florentero paste for rats?

[RatsForever]

Hello!

I have three sick rats with a very quick onset of respiratory issues and diarrhea; all three were brought to the vet yesterday and examined. I was sent home with Baytril and Lasix but the vet also recommended the probiotic florentero paste which I've heard being used on cats, dogs, and even rabbits but not rats. The vet also believes that there's a potential viral infection going on and the florentero will also boost their immune system. Perhaps I shouldn't question the vet's recommendation but when it comes to rats, vets have been wrong in the past. Has anyone on the forum used florentero before on their rats?

Happy Holidays!

 

[Unepuce]

Yes I have! I was prescribed Florentero instead of Benebac for my Pollux when he got old and didn't digest his food as good as before. The vet said the florentero would help better than the benebac - and it did!

 

[victoria]

I've also used Florentero wafers for antibiotic associated diarrhea. If the paste doesn't work you can experiment with different 'human' probiotics, it's just a question of replacing digestive flora and crowding out harmful bacteria with beneficial ones.

If your rats already had diarrhea before starting antibiotics, you may want to treat for parasites just in case though. (Unless there's another explanation for the diarrhea.) I don't know how sick they are, but if they need lasix because they have pneumonia, you may consider asking for a second antibiotic to combine Baytril with - rats with severe respiratory infections almost always need two antibiotics to get better.

 

[thefriggintribe]

I always keep some on hand for my rats after the vet told me it was a good idea for sick little guys.

 

[SQ]

Quick onset may mean a secondary infection ... if so it would be good to add clavamox to the baytril
and many rats get a loose stool from clavamox.

never heard of what you are asking about so would like to find out more,
but a probiotic is a good idea. I have used probiotics with my rats (not given withing 2 hours of antibiotic).

 

[RatsForever]

Based on the responses I decided to give them florentero - they hated it but hopefully it will work. Thank you.

 

[victoria]

Based on the responses I decided to give them florentero - they hated it but hopefully it will work. Thank you.

If they don't start to like it, you can ask the vet if he can get the wafers - some of my rats will eat them like a treat. (I give them a quarter wafer at a time.)

 

[Godmother]

An e-vet once prescribed it for Bill when he was taking antibiotics. He liked it