Asthma & rats

[Fidget]

How come I hear so much about respiratory problems in them, geez its a rare one that I don't have to address that problem in at some point in their life - but no reference to asthma.
Are they are capable of getting asthma? And capable of having a form that continues on past childhood?
I got a kid that that certainly would explain her long history of problems that weren't fixed by antibiotics.

 

[xxchelle]

viewtopic.php?p=251876#p251876

That may be helpful... apparently inhalers can help with ratties with asthma.

 

[jorats]

I did once ask my vet exactly that and she did say it's quite possible.

 

[Fidget]

xxchelle, she's had 3 'running' sessions where she was noisy and obviously in deep respiratory trouble. June 27, August 13, 18. Each time I did use my inhaler on her and then got her into a steamy bathroom. And twice even used prednisone to get her ok. She's been on Doxy & Baytril since June 25.
She's always lacked energy, I thought at first she was shy or scared, of course she was at first, but I learned gradually she's not as she gradually came to love being petted and never flinches even when I surprise her. But she always liked to snuggle in her own quiet space away from the others, I though that was personality, it took quite a while to realize that her issues might be more energy-related than social-related. She's often had slight noisy periods, but only bad enough to use meds once before this and they did nothing to help so I didn't use them again til June25 this year. She's been here since March 30/09. I'm guessing she's about a year & 8 months.
Her problem is obviously respiratory, and whatever her issue or issues is worsening with age.
I just don't understand why the meds don't fix her. My vet won't give anything but Baytril (the Doxy I got online). I got erythromycin years ago for another kid after beggimg for another med but it just tortured the kid to get it in her and didn't help at all. I can only think that her lungs have always been compromised and she has a condition that puts more stress on them as she ages? I've seen asthma in humans. It sure would explain what I've seen in her the last 17 months.
I can't believe that some don't have it - and have it diagnosed as other things.

 

[jorats]

Might she have a heart problem?

 

[Brax]

The asthma question is an interesting one. What issues could arise with using human inhalers at human dosages? Specifically, I have a bronchodilator inhaler at 0.5MG dose, which I think has no steroids and a Glucocorticosteroid at a dose of 200... something. I don't recognize the characters here: it's an upside-down small h next to a g?

 

[xxchelle]

I don't recognize the characters here: it's an upside-down small h next to a g?

Micrograms. One microgram is 1.0 × 10[super:1uki7n2r]-6[/super:1uki7n2r] grams.

 

[Fidget]

Thanks Jo, I kind of wondered about that as she's never been normal, always in the background, never running with the others, I thought it was personality, then thought respiratory and when baytril/doxy didn't help thought lung scarring considering her history. Wasn't til recent I wondered about a heart problem as I've never encountered one in my kids (now tho i think I did but my vet misdiagnosed). Kept her comfy til June 25, been trying to fix her since then but she's been going downhill. Baytil & Doxy tried, Saw the vet thursday, got Lasix, not helping so far, I can get Enalapril tuesday but not sure she's going to make it or wants to. She's eaten little but Ensure & pablum the last week, and won't take anything unless it's off my finger the last 2 days.

 

[jorats]

I think the Lasix should have worked in helping her feel better, that's how some here know their rat has a heart issue. I wish I could help more but I'm not experienced with heart meds.