Illness.

Question
QUESTION: I've got a male rat whom I took into the vet just recently because he was moving oddly. Staggering and not supporting himself properly. They gave me meds for an ear infection and sent us on our way.

When he did not start recovering, I went to yet another vet and they gave me medication for a respiratory illness and guidelines on how to keep the infection down and how to better make the rat recover quicker.

However. After two vets and over $150 dollars set in clinic visits and treatment, he is STILL ill and he's taken a turn for the worse.

He's been gasping, attempting to prop up his head and just sprawl himself out over things. He makes an odd clicking noise as he gasps. He's very lethargic. I've attempted to run hot water in a shower to make it easier for him to breath but it didn't seem to work. He's also not been drinking.

I'd been giving him apple slices dipped in water to attempt to get a bit of sugar and water into him but he eats so little before he needs to pause to continue gasping and loses interest in eating.

I don't want to force him to drink because I'm afraid of getting liquid in his lungs. He's getting worse and if I'm going to put any more money down, I need a vet who will actually find out what's wrong with him or at least get some ideas of what he may have to present to the vet to check for.

His paws have not turned blue and when he gets comfortable, he still obsessively gives kisses(licks). Also. When he defecated, it was an odd yellowish, almost jello-texture that wasn't at all close to the normal rat droppings.

I also went to gently stroke his right ear and he seemed to almost have a seizure fit in his effort to attempt to scratch the OPPOSITE ear, which he apparently had scratched until it bled(though I've got that almost healed.)

He's got so much wrong with him and I fear that he has so little time. I just really need some help.

Anything would be wonderful.

- Shantell



ANSWER: Your rat is really sick. You need an exotic vet. Please let me know your location so I can give you some names.

I believe he has heart disease and an enlarged heart. This will cause weight loss, loss of balance and gasping etc...and explains why he is not responding to antibiotics and explains also why the steamy shower method didnt work. He may have an infection in his lungs on top of it all, but I am leaning toward heart disease too. Without seeing him I cant say for certain, but it could be congestive heart failure which can be controlled too.

He will need enalapril to start and also a day or two of oxygen treatment while he is starting meds.  He may have fluid accumulating and needs lasix. The vet should know this ...I will give you someone to see. I hope he hangd on till you get him there!

For now, please try to get him some baby food and let him lick the baby food.  Try koolaid water in a dropper....dont worry about sugar content at this point.


Read more here on my site:  It will also tell you signs and symptoms which he does display all of them.

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

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QUESTION: Can this heart disease be from genetics? I'm curious because I do own this rat's brother and if there is a chance, I'll have to start closely watching him as well.

Also. I'm located out on Road 68 in Pasco, Washington(State.) So any exotic vets you know of who should be able to do something for him would be an amazing advantage.

Also, what do you think the general cost of treatment will be? I can cover any funds, I just need to know what to expect or at least an average.

And I will try the koolaid thing and baby food. Thank you so much. He's still alive and fighting, so the sooner the better.

Answer
Oh fantastic he is still with us!  Yesssssssssss!

Yes it could be genetic but not always....and if he has had chronic respiratory infections too and has lung problems, heart disease often goes hand in hand.

Everyone on my list is so far from you, nothing closer than 3 hours.
However there is someone I just called that sees exotics:
Not sure if you went here or not, but if you did, scratch that and let me know.  I do NOT believe he is a certified exotic vet, but rather a vet that sees exotics.  I will keep looking and asking around through the Vet grapevine.

Charles Coleman, DVM
Coleman Veterinary Clinic, PS
621 West Clark Street
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: 509-545-4931
URL: http://www.animalhealing.net/