Dry and flaky paws

[Unepuce]

My Biscotte has a weird paw issue.

It all started with a vet visit on Monday for a follow-up on an eye issue that doesn't improve even after weeks on abs. We decided to put her on Doxy on top of the Baytril she was already having, and my vet also started her on Ketoconazole, just in case. Biscotte absolutely hates the Keto and refuses to take it - I managed to get some into her come Wednesday, and all of it yesterday, thanks to Ensure.

This morning, I didn't notice anything wrong but tonight, I noticed her paws were dry and flaky, and her front paws were also reddish and crusty. Any idea where that might come from? My first suspicion goes to Keto, but I also gave her honey which is new to her...






I emailed those to the vet clinic as well and plan on calling them in the morning, but if anyone has any idea what I can do in the meantime, I would really appreciate...

 

[mamarat]

Oh your poor baby. Sorry I can't help though, I've never seen that in my rats.

 

[Unepuce]

Got an unrelated call from my vet this morning - actually, I didn't run fast enough to the phone and she left a message. The results for the bacterial cultures are back and her eye issue is in fact bacterial - but quite resistant. Luckily, one of our few options is Doxy, which she started on Monday. So the good news for now is that I am stopping the Keto as I wanted - and also stopping Baytril as the bacteria is resistant to it.

Her paws still look the same this morning - I will be calling the vet now to ask if they saw my email and ask what I can do to help her.

 

[mamarat]

Could it be an allergic reaction?

 

[Unepuce]

Allergies are the most likely culprit in my mind.

Got a call back from my vet - she said it might be caused be a reaction to the Keto, which we are stopping anyways. She suggested doing hydrotherapy twice a day. If this is indeed caused by the Keto, it should clear in the coming 3 to 4 days. If it doesn't help - we're back to investigating for yet another health issue.

I really hope the Keto caused this. Her and her sister's Cookie's genetics is so freaking bad - can't she just get a break at least until her eye is completely healed? :gaah:

 

[jorats]

I was gonna say a reaction to the med. But, wow. Never saw it bad like that. Very interesting.

 

[*Rebel_Angel*]

O poor Biscotte! Hope its just that..a bad reaction to the Keto and nothing more!

 

[Dazzle87]

Wow that looks awful. I know rats can be allergic to drugs too but I never saw anything like that. I hope that's all it was and it starts clearing up! I know how you feel, some rats have the worst luck unfortunately.

 

[lilspaz68]

I too have not seen something like that as well. Can you check her tail carefully and see if anything has changed?

 

[Unepuce]

Nothing seems different on her tail, beside more porph stains - no more dry than normal, nothing. I thought it felt a bit bumpy, but her sister's tail feels the same...

 

[Unepuce]

I believe I have good news! I just did hydrotherapy with my Biscotte, and noticed right after that her front paws were back to a normal soft pink! :joy: Of course, the skin on all four paws is still dry, but it looks like once it falls off, everything should be fine. What a relief!

 

[mamarat]

That's great!

 

[jorats]

That's great news.

 

[lilspaz68]

What about an ointment?

 

[Unepuce]

I mentionned it to the vet, but she said to start with hydrotherapy only.

But I was not a good girl with that - did it only once Biscotte was very good through it though, she is just the sweetest little girl I know - total opposite from her sister!

Her paws are still soft pink - a bit dry still, but definitely looking better. She looks more confortable too - she stopped shaking them everytime she would pick something up :thumbup: