knowing the difference if its ear infection or brain tumor or stroke?

Question
This message is for Sandra Todd please

thank you

I was wondering, how do you know if the rat has an ear infection, a brain tumor that you talked about or a stroke?
I have read all of your articles on here and you seem to know when a rat has this or has that and you end up being right. The most recent was the one where you knew the rat was dying and advized the girl to put him to sleep and the vet told her also to put it to sleep too and she did because she knew it was that sick and old. How can you know this so from just the reading of what people say?
My rat, Roy, has been walking in a circle like he is confused and he also falls over and his head is all tipped to one side and he cant eat because his head tips to one side. The vet said it was a stroke and that strokes can happen at any age when I said he was only 9 months old how can that happen.  He  gave him no meds and said I should think about putting him to sleep. I dont want to put him to sleep.
Well i was so upset I found another vet. He said he has an ear infection and gave him antibiotics and something for the swelling, metacam it is called. Already, just a day later, Roy is standing upright better and can eat a little better. He still circle walks but that  may need time to improve I would think. Right? What do you think?
Why do you think the first vet said stroke and the second vet said ear infection and the second vet refused to discuss the fact the first vet was way off on knowing what was wrong with Roy and just said that vets that do not study small animal and exotic medicine are not going to know what they are prone to getting and he tried his best. Why did he defend him? Do you Vets all have this special bond with each other or what?
Please advize me. Thank you!

Gayle and her crooked rat, Roy!

Answer
Hi Gayle and crooked Roy!!  

I am glad he is improving on the medication. Metacam is an NSAID (non steroid anti inflammatory medication) pretty much like motrin is, same actions. Steroids are faster acting and long term however, but if the metacam is working, thats better he takes it rather then steroids.
I want to also point out that I am NOT a vet, not by a long shot. The reason other vets do not like to talk about each other is for starters, proper etiquette. Medicine, be it for humans or animals, is a practice not a guarantee. You know the expression "I practice medicine"?  Thats what it is, practice..not a promise,esp with animals because they cannot tell us where they are hurting. We need to know about the species we are dealing with for starters but its vital that the Vet listen to the keeper of the animal as well, gathering up all the info they can about the way they are acting, how they acted previously etc..and so on. The real key to making a diagnosis is the keeper and that is why I always tell people that own pets to tune in to your animal....get to know his every day behavior so you can always tell if he is doing something unusual.
Its just not professional to bash another medical professional. I wont say it doesn't happen but it mostly goes on behind closed doors, you know, good old fashioned GOSSIP! LOL
Anyhow, let me tell you how I am able to tell the difference between the three things you asked.
Although strokes are common at any age, this is true, it is most common among older rats and the onset is instant, not gradual.  With a stroke, it seems to happen all at once.
The two that are harder to diagnose is Pituitary tumors and ear infections since they mock each other and the onset is gradual. However, there are a few KEY things to look for with a PT which is the rat loses the ability to hold food with her front paws and in fact, the loss of use of their front paws happens first, usually, along with the spinning and circling when trying to walk. Head tilt is common with both diseases as well. It is also more common in female rats that are around menopause age which is right around 18 months or older, but males DO get PTs, just not as common.
With ear infection, they usually respond to antibiotics and steroids (or metacam) and gradually improve. You may see discharge or smell something from the ear, but not always. So if your rat is improving on antibiotics, you can almost bet it is otitis media rather than PT or stroke.
Again stroke comes on suddenly, PT and otitis media, gradually.
Finally, you asked me how I was able to sit and advise people about what may be wrong with their rat and that most of the time I hit the nail on the head.
I am not in any way taking the place of vet care and in fact would prefer the rat see a vet no matter what my opinion may be. However, I have worked alongside so many sick rats and have seen so many ailments that I know the signs like the back of my hand. I am not always right, not by a long shot, but just by listening to what the owner of the rat tells me by the way they describe the actions of the animal it always seems to point in an obvious direction. Regardless, most rat ailments demand prompt attention from a skilled vet right away and I always always advise people to seek treatment, even offering to help locate a vet in their area if possible.

Hope this helps answer your questions and I am so happy you took Roy to another vet and he is improving. I am confident to say that he indeed did NOT have a stroke and is suffering from otitis media or he would never be improving in just 24 hours. That is good news!!  

Sandra Todd