congestion

[sarunia]

So... the fight with my boys' URIs continue. They've been on the meds for a month now, and I'm going to keep them on the baytril till I can see a vet again (next week, I'm moving on Monday, but I found a place where I'm going :whew

The guys are doing generally better, although they have their very rough days (especially Little Rat... he's great in the mornings and by the evening he's completely exhausted). Breathing is still rough, but appetite/mood/etc is generally improving. I've noticed lately, though, that I can hear congestion, which I wasn't ever able to hear before. It's a popping sound coming from the nose. Is it just the gunk moving up? Do you guys have any suggestions for congestion? I'm trying everything I can to get them better, and I'm just hoping it's enough. :roll:

Poor boys. I'm hoping for the best, but I gotta be honest, seeing the boys so sick just just breaks my heart. :heart:

thanks!!
sarah, slava and little rat

 

Put him in a cage and bring him to the bathroom when you shower, the steam will help clear him up. some don't enjoy it, but all mine do, so give it a try.
Also, which med's has he been on? you should try Doxy + Baytril combo, works well

 

[Rachael]

^ It doesn't work with all of mine and sometimes a few of mine have panicked a bit. Have you tried Bisolven powder?

 

[jorats]

I agree with adding doxy as well.
As for the Bisolven powder, I believe that's a UK product. We need to find the equivalent on our side of the pond.

 

[Rachael]

I agree with adding doxy as well.
As for the Bisolven powder, I believe that's a UK product. We need to find the equivalent on our side of the pond.

Really? :? Sorry, I thought it was available everywhere really.

 

[sarunia]

They're on Doxy (well, vibermycin), and have been for 30 days in addition to Baytril. I also have them on echinacea (on one week, off another).

Did I read somewhere on here that Doxy's effects starts to decrease after a rat's been on it for 20 days... ?
I'll try steaming them this evening. Would they respond well to inhaling a bit of flonase or something of the sort? (for allergies)

The congestion 'popping' recently started... or I was so nervous about other things that I haven't noticed it before

thanks!

 

[MomRat]

An online search for bisolvon shows you can purchase it at online pharmacy bestpetpharmacy.co.uk, but its upwards of £100 including shipping to North America, and requires a physical paper prescription to be mailed to them. Yeesh.

 

[SQ]

Steam sometimes helps and sometimes makes it worse.
Dry air will make breathing worse. Optimum humidity level for rats is 50%.
Baytril + doxy is good. If it isn't helping you may want to try baytril + azithromycin.
If it is helping, you will want to treat for 6 weeks or longer since it sounds like myco

If your rats have fluid build up in their lungs they may need lasix short term to help them breath.

Since it has been going on for so long, your vet may want to try enalapril (0.25 mg/Ib twice a day). If this helps you rat has a heart problem and will need other heart meds added to the enalapril.

(experience & info from the Rat Health Care book)

 

echinacea should not be given while other meds are given, it decreases the effectiveness of the medication. Only give echinacea when they are in good health.

 

[sarunia]

:emb: Ah crap -- I hope that's why they haven't been stagnate on this last round They're keeping themselves clean, and seem to be eating and drinking. Laboured breathing with perky ears and bright eyes. Like I said though they have some ba-a-a-ad times, and since Little Rat got sick, he's been sleeping with his head over things (like over a ledge)... it's quite odd, but I'm assuming that it helps him breathe.

I'm keeping a close eye on them this weekend. They're third round of meds ended yesterday, but I've got a bit of Baytril left, so I"m going to keep them on that. My vet here doesn't have apts till Tuesday.... the same day I'm due to be moving. I've found a vet there, so depending on how they're doing I'll take them Tues or Wed. Right now just doing my best to keep them comfortable, bruxing and happy. I'll put some bowls of water 'round the room, and maybe the extra hydration will help.

I'm hoping that things start to get better soon. :roll: :heart:

 

[sarunia]

Here's the way Little Rat is/has been breathing (his eyes are squinty because I woke him up). Although it looks labored he isn't acting as if he can't get enough to breathe. Thought this might help with some suggestions... :heart:

[youtube:3u6bqr4y]QQqmUsRzXXk[/youtube:3u6bqr4y]

 

[sarunia]

The link doesn't seem to be working... here is another: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQqmUsRzXXk

 

[mamarat]

Poor sweetie, he is breathing heavy.

 

[jorats]

I'd continue the meds or go back to the vet and ask for something else maybe Zithromax?

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

 

Hanging his ead over the edge of something is normal, it helps him breath!

 

[sarunia]

Thanks guys -- like I said: I'm just trying to keep their little rattie chins up till Wednesday a.m. when I'll be able to get to a vet. (My vet here doesn't come in 'till Tuesday, which is when I'm moving back home for the summer. I thought about taking them then, but I think it would be best to have an established vet where my parents are, which is tooooo far to drive for an apt) I have enough Baytril to get them through to then (Slava's dose will have to be cut back a bit... but he's in much better spirits and doesn't breathe as poorly as Little Rat). There will be a lot of cheeri-o's, belly kisses, soy milk and cuddles over the next few days!!

Thanks again. Please keep your fingers crossed... these are strong boys, so I've got to trust that they only need a bit more patience :heart:

 

[sarunia]

So my guys got to see the new vet today who took them off the Baytril and onto Clavamox. I'm afraid it's not looking good for these guys, despite the previous run of meds, they've lost weight, and i'm nervous that the Clavamox won't help and these guys may cross over soon... :sad3:

Thanks for all the help and advice. Here's to hoping that this works :heart:

 

[mamarat]

Poor boys, hope the meds help them. Have you tried Baytril and Zithro for them? It's worked wonders for mine.

 

[sarunia]

Mamarat-- I suggested to the vet, but she wanted to try them on the Clavamox because they've been on the Baytril for a month and she said that she would have expected to see greater progress.

They had their first dose this morning, and I keep looking for signs of improvement but have yet to see any. The new vet said that if something doesn't look up by the weekend that we could try another medication or run some tests (which I cannot afford :roll: ).

Time for patience, some luck, and a working medication :heart: