Brutus-URI-more weightloss *now w/ video

[TheRatQueen]

Well...another boy with a URI. Took him to the vet yesterday and he's started on Zithro/Baytril. The boy sounded like a clock ticking. Not so much as wet congestion.

On Jan. 28th he weighed 538 yesterday 498 and today he's 485

Should I not freak out yet? He seems lethargic and isn't eating as much as he normally does.

I am hoping he perks up in a couple of days but I have an odd feeling that something else is wrong. He's a younger boy about 16 months old.

I'm going to pick up more ensure tomorrow when I'm done work.

Do you think this weight loss this fast is normal?

 

[hopefloats]

I would like to know what is happening there..........has to be something causing this....is it cold? are they cold? you have been hit hard lately and it isnt virus because it is spread out. Is there any way to just medicate you whole crew?

 

[TheRatQueen]

They pretty much all are at this point. I am giving 8 of the 13 meds. It's a bit cold but not that cold. We have a heater in the room to keep it at a constant temp. I took the humidifier out, which honestly seems to have helped. Ever since I did that the 'wet congestion' has left in the boys except for one. And they all eat healthy diets. And the ones that are one meds (but Brutus) are actually "hopping and popping" not lethargic at all, you would never know they were sick except if you ratta-phone them. Brutus is just really off. But in the cage that he is in he is the 'runt' and they tend to leave him out half of the time. So he's always been a little off.

 

[hopefloats]

could there be mold hiding somewhere? You just seem to have been slammed with an 18 wheeler lately there has to be something that can help contain this.....

 

[TheRatQueen]

I have no idea, I'm in an apt building but it doesn't seem like any mold but I would have no idea. And I just cleaned out all of the heater filters as well.

I am really only down to 2 really sick ones. So that's a plus!

 

[TheRatQueen]

So...update on Brutus. He lost more weight, down to 460. But...he is now climbing to the top of the cage which he hasn't done in about a week. Tonight I came home, he was on the top shelf looking like utter hell. I took him out, weighed him somehow he is up to 462, gave him a handful of peas, he ate about 15 of them. And was roaming around, but, he is breathing terrible still. Dr wants me to stop meds thinking it's irratating his stomach.

Here's a video of his breathing (he's a rex, so his hair is always like this) and he actually is perfectly clear sounding.


http://youtu.be/xTTLVDHBkYc

I don't get it. I made an appt to bring him in tomorrow night if he still looks like hell tomorrow.

 

[jorats]

At his age, Zithromax alone is not going to be enough. He needs a strong combo like Zithro and Baytril.
I too find it a real concern that you are going through many losses and have so many sick rats. Any smoking in the home? Or the use of fragrances? Any glue fumes? Something seems to be affecting your rats it seems.

 

[TheRatQueen]

He was on zithro and baytril until last night.

We don't have any air freshners, they are located in our bedroom which isn't really connected to anything but a hallway. And with my deaths, only one was linked to sickness (although he was 29 months old), the one that just passed has had uri's his whole life and I think he had the pulmonary abces. that you had mentioned.

We don't smoke either. I am getting a digital wall thermometer this weekend and putting that in the room to see if there is a temperature drop that I don't feel. I have no idea what is going on and the ones that are getting sick are very random. I have one in each cage (3 right now). I can't figure it out

 

[jorats]

When you have a lot of rats, that can happen. It can be overwhelming with all the ones getting sick. I hope you catch a break and they start to feel better.

 

[TheRatQueen]

*knock on wood* Everyone else is better except for him. So hopefully it's under control and done and over with!

 

[Joanne]

Humans can get viruses and spread them around the house from person to person, with people sick at different times. Isn't it possible rats can have the same thing going on?

 

[trihkal]

Did you end up going to the vet? How's he doing now?

 

[TheRatQueen]

Well, went to the vet yesterday and he says there is still a bit of congestion but he doesn't hear anything else. He thinks the zithro was making him sick. We stopped the zithro weds. night and on Thursday he already looked better. So we have him on Viber. now. And he started eat last night. So *thumbs up* we did his first neb. treatment last night and he gained 2 grams since last night. So maybe it really was the Zithro upsetting him. Have you ever heard of zithro upsetting a stomach before?

 

[trihkal]

Aw I'm glad he's showing improvement! I hope he keeps it up. I don't have much experience or know of others' experience with zithro sorry.

 

[mamarat]

I've had rats allergic to Baytril, Zithro, Novotrimel and even Doxy. Vet just kept changing the meds until one was ok. With some rats it was only a tummy ache (where they stop eating), some loose stools and one became lethargic, so meds had to be given with food then or changed altogether. Good luck with your sweetie.