Help! I urgently need a good vet closeby!

Question
QUESTION: Dear Sandra,

We have two sick female pet rats, Hazelnut and Estella (both about 11 months old). I think it could be mycoplasmosis. I am afraid to take them to a vet who is not experienced with treating rats.

We have moved to Bethesda, MD, on October, 1 and the rats just arrived. They spent 7 weeks in a very nice "animal hotel" in Germany before flying here (we were traveling after the move and had to find an apartment before they could move, unfortunately rats are not welcome in hotels). With the exception of a little sniffle which Hazelnut had for the first couple of days they seemed to be doing fine. This changed a few days ago. Hazelnut sneezes now almost every minute and has a red nose several times a day, Estella sneezes only occasionally and has a red nose less frequently, but also every day. By looking at your former answers I already learned that this is porphyrin.

I was afraid that they could be allergic to one of the new substances they are surrounded with and changed they bedding and food on Monday and cleaned the cage only with lots of hot water ( I thought the new soap could be a problem). This has helped a little bit, but not much. Apart from the symptoms above, they are eating well and are active and seem happy.

Please recommend a good rat vet asap! Could you also let me know how to properly disinfect their cage? Until now, I only used mild dishwashing soap for cleaning their cage because their noses are so sensitive.

Thank you so much for offering this service!

Andrea

ANSWER:  
Hi

I was running out the door and wanted to at least give you these two names but will address the other questions soon as I get back!

Good luck trying to get an appt.  I will be back in 30 mins.




Kindness animal hospital  
2130 University Blvd W
Wheaton, MD 20902
Phone 301-949-2511
Fax 301-949-2513





Dr. William Boyd
Pulaski Veterinary Clinic    
9707 Pulaski Hwy.
 Baltimore MD 21220
Phone:    410-686-6310




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

QUESTION: Dear Sandra,

Thank you! The only appointment I could get at short notice was with Best Friends Vet Hospital in Gaithersburg (I found it on your website). The doctor examined the rats for a couple of minutes and told us that it could be either an allergy or mycoplasmosis, or it could be something else since they just have been travelling. She wanted to treat the allergy with putting drops into their drinking water (I said no, this is not how one gives medicine), the myco by giving Doxycycline and Baytril for 30 days. We paid $ 134.86 for two exams.

We first tried to change as much as we could in order to rule allergies out (changed the place of the cage etc.: no change. Now we want to try the medicine. The hospital wants to mix the two antibiotics together right away, the cost is $ 101.08. I asked if could have a small amount for three days in order to see if it works (this has been my experience with antibiotics, doctors for humans and animals alike would always give antibiotics for a short period and then see if it works). The hosital says no, they claim to have no smaller amount. Until now vets would never give me a full package but always fill something for me from a large bottle/package. The whole treatment seems very expensive to me. What should I do? I'm running out of time. Getting a new appointment at a diffrent office will cost losts of time, time the rats might not have if it is indeed myco. Their condition has not changed much, one sneezes more, the other less, less porphyrin discharge in general. What sohould I do?

Many thanks, Andrea

ANSWER: This is ridiculous!   Do you know what I do for people that are confused on doses?   I measure one dose per syringe and we give them 30 syringes with the dose in the syringe all ready to go and they pop it in their ratsmouth and thats that.  We mix it with flavoring so it tasts yummy.  This is for once a day dosing which is why they get 30 syringes.  We use the injectable so you just draw the injeactable from the dang bottle and do it that way. they are LYING to you about not being able to make a smaller dose and they shouldn't be mixing doxy and baytril together!!!!  
OMg they should be given at least 15 to 30 mins apart.
Baytril is bactericidal and doxy is bacteriostatic against mycoplasmas so they cannot be mixed in the same bottle. ACK!
I am out the door right now but soon as I get home I will go over this better but wanted you to know I read it and will see what else can be done.   Hang in there!


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

QUESTION: I called them back and tried to talk to the doctor directly, but this is not an option, the nurse will only take messages. She does not know how the medicine will be mixed. Should I ask them to give me two diffrent bottles, one with each medicine so that I can give it to them at diffrent times? Would you recommend combining the two antibiotics? The doctor says it is our best bet against myco. But the rats might not have myco at all. Will the medicine take care of most other infections, too? I feel stuck with this doctor for now. It will take days to get a new appointment at a diffrent vet, not to talk about the cost.

Thank you so much,

Andrea

Answer
Yes antibiotics in two separate bottles only. Never mix them together.
Give them like an hour apart if you can.  It is the best bet for myco and your right, it may be a secondary infection instead, but my guess is if its anything it is myco. They would be worse off if it were a secondary infection.   Myco usually starts out with sneezing like crazy at first. I understand why they want to rule out allergy first but do not agree about using water as a vehicle to dispense the medication. This is old fashioned crap that is/was used on pocket pets that were considered disposable pets that people bought for little kids to teach them how to be responsible for a pet, but not caring if they hurt them or whatever...and took the cheapest route as far as medical care went. This was back in the 70s mind you and now we have come a long long way that even calling rats or any small animal a pocket pet is like a slap in the face, its almost like, politically incorrect, I guess you can say.  I would still insist they dose for a full 21 to 30 days not less than 21 days though. If they dont improve or get worse after 3 days, you can ask for cefadrops and they should not cost you more than $15.  In fact, the baytril should not run for more than $45 for the month and doxy should be even cheaper.