G'Kar isn't doing well... *Videos**Update*

[PitLuvs]

I woke up this morning to G'kar sitting on the top level, breathing heavily. First thing I though was infection, but his eyes and nose are clear. M/c crossed my mind (since he is high white) but he wasn't bloated or in pain. I decided a trip to the vet was in order.

They listened to his heartbeat as best as they could through the heavy breathing, and all three vets heard a very distinct irregular heartbeat. one vet, who owns rats himself says his heart is failing. Other than that, he says he is in excellent shape. I was given my options, meds, xrays, or sadly letting him go. I took the meds (bay for infection and another for heart) and we are going to try those until weds, and then rethink our options. The first shot of heart meds (will put that uplater, meds are in the car) did give him a little more energy, his feet and nose are not blue like they were at the vet. He is still having a hard time breathing, we are keeping him close. Poor Lenir would not leave his bothers side the whole time, so he came with. All 3 boys are currently snuggled up with G'Kar, keeping him warm.

Its a sad day, sad sad sad. G'kar is an amazing rat. The only one who has time for me :cry4:

G'Kar and his brother Lenir, and his dad Londo came to live with us in July, from MRRG. They are 8-10mths old

G'kar when he came to live with us,

G'kar at the vet today

Updated with Videos of G'Kar on day 2...
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You can see his breathing here, its pretty good tonight.
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[mamarat]

What a handsome boy. Hope the meds help your sweetie.

 

[PitLuvs]

I always hold hope, I have seen it work thousands of times when my little ones are sick. But this time, no. I really don't have hope. I just feel it, this is GoodBye. Even with Shai's agressive tumor that overtook him within a week, I had hope. This blows.

 

[mamarat]

:hugs:

 

[PitLuvs]

G'Kar had some babyfood tonight, not interested in water but he is checking out his hospital cage and cleaning himself. He seems brighter, but still breathing heavy but doesn't heave heavily

 

[Godmother]

Poor sweetie. It must be so hard to see him like that. What heart meds is he taking? I do hope that he shows some improvement soon.

 

[PitLuvs]

I just got them from the car, Lasix by injection. Last resort meds

 

[Rachael]

I am so sorry.

 

[jorats]

My vet once told me that some rats will get heart issues if the lung issues don't get cleared up. So maybe if you get the URI under control, the heart will become stronger? At least we can all hope for that.
((hugs))

 

[PitLuvs]

The vets are saying he doesn't have any infection, no noise, no discharge. But in case there is an underlying problem that anti's can fix, they gave that as well. His temps are low, which they thought higher temps would mean infection somewhere.

But today, he is still labored with breathing but he is up and around. He has ups and downs. Yesterday I would have said there is no hope, he was lifeless as I walked into the vet. Today, he looks normal (other than the breathing) but you can tell he's tired. Still eating and drinking, and doing fine with levels.

Continue the prayers, they are helping.

 

[lilspaz68]

lasix on its own may not be enough, can you ask for enalapril or fortekor (benazapril) to use as well? its the real heart med to use for diagnostics.

 

[PitLuvs]

Either? I have to go back tomorrow to see about getting more Lasix, I'll bring that info along with. Would you be able to let me know what the dose would be? G'Kar is about normal for weight lol

 

[jorats]

He's looking pretty good in the videos. What a pretty rat!
I assumed he had lung issues because you mentioned having a hard time hearing the heart beat over the heavy breathing. Lungs shouldn't be loud. But now that I think about it, if the rat is having heart issues, he will breathe harder and heavier.

 

[PitLuvs]

The vet was saying they had a hard time hearing his heart because he was breathing so heavily, but all three said they could hear an irregularity with the beats.

But day 3, you would never know there was something wrong with him. Looking at him now, you would never think he was a scared limp little rat at vet office, gasping for air while I yelled at the vet to get him in NOW because I was loosing him. I've had a few pets die in my arms, I know when they are on the way out. G'Kar was on his way out. And today? He's tossing the fleece around his cage in protest of it being clean, he's eating everything in sight, being nice to Cas and the bestest cuddle bug ever. He actually is better than he ever was. I hope he stays this way. I have a lifetime account with the local pharmacy for the Lasix now, thankfully oral doses because my heart is breaking everything I have to give him a shot

He is quite the looker eh? The personnel at the vets office kept coming in to take peeks at him and Lenir, and couldn't believe they were brothers (dumbo vs standard, creme hooded vs white and grey spots). Everyone loved G'Kar.

