Frank and his bad ear

Question
QUESTION: Hi Sandra,

First, I would like to thank you for being available for questions.  I am finishing a masters degree and have gone broke doing it, so the $100 vet bills for my old friend just aren't an option.  

Frank is about three years old.  In April, he had a large swelling by his ear.  Before I got him to the vet, it went down and things were fine for a while.  Then he got very sick, wouldnt eat, no energy and alot of waxy stuff was coming out of the same ear that had the earlier swelling, so off to the vet we went.(It was at this time that I began breaking out with a rash on my arms when I held him)  She checked for mites and said there were none.  She sent me off with very expensive vitamins and antibiotics.  

He got better after that, for the most part but the ear gunk was still coming out.  My aunt (a nurse) said that it may be ear mites, so we had him on that medicine for about three months but it didnt really get better.  Since then, a friend of mine who works for a vet got some antibiotic and antifungal medicine.  It gets better so long as he is on the medicine, but as soon as you take him off, his ear gets really bad.  

I clean it twice a day and for the most part he is eating and has alot of energy so Im not sure if there is anything more I can do but any advice would be wonderful.  

Thank you again, it is really appreciated!

Allison

ANSWER: Hi Allison

First of all I need to ask about the swelling in April. Was there a foul odor in the ear? What color was the debris that was expelled from the ear itself?  I am going to assume the vet was looking for ear mites. Usually these mites also cause problems to the outer ear such as the ear flap itself which as I can see from reading, none of this occurred which leads me to believe the rat had an abscess that probably had broken and emptied into the ear canal which in turn caused an infection that made him sick. The antibiotics cleared the infection up but it seems it did not clear it up 100 percent.

What is the name of the medication the friend who works for a vet gave to you? How much does your rat weigh and how much of this medication did you give the rat?
It seems that there is an underlying cause that your rat has a relapse after stopping the medication which we need to resolve.  It could be that he is not being treated long enough which is why the infection returns  right away or there can be a reason that he gets infected again so fast, perhaps right in his cage...something he may be reacting to. What type of litter/bedding is e on?
You wrote he is 3 years old.  How many months past his 3rd birthday is he?

I am glad that he is eating and has alot of energy. Thats a good sign he does not have a systemic infection like he may have had previously
Anyhow, sorry for asking all the questions but I need to know a few more things so I can better sort out what may be going on although I have an idea.

Please follow up with this post so I can further advise you.

Regards

Sandra

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

QUESTION: Thank you for your reply, I am extremely grateful.

There was not a foul odor in his ear in April with just the swelling.  When the waxy stuff from his ear started appearing it did(does) have an odor.  The debris is a dark reddish brown.  

The medication from my friend is Tri-otic.  Im not sure how much he weighs, but the vet said that he was obese, so he's a big guy. I give him a big drop of this medicine or two if he shakes out the first one, once a day.  

His bedding is pine shavings, the bag says its safe for rats.  Im reluctant to think it is anything in his cage because he only has the problem in his left ear, but maybe.  

I would guess that he is almost three.  He was full grown when some friends gave him to me over two years ago.  

Thank you for your time and help!
Allison

Answer
The tri-otic ear drops given are a great broad spectrum ear drop that not only works on infections caused by bacteria but also by fungus. However, it is not for inner ear infections, just external ear infections such as swimmers ear etc...
Usually the culprit with inner ear is mycoplasmosis and usually baytril is used, including ear drops with a baytril base. However, your guy doesn't seem to display signs of inner ear infection such as head tilt, walking in circles, lack of balance etc... and if he improves with the tri-otic, I would say he may have a systemic infection that although your killing it in the ear canal, it my return if it is systemic. He may need oral antibiotics on top of the ear drops you are already using.  Its too difficult for me to say without seeing him and looking into his ear with the proper instrument first and wouldn't be fair to him or you to say this is for certain what is troubling him. From the symptoms you describe, though, I can give you my opinion on what it sounds like it could be. It seems as if he has an ear infection that returns right after ear drops stop because the infection is probably systemic.
Rats mainly suffer from ailments due to the mycoplasma bacteria and this organism is a real bugger to get rid of if the proper meds are not used. Myco is an organism that doesn't have a cell wall and most antibiotics are made to destroy the cell wall. Baytril is one drug that works on bacteria that doesn't have a cell wall and its a good broad spectrum medication as well as zithromax.
If you can get him on baytril, 0.3 ml (or 0.30 mls depending on the syringe you have) twice a day for 21 days, that would probably take care of it, along with the ear drops your using (the tri-otic)  Also, these ear drops contain steroids and steroids can compromise the immune system so its always a good idea to have the rat on oral antibiotics at the same time as steroids.  They do absorb into the system even when used topically which is why we usually suggest to people to avoid using creams and antibiotic ointments that may contain steroids and opt for the NSAIDS until it is necessary.

I do think that he will clear up totally once he has oral meds in his system.  I am going to assume he is med. to large build which would make him weigh from 500 to 700 grams...so the 0.30 mls of baytril should be enough. If he weighs more, he may need a tad more but not much more unless of course we hit over 2.5 to 3  pounds!

DO you need to find a vet in your area that knows what they are doing as far as rats go?  If so, let me know and I can help locate one in your area!


Also, the pine your using?  Is it KLIN DRIED? If so, they claim it is safe but it still contains dangerous phenol oils that are not only linked to respiratory problems but also cause liver disease in rats too.
Regards

Sandra