.  I hate to say this, but the past few months I have seen rats suffer from improper vet treatment and owners that are wasting their money on treatments that do not work while the poor animal gets worse as time goes by.  These vets claim to see rats yet they are clueless about how to properly treat them.  Never add anything to a rats water because if they dont like the taste they will stop drinking which leads to dehydration.  
She also needs albuterol for her breathing to open her airways. Please let me know your location. I will give you names of vets that can properly treat your rat no matter if you live outside the US or not.
This is vital in order to get your rat better. Without a new vet and the proper medications she is just going to end up so sick she wont be able to recover properly.

If you need to read more about this check out my website here:

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

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

QUESTION: I live in Maine zip code 04210.
Thank you in advance.
-leann

ANSWER: They are in till 1pm on Saturday. If you think she is bad, I would get her in today if you can. Dr.Freeman is their exotics vet and she is a member of the AEMV which is the Association of exotic mammal Veterinarians.

I have her for first choice and here is why: They offer overnight care if the animal needs oxygen etc...and do not require you take the rat to another clinic for overnight care. I think your baby needs oxygen for a day or two while the new meds get in her system and also feel she needs nebulized.  I am sure that this facility could do it. All three clinics offer exotic care, although none of them are board certified, they have a special interest in exotics and take continued education classes for exotic medicine to keep up to date on things.
I also know these places are far *40 mins. according to map quest* its worth it. If the vet you are seeing is one of these vets, please let me know so I can check credentials on that place because the care given was less than adequate for a rat.
One last thing....how is she    today?

I would go here first:
Dr. Karen Freedman
Androscoggin Animal Hospital    
457 Foreside Rd.
Topsham ME 04086
Phone:    207-729-4678
Website:askme@androscogginvets.com

*****


Dr. Sandra Mitchell
Animal Medical Associates    
838 Portland Road
 Saco ME 1255004072
Phone:    207-282-5151
Website: www.animalmedicalassociates.com

***********


ANIMAL HOSPITAL OF SOUTH GORHAM     
47 COUNTY ROAD
GORHAM ME 04038
Phone:    207-839-8158
Website: SOUTHGORHAMVETS.COM


Please keep me posted and good luck. I am glad you wrote me and feel confident we can get her on the right track! Keep positive!


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

QUESTION: she is doing ok today. She was gasping a little bit earlier this morning and now she is just breathing heavy like "normal". I had her on baytril a while ago and helped for a few days and did not do anything after that. Is there anything that I can do at home for her? I feel so bad when she starts gasping so i just try to comfort her.
I have also looked into using revolution for her lice but the thing is it is over $100 for one tube and I have 9 rats. That is a lot of money, I know that this is the best option but I don't really have that kind of money to spend. I have been using the Zodiac protein conditioning shampoo for kittens once a week and changing their bedding every other day.

Answer
A box of revolution at the vets is $40.  You get three vials and one vial will treat 3 to 4 rats.  

I know one thing to try....some of my readers swear by olive oil. Sounds weird, I know......they rub the rats fur with it and its a mess but they say it works and the rat licks it off and its great for their skin....its worth a shot...but wherever you found revolution for $100 is absolutely ripping people off totally. I pay $15 for one tube that treats 4 rats!