no balance

Question
QUESTION: my elderly rat, who is over 2years old, has no balance left. Over the space of one week she got worse and worse and is tilting to the left. She cant grab food anymore, and she cant open her mouth much. Her teeth have worn into a crooked wave and her bottom teeth are quite long. Iam going to get them clipped tomorrow.

The tilting is really bad. I have to hold her, hold her food, water and wash her everyday. She does not act ill, she is bright eyed and a good appitite.

What can i do to help? I think its an ear infection, what antibiotics can i use to clear that up? (note, my vet doesnt have much antibiotics, only amoxcil, chlorpalm, and other antibitotics used for dogs. No cefa drops, doxcy.


ANSWER: Hi Kerry

I wish I had better news sweetie, but unfortunately, I dont. She has a pituitary tumor which is a tumor located on the base of her brain.

An ear infection mocks a PT, with the exception of the loss of use of her front paws and the problem that she cannot open her mouth and chew. This is classic pituitary adenoma signs. Ear infection usually causes head tilt, loss of balance, itching and picking of the ears, shaking the head at times from the ear feeling strange, walking in circles or spinning. They may just feel unwell in general. Antibiotics such as chlorpalm may help along with steroids but if she had this I would ask you allow me to find a vet for your rat so she can see someone that can properly take care of her because things like mycoplasma cannot be treated with many drugs other than baytril, zithromax and doxy and a few others but not amoxil.
This case though, steroids and chlorpalm can help with inflammation from the tumor and the antibiotics are to prevent secondary infection from the steroids lowering the immune system. She will only get worse so its up to you now to keep her very comfortable.

Female rats get this (males too, but not as often as females) and it is usually seen in older rats after menopause. The estrogen levels rise very high and trigger off mammary tumors and also nasty pituitary tumors after they pass 18 months or whenever they go through menopause which again is often 18 to 24 months.

You need to keep her fed and give her water several times a day. Since she cannot chew, her teeth have not worn properly and are growing crooked.  She needs them trimmed like you plan so they dont make sores on the roof of her mouth.  Buy her baby food and let her lick it. Put a dropper in the side of her mouth and let her suck the water out.
It sounds like this is progressing rapidly and if she can get to the vet and get steroids this may slow down the growth some.

If you want more information about pituitary tumors please see this site below that is very detailed and can even print out info for the vet.

Please see NURSING CARE on this site about feeding when they cannot chew or open mouth to eat etc..

http://ratguide.com/health/neoplasia/pituitary_tumor.php


MY SITE, Critter City:

http://ratguide.com/health/neoplasia/pituitary_tumor.php


Meanwhile if you want a vet that knows more about rats let me know or check out my website on the page about finding a vet for your rat and going to the link to the AEMV which is the association of exotic mammal vets.

good luck



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

QUESTION: This came at the worst time. iam moving to London Ontario in 3 days, and the only vet clinic in my area is closing down for 2weeks. She does shake her head alot and scratch at the ears, so much she left little scratches behind her ears.

Porphyrin is coming out alot on her left eye, i clean her with unscented baby wipes 3x a day. She is on clorpalm now, its the only drug they have (no steroids). so i bought baby food and syringe, she still wants to eat, but looking more lathargic each day.

We booked an appointment on thursday to put her to rest :(

Answer

I am really sorry that you have to make this decision but it is for the best.  The head shaking could also be partly because her head hurts. Sometimes they bump their heads against the wall and its called "head bumping" when they press their heads against something or else shake their heads etc...

If it was an ear infection the chlor palm would make her at least feel a bit better and not get worse/  I wish I had better news and could help....unfortunately these tumors progress very fast.

Please let me help support you any way I can.  My heart goes out to you!