Billy isn't doing so well and I need help

[MaryCayden]

Hey!

So Billy's not doing so well. His breathing is still bad (had it all his life) but now he has a throat abscess or tumor and he's lost 100 grams in 13 days. He runs like crazy, like hes trying to get away from something, he'll jump from anywhere if you don't catch him. So now I have him on tylosin and lasiks, to see if it will shrink his neck and help his breathing or see if his breathing is caused by his heart. I've started to compress his neck to see if it is an abscess. The vet thinks I should help him pass, but I want to have opinions on him. I have a video, can you look at him and see if I should just take him in because he's not gonna get better or is there hope? You can hear his breathing and see his throat near the end.

[BBvideo 425,350:38sp1qte]http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a69/CarolynB73/Rats/?action=view&current=e7bcf70f.mp4[/BBvideo:38sp1qte]

 

[lilspaz68]

1) the Tylosin is a very weak medication, absolutely useless to a very sick rat with ongoing respiratory issues like this. Basically he is unmedicated IMO right now. It's like taking baby aspirin for a migraine.

2) I don't see any indications that it would be heart, so I am not sure why the diuretic lasix.

3) What other ab combos has he been on and did they just stop working?

4) How long has his breathing been like that? The running and panicking is because he cannot get enough oxygen into his lung.. You see when you pat him he moves away from you, he doesn't want to be touched right now, because he's afraid it will interfere with him trying to breathe.

IF I had tried most combos, and they weren't working, I would let him go if he was mine. He looks very unhappy.

 

[SQ]

What Lilspaz68 said.

Have you tried baytril + zithro, baytril + doxy, baytril + clavamox?

The lump could be making it very hard for him to breath.
Vet could do a needle biopsy to see what it is.

You really can not wait until Monday to get him some help.
He needs to be stared on strong antibiotics now, or else pts humanely.
viewtopic.php?f=26&t=9582
He is suffering.

He has likely lost weight over the last 2 weeks either because it is difficult to breath and eat at the same time, or else he has a tumor that is taking the nutrition.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

You really can not wait until Monday to get him some help.
He needs to be stared on strong antibiotics now, or else pts humanely.
viewtopic.php?f=26&t=9582
He is suffering.

I'm really sorry this is happening. I agree 100% with SQ something needs to be done asap.

 

[MaryCayden]

We have tried everything, this was the last abs that he didn't try. So you really think hes suffering and it's time? Because the vet closes in a few mins for the weekend and isn't back until monday

 

[Joanne]

I agree with the others. When they run like that it is because they feel like they are suffocating.
A fine needle aspiration will quickly tell you if it's an abscess or a tumor. If it's an abscess, then lancing it may give him some immediate relief, followed by some proper antibiotics. If it's a tumor, then I would have him PTS as his breathing will only get worse and he will suffocate to death. Surgery is much more complicated in the neck because of the nerves and blood vessels than removing a tumor on their belly.

 

[*Rebel_Angel*]

I'm sorry dear!

 

[Tarah]

Aw, I'm so sorry. Poor boy.

 

[MaryCayden]

Ok, so here he is tonight!


[BBvideo 425,350:1rfao1rz]http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a69/CarolynB73/Rats/?action=view&current=e1274ad2.mp4[/BBvideo:1rfao1rz]

 

[SQ]

Is Billy doing any better? ... he looks a bit better in the video

You could test dose with enalapril (0.25 mg/454.4g twice a day) to see if he has a heart problem.
If it helps, then atenolol (1 mg/454.4 g twice a day) and lasix (as needed, starting dose usually 1-2 mg/454.4g twice a day) are added.
Digoxin is added if the heart is enlarged as seen on an xray.

But he needs to be on a strong combo of antibiotics and that lump needs to be checked out to see if it is an abscess that the vet can drain and to see if it is interfering with his ability to breath.

And if these things do not help his breathing very soon, then he needs to be pts
If you decide to wait a few days to see if anything can help, I would suggest a puffer such as ventolin in case of emergency

 

[hopefloats]

Bindi was on baytril/doxy and a nebulizer...a few days worth then her neck swelled up similar to this it was huge. I stopped the doxy and nebulizer and only gave her baytril. It aslo happened to her months before when I put her on doxy..except it was a differet spot this lump was on one of her nipples. It went away when I stopped they doxy then to. Is there a common med that he was on when the lump started?

I have found with the neck abcsess it seems to take forever to be ready but yhey are usually surface lumps you can tell it isn't attached. We have had about 5 of those here.

 

[MaryCayden]

Here is a video of my little Billy bee! He's quite a little guy! Breathing and mood has improved on the metacam and tylosin. Now to just fatten him up. I can't even hear him anymore anic:

PS: Nicole wanted to be involved too LOL

[BBvideo 425,350:16m0ay66]http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a69/CarolynB73/Rats/?action=view&current=d0d3f196.mp4[/BBvideo:16m0ay66]

 

[Godmother]

Must be a relief to see him improve.

 

[mamarat]

So glad Billy is feeling better.

 

[SQ]

Good news!

 

[Aida]

Yay for Billy-Bug! Fingers, toes, paws, and claws crossed that it'll stay that way! :3

 

[Joanne]

I'm glad to see he is doing so much better! I was worried he wouldn't make it. So is the lump an abcess?

 

[MaryCayden]

We don't know they can't do a needle biopsy with putting him under, but she feels it a tumor.

 

[mamarat]

 

[MaryCayden]

Once his breathing is better they can remove it