Doxycycline, checkup/extra opinion on dose please

[tumbleweed]

Hello


One of my rats has Pneumonia.
In fact, he doesn't really look ill (yet). I had to go with another ratty and decided to take him with me, because I did notice "something". He did shake a bit with his head, sometimes. But not very noticeable. And he is getting older (2,5 years). I completely didn't expect, it would be that bad/serious :shock: (But he is a halfwild (rescue rat), he might be camouflaging it more than "normal" fancy rats.)

Anyway, the vet said he looks "strong", and prescribed Doxycycline.
But there is some discussion on the dose. I don't know what to do... I really would like to have more opinions.

0,25 cc/day in 2 times

--> the pharmacy said that this means 2 times a day 0,125 ml. So to split up the daily dose (I believe the vet said this too, but haven't read the prescription, went straightaway to the pharmacy with is because they had to prepare it)

The mixture (don't know if this is the good translation in English ) is:

131,02 g/100ml Mixture
Doxycycline Hyclaat 1g
water EF 5 ml
Syrop AD 100 ml

Can anyone help me out, please?
Is this dose correct for this mixture of Doxycycline?
Or should I give 0,25 ml 2x/day (this was the opinion of someone I trust very much, and who also studies for Vet. But it is always possible she has misread something in the mixture. And on a RatMedic board, they say this mixture is very, very odd to them. (but they are Dutch, in Belgium the Pharmacy uses frequently mixtures that look odd to Dutch people, it seems :? ). So perhaps it is not that odd.. But otherwise, they are advised on boards as specialists in this matter... :? So I really don't know what to do/follow.

He weights about 400-450 grams (he didn't sit still and it bounced from 400 to 450 gram)


Thanks in advance!

 

[jorats]

Hi, I'm trying to make sense of this, it's hard because we don't have it like that either here.
But... it appears that the doxy is at only 1g/ml, if that's really the case, then that dose is too small. Unless that doxy is stronger than what we are used to here?
I would probably go with what your vet has prescribed. If it was written 0,25 cc/day in 2 times then the pharmacist has the right dose. You could call your vet just to double check.
Hopefully lilspaz will see this and might be able to figure it out better...she's great with dosages.

 

[lilspaz68]

Lemme take a stab here...

I am seeing 1 g = 1000 mg
sooo its probably a 100 ml bottle

sooo 1000/100 = 10 mg/ml

If I use the weight of 450 grams (better than underdosing) and use the RMCA 2.5 mg/lb, which becomes 5.5 mg/kg I am getting a dose of .2475 which rounds up to .25 ml

I would use the .25 ml twice a day :thumbup:

 

[jorats]

Ugh...that's where I screwed up...the 1g.
I knew lilspaz would figure it out.

 

[tumbleweed]

Thank you so much! :joy:

Yes, it is a 100 ml bottle indeed!

The other person also thought it would be .25 ml (also twice a day so not splitting it up, as said by the Pharmacy). And your calculations are making it clear (and a lot more concrete)!. So I feel "relieved"/safe, just gave him the .25 ml dose.
No more worries about that, now
I really was scared because on the ratmedic board the spoke about greatly under-dosed or greatly over-dosed. It is past midnight here, so a bit difficult to contact the Vet or Pharmacy, but I also didn't like to wait another 10 hours (took him to the Vet this morning, but it took some time before the preparation was made, already half a day "gone"), and perhaps seeing him getting worse.

Thanks! :thud:

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

If you don't see an improvement within a week then I would suggest adding baytril just to help get rid of the infection before it has a chance to get worse.