Head tilting

Question
My rat was diagnosed with a ear infection in early September.  This was immediately following a tumor removal.  The rat became extremely lethargic, tilted head to side, loss of balance, and loss of limb use.  he was treated with baytril and steroids.  He seemed to respond well and was back to himself in a week or two.  Now overnight, after being well for a week he is having these same symptoms again.  He has been to the vet every day for the past month or so, one day he is good, the next so-so, some bad.  he also is losing his hair in places.  How do you diagnose a pituitary tumor?  ASAp Please?

Answer
Hi Frankie

This was not addressed to anyone in particular so it was put into a QUESTION POOL and left unanswered. I am glad I found it today but it may be too late and you already have moved on.

I will still answer the best I can though.

Pituitary tumors have the same signs as ear infection but do NOT respond to treatment which is how you can tell the difference.  The loss of the use of his limbs, however, concerns me.  The front paws are usually first, back legs are second to go bad. The hair loss is also another not so positive sign too.
One good thing is that PTs are not as common in males as they are in females since they are often estrogen related, but they can and do happen. I have worked with males that have had them and also my own boy, Casper, had one, although he had odd symptoms such as anxiety and hyperactivity and my vet thought I was crazy when I suggested a PT but when he passed away, necropsy indeed showed one and a fairly large tumor too.

How is your boy now?
One thing....the rat should be treated for at least 30 full days because the culprit for ear infection is usually mycoplasmosis.  Myco doesn't cause just respiratory infections, it also causes ear infection, urinary tract infection and uterine infection in females that are intact.

He may have relapsed because he wasn't treated long enough?
The head tilt takes a while to go away though, so even if he responds to the meds he still may have the tilt. I have had rats never lose their tilt but still did well despite the fact they were a little crooked. ;-0

Where are we now with him, as far as his symptoms. I am so mad this JUST NOW got to us!  I could have helped out days ago.  I don't know why these questions end up  in the question pool like this.  It has something to do with the fact a particular expert was not chosen so therefore it gets tossed into never never land for a few days and surface a few days after the question was asked.

Hopefully all is well with the rat.  Please let me know. I feel bad I wasn't here sooner to help!

Regards

Sandra