rat is very sick

Question
Hi!  Please help me - my pet rat is very sick, she has porophyn staining around eyes and nose, almost does not eat or drink.  I took her to the vet and the doc said it may be a URI and prescribed ciprofloxacin with doxycycline.  I've been giving it to her for 4 days now but she is only getting worse.  Now she has wet fur around her genitals and scratches the area occasionally.  Yesterday she seemed to get better for just a bit but today she is pretty bad again.  She is VERY weak, i have to make her drink through a syringe and she just licks the oatmeal a little bit but does not eat.  She has not pooped in almost 3 days and pees very little.  Her front paws sometimes look numb even though i know they are not because she uses them.  Please help, I dont know what to do and the vet seems to take the 'trial and error' approach, i am afraid i dont have time.  My rat is about 1.5 years old

Answer
Hi Larisa

Its time to switch her meds right away. If after 3 days the medications are not working, they will not work.  This applies to antibiotics mostly.  Other medications such as antidepressents etc...may take weeks to really start to show a change in ones health but not when it comes to antibiotics.

It sounds as if she has a secondary infection and possibly more than a URI. I believe this has gone to her lungs which is why she is not improving.   Aggressive treatment is warranted at this time in order to pull her through this.

Being weak and not wanting to drink is not good. Your doing right by coaxing her with a syringe.  Also, I advise to try some baby food, allowing her to lick it from you. Rats that have problems getting enough oxygen do not eat well because it is harder for them to breathe when they chew and have food in their mouths so they stop eating in order to avoid further distress.  Licking on the other hand is alot easier for them and she may lap it up like crazy.  If she turns her head from it, you know you have one sick rat on your hands.
The vet you see, is this vet prepared to possibly hospitalize a sick rat and put her in oxygen for a day or two while the new medications start to work? The best thing is to nebulize the medications right to her lungs and this can be done while the rat is in an oxygenated enclosure as well. SHe is still young yet and she can get through this with proper traetment. Once she is stable she can be removed from the oxygen but its best she reserve her energy while the medication is taking place.  She should be on amakacin injections, possibly steroids and another antibiotic like cefa drops, amoxil or keflex.

Do you have a vet for her that is really experience in rat care such as an exotic vet?