Disoriented? Inner Ear infection got worse?

[SQ]

I would call them.

Can you tell your boss that you may be in a little late because you have to go to a medical apt in the morning?
If you decide to say it is for a pet ,you don't have to mention rats.

 

[mamarat]

I know with my vet I can make "tentative" appointments. Good luck!

 

[Scythe]

I managed to get my manager to let me come in an hour and a half later... So I'll be able to make it to the vets...

PT and Inner Ear infections are treated the same way, right? So asking for a stronger medication for a longer time would help if it were either? Partially trying to soothe my worried mind, but also so I know whatever it is will still get treated and handled no matter which it is...

 

[mamarat]

My vet won't give steroids for inner ear infection but will for PT. Good luck with your sweetie.

 

[Scythe]

Hmm... But otherwise it's a AB and an anti-inflammatory, right? He had a bit of luck with that before, so maybe...

Augh, I need to just stop thinking.

 

[MomRat]

PT is typically treated with Prednisone, sometimes paired with other stuff. Ear infections are treated with agressive antibiotics.

 

[SQ]

Yes, both are treated with antibiotics and an anti-inflamatory ..... although some vets will not give the anti-inflamatory for inner ear infections.

Using an anti-inflamatory initially to get the swelling down for inner ear infections can help to prevent further permanent damange.
Some vets do not give it because some (all?) anti-inflamatory drugs will make antibiotics less effective in treating inner ear infections.

PT is threated with predisone (etc) but this must be given with antibiotics as it lowers the immune system.

 

[Scythe]

Dr.Munn seemed to have thought that the Inner Ear Infection just got worse, and prescribed the same thing just at a higher dosage, plus a... basically, anti-dizzy medication for a week to help him get around better so he might be able to get around easier without falling or ending up circling himself.

He said he'd be away for most of next week, but that someone would give me a call on Monday to see if the medication has done anything to help and if theres a problem, someone at the office will be able to get a hold of him and figure something out before it gets worse while hes away.

Also, the Doxycycline he gave me is in two bottles...? I'm so tired from being awake and one of my other pets passing away today that it's completely gone right out my head what I'm supposed to do. One bottle is a powder and one is a liquid, and I remember the girl in the office telling me that after they're mixed it goes in the fridge. So I just mix them together straight, right? Label doesnt say much.

Label also says discard after 14 days? but Dr.Munn said today that after three weeks thats when it begins to lose it's effectiveness, and I brought up maybe it expired and thats why hes gone backwards and he said its possible.

 

[mamarat]

Fingers crossed the meds will work for your sweetie. What's the name of the anti dizzy med? It would be great if I could ask my vet for the tilties.

 

[Scythe]

The anti-dizzy is Mecilizine 50mg/ml, I believe.

 

[Fidget]

It does sound like it might be a PT rather than a simple inner ear infection, but you never know. You're doing all the right things, and only time will tell if metacam antibiotics are enough to fix him up. If it's an inner ear infection he's getting the right treatment, if it's a PT then the time won't make much difference anyway, as the the prednisone can only possibly (at best) help his comfort & mobility, and then certainly only temorarily. I'm sure we'll all be adding hopes & prayers in the meantime.

 

[Scythe]

He's off the metacam for now, as well. At least until Monday. He didn't say anything about it so when the girl was handing me the meds, I asked and she said she wasnt sure but she'd ask and give me a call when she knew, possibly on Monday when she called back to see how he does on the Doxy/Baytril at higher doses combo'd with the Mecilizine.

Jo said in chat last night that ten months is very young for a PT, so Im keeping fingers crossed that she's right and he'll be okay.

 

[Fidget]

P.S. I use doxy powder too and the powder is good for a long time but only a couple weeks once mixed. Perhaps they didn't premix it so that you could mix up say half a batch for immediate use and mix the other half in a couple weeks? Have you mixed it already? If not check with the vet what the instructions are, it'll be on his chart.

 

[Scythe]

I haven't mixed it yet, no. How would I go about mixing it half and half properly to preserve it? Even if that wasn't their intention, and it will still work, that is a good idea to make it last longer.

I'd call, but the office is closed and not open again until Monday, unfortunately.

 

[Fidget]

as long as you're certain that you are to mix the two together then you can find another container and put half of each in there and shake it up to mix well. If you have a syringe you could use that to measure exactly if need be (rinse the syringe after measuring from one bottle before you put it in the other) - then be sure the mixed stuff goes in the fridge.

 

[Scythe]

That sounds really complicated. I've got no idea how I'd make sure half of each got into another bottle -- especially the powder, eek.

 

[mamarat]

The anti-dizzy is Mecilizine 50mg/ml, I believe.

Thank you.

 

[Scythe]

I figured out the confusion we all had in chat last night about the Doxycycline powder -- they forgot to send the suspending agent. I'm going tomorrow afternoon to pick that up, haha.

Edit:

I've only had a chance to peek into my room since I just got in from work, but Alphonse seems a lot more balanced just from the higher dose of Baytril and the meclizine. When I go to pick up the suspending agent tomorrow I'll start him on that, since the other doxy I already had probably expired by now.

 

[jorats]

I'd do meds for a month if the vet will allow it and then I'd just let him be. My rat Russo had a long quality of life being a severe tilty since 6 months. He passed away at 30 months so most of his life was a tilted one.

 

[Scythe]

Ill bring that up when I get there. Certainly, I did get a LOT of Baytril this time(usually I get half the ammount that I got this time, plus I've got a lot of unexpired baytril left from when I was there three weeks ago). And if the Doxy is set up to have half of it made for two weeks, then the other made for another two weeks after that expired -- then I think I certainly could. Dr.Munn is away for the week, apparently, so I'll see what I can about that when he returns.