 

[mamarat]

That's fantastic news. So glad he's doing so much better.

 

[jennifervb]

The vet was saying they had a hard time hearing his heart because he was breathing so heavily, but all three said they could hear an irregularity with the beats.

But day 3, you would never know there was something wrong with him. Looking at him now, you would never think he was a scared limp little rat at vet office, gasping for air while I yelled at the vet to get him in NOW because I was loosing him. I've had a few pets die in my arms, I know when they are on the way out. G'Kar was on his way out. And today? He's tossing the fleece around his cage in protest of it being clean, he's eating everything in sight, being nice to Cas and the bestest cuddle bug ever. He actually is better than he ever was. I hope he stays this way. I have a lifetime account with the local pharmacy for the Lasix now, thankfully oral doses because my heart is breaking everything I have to give him a shot

He is quite the looker eh? The personnel at the vets office kept coming in to take peeks at him and Lenir, and couldn't believe they were brothers (dumbo vs standard, creme hooded vs white and grey spots). Everyone loved G'Kar.

If you don't mind my asking, what kind of cleaning products do you use in your home? By that I mean, household cleaners, window cleaners, laundry detergents, etc.

 

[PitLuvs]

Ok, I'll be honest as I can here....

Window....

Omg wait! I just changed my laundry detergent from unscented arm and hammer to Original Tide (heavily scented) because I ran out and NEEDED to wash rat bedding. It would all fit together, since this happened Monday and I put new bedding in Sunday? I know my daughter broke out in a rash and we switched everything to Tide Scent Free. But what they have now is washed with Regular Tide. Hrrmmmm?

But back to what I use... I have always only used baby shampoo on my cages, or vinegar and water. Floors are Mr Clean (hasnt changed) and windows is Windex (hasnt changed, no where near the cage as well).

 

[jennifervb]

Ok, I'll be honest as I can here....

Window....

Omg wait! I just changed my laundry detergent from unscented arm and hammer to Original Tide (heavily scented) because I ran out and NEEDED to wash rat bedding. It would all fit together, since this happened Monday and I put new bedding in Sunday? I know my daughter broke out in a rash and we switched everything to Tide Scent Free. But what they have now is washed with Regular Tide. Hrrmmmm?

But back to what I use... I have always only used baby shampoo on my cages, or vinegar and water. Floors are Mr Clean (hasnt changed) and windows is Windex (hasnt changed, no where near the cage as well).

Sodium Hydroxide is an agent contained in most commercial laundry products. Inhalation can immediately irritate the respiratory tract, cause severe damage to the eyes, skin, mouth and throat and can cause liver and kidney damage.

Your little guy may be suffering from the change in detergent. Shoot me your personal email and I will send you information on what to look for "under your sink". It isn't pretty, but it is real and people need to know about it for themselves, their families and their pets. If anyone else wants this information, just let me know.

Give G'Kar a cuddle and a kiss from me and hugs to you. I know how disarming it can be when a baby gets sick. It's horrible. :sad3:

 

[PitLuvs]

Now I am really wondering if this is whats wrong with G'Kar, if this change caused his breathing? I do have to say, all the clothes in the hospital cage are older stuff meant just for that cage (since we have some mushie poops due to the Lasix). I'm going to call the vet in the morning and let her know this could be a problem, and maybe see if there is anyway to wean him from the Lasix and see if he still needs it? I mean if the laundry detergent caused such an uproar, maybe he doesnt have a heart condition? Maybe removing him from the bedding with the detergent is helping, not just the Lasix? This is all really interesting! My poor babies!! No one else is effected, but G'Kar just might not have the tolerance they do.

 

[PitLuvs]

The vet is calling me tomorrow morning at 10am, I was told to hold off on tonights dose just in case. They are saying it might dehydrate him if he continues taking it and doesn't need it. Another check up tomorrow, since he is breathing fine now to check his heart. They are concerned over the Tide use. Blah. Here I buy certains types of bedding to avoid this, and I may have nearly done them in with trying to get clothes clean 2 days early. Vet couldn't see me tonight, she is on her way to an em call, may have to euth a dog on site after being hit by a car