Behavior Change?

Question
QUESTION: I raised two rats from baby. After they were both one year old, one died. The
surviving rat was lonely and I knew a rat a friend could give me as a
companion. They learned quickly how to adapt to each other. But ever since
the first rat died, I noticed a behavior change in her. Before, she was very
jumpy, always a childish demeanor reaching through the cage like a cat to try
to grab anything she could. When you approach the cage, she'd always be
ready to get out to run around. That was before. Now, shes very calm, but
weird calm, almost how one would act when they were sick or something.
Shes eating well, still sneezes and talks a lot. Physically, perfectly fine to my
knowledge. I wonder if something is going on inside that I dont know. When
shes suppose to be running around, she stands there instead. Walks slowly,
and almost like a matured animal who was wise AHHAHA, would
acknowledge to come to me when I called for her. This behavior wasn't
always her. I can't tell if its  good thing or a bad thing. Would it be a good
idea to take her to the vet? And if I do, I have a series of easy questions about
having a vet, whether "having a vet" means that these rats have a specific
doctor just like our own doctors as humans. One question at a time.

ANSWER: Hi Vernon

What do you mean when you say that your rat "talks" alot? What types of noises does she make?
Also,it sounds like she is a bit lethargic, lack of energy. Is this a way to describe her behavior? Normally, she would run about and explore things during play time and now she acts like she has no interest? Is that what you see as far as her behavior?
If so, she may be sick and  should see a vet for an exam.

As for the vet, I believe your asking if there are vets that are educated in caring for rats aside from dogs and cats and the answer is yes.  They fall into the category of "exotic vets"  This may sound strange since we all know that rats are far from exotic but in this case, exotic is used loosely, almost generic, but it simply means that they are animals that are not the traditional dog and cat.

I prefer an exotic vet for my rats but some regular vets are very good with rats too, you will need to ask the vet when you call and make sure they have alot of experience with rats or I would not trust them to treat my rat.

You can ask me as many questions as you want. If they cut you off from too many follow ups, simply make a new message.


Sandra

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

QUESTION: Thats exactly how she's acting. Lethargic. Ok, I'll take her to the vet. Which is
better for 30518, Georgia?

Dr. Tonya Claus & Dr. Julie Cavin
225 Baker Street
Atlanta GA 30313

or

Dr. Jason Hutcheson
For Pet's Sake - The Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital of Atlanta 3761 N Druid
Hills Road
Decatur GA 30033




ANSWER:
Hands down, the one below is the better choice. They are devoted strictly to avian and exotics which means they have all the implements they need for them and do not have to compromise and use the dog and cat stuff to try to make it work for smaller mammals. They are also board certified, which is good!

Dr. Jason Hutcheson
For Pet's Sake - The Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital of Atlanta
3761 N Druid
Hills Road
Decatur GA 30033

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

QUESTION: From the list of vets provided, I took my rat to For Pet's Sake - The Avian and
Exotic Animal Hospital. I asked for Jason Hutcheson but I was tight for time
and the only one available for the day I needed to go there was Mimi
Shepherd, DVM. I asked them f she was rat certified and was knowledgeable,
and of course they'd say yes and they treat them all the time. Even on the
website I think, there are a list of vets but her name was on top like if she was
the top specialist, so I gave it a try. This is how my visit went....

I don't know if she knows hat she's doing. I sensed that she was whether
unsure or she just didn't like rats. It was difficult to cold read her but the
more detailed questions I asked about what it could be, the more she didn't
have an answer and wanted to leave the room, almost as if she didn't know.

The visit ended with her saying that she will give me "Baytril which treates
cats and dogs. Feed your rat this antibiotics twice a day for 10 days." I was
thinking to myself about the cat and dogs thing, but I'd like to know your
thoughts. She said that if the antibiotics don't work, then she'll try another
antibiotics. I asked what would she try next. She said Clavamox, which will
not treat mycroplasma (I might have misspelled the antibiotics but it
pronounces like that.) If you can tell me what Baytril and Clavamoz is used for
and what it is used for treating, that'll be great. And your thoughts on this
treatment.

Even at the end of the visit, I still didn't get an answer to what was wrong
with my rat. all I got was, "I can't tell. It could be lung cancer, Mycroplasma
which is very difficult to treat and many just have to put their rats down when
they have that"

Ok, I'm going to change the topic a little bit. Do you remember this?
http://www.allexperts.com/user.cgi?m=6&catID=3537&qID=4737865

I mentioned a rat that had blood coming from the mouth and gasping for air.
Here is a video of her. As she was dying, I gave her a name, its Twinkles. And
just to let you know, she died a few days after you answered that link there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUE6r4PgDyE

Months later, right now, Kittie, the caramel looking one is carrying the same
symptoms, soon I expect blood coming from her mouth if nothing is done. I
took her to the vet immediately seeing this before. It's been 5 days out of 10
days to treat Kittie with the Baytril, and I don't see any differences. I wonder
how long it should take before it takes effect.  Here is a video of her
respiratory problem. You can compare the way she breaths with the other
rat. I want to note that the first part of the Twinkles video, you'll see Kittie
when she was still fine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quuXjhwMCqQ

Answer
Baytril is more for dogs than cats but wow....it doesnt sound as if she was super experienced with rats to not know baytril is one of the most widely used drugs for rats esp for mycoplasmosis.



I watched the video. Its so hard for me to watch even though I deal with this daily.  How is she doing now?
She needs better treatment.  Your rat is gasping,I can hear the clicking as she breathes. I suspect pneumonia and she needs to be on oxygen and have amakacin and baytril given through the nebulizer. She needs albuterol nebulized to her to open her airways and it wouldnt hurt for steroids to be given via injection to help with the inflammation in her lungs.

I am so worried about her....I hope she is still OK today.  I have been on vacation and tried to keep up with all of the questions that come in and I fear I took too long to reach yours.

Please tell me she is alive still....