Gus - started Bromocriptine

[SQ]

Gus seems to be worsening ...
Gus had an inner ear infection as an older baby that took 2-3 months to clear up, leaving him wirth a permanent head tilt.
He had another inner ear infection about a year ago which cleared up after a long course of antibiotics.
Last fall Gus displayed slight signs such as confusion that seemed to indicate a neurlogical problem.
Gus has been on pred and baytril ever since as these maintance doses provide symptom relief.
Gus was 2 years old in Sept.

Gus now appears to be having difficulty controling his head and he has lost some weight.
Gus always has soft food as well as lab blocks abailable.
He has hed but gets around like a much younger rat.
He has slowed down since Sunny's death but can usually be found cuddling with young Benjamin.

I increased his pred dose this morning.
Any other ideas?
I will be consulting my vet and likely scheduling another vet visit ...... if needed

 

[Ollie]

:sad3: Poor Gus. I hope he turns around. :hugs:

 

[jorats]

Gus is at a good old age. I remember when my rat Russo developed a head tilt at 6 months, he maintained a normal living until about 26 to 28 months old, the head tilt became so severe but he also had PT at the time, he passed away at 29 months. I'm not sure if much more can be done for your little guy.

 

[Godmother]

Everything gets harder for them once they've passed 2 1/2 years, it seems. I hope that he will be OK. Pls give him a pat and a kiss for me.

 

[SQ]

Gus bobs his head a lot.
He has a difficult time controling his head and finding his food.
The increased pred does not appear to have made a difference,
wondering if 3 or 4 days of dex would help?
His symptoms seem less when he has walls around him
... like in a litter box, a snap together inn, or in my lap with a hand held against him

 

[jorats]

It really might help... give it a try and see.

 

[SQ]

Gus is on day 9 of dex injections, and last week I switched his antibiotic to cloropalm.
Started Gus on Bromocriptine yesterday afternoon. Like Godmother reported, his eyes have been "squinty".
Last night he wasn't interested in being syringe fed or eating at all and I didn't like his breathing as it seemed rapid to me.
Gus looks worse ....

This morning Gus is content to lie in my lap and be stroked.
Don't like the way he looks and his eyes are still "squinty".
Not sure how much is the tumor or if some is Gus reacting to the meds.

Not sure if I should give him another dose today ...
I think Gus is dying ....

 

[Kimber]

The only suggestions I have are to keep him warm and keep him loved. Offer him food to see what he might like and hopefully he'll be able to fight this hurdle.

 

[lilspaz68]

If he doesn't improve soon, I would let him go, I don't think his issues will be helped with the bromo, he may have had a neurological event but I don't believe it is PT.

 

[SQ]

Ok, thanks.
It definately is neurlogical, a brain tumor, but may not be pt.

I'll see how he feels in a bit.
He hasn't been suffering, just losing function and fading ...
Being taken out of his cage often makes him panic, but then he calms down when I hold him securely.

 

[Godmother]

I just recalled that Chlorpalm can reduce cardiac output, which would not help his breathing.

 

[SQ]

ok, back to baytril

 

[jorats]

Bromo hasn't work at all in 3 of our rats here. Your Gus seems to have similar symptoms to my mom's Charlie right now...
Also, long term pred is not good for the body, I wonder how much of that can "affect" the rat.