HELP! I think my baby is sick :(

[EdwardsTo]

This is my first ever rat, I've had her for about a year now and I recently left for college about a month and a half ago. My mom and sister have been helping take care of Templeton while I'm away but shortly after I left she wasn't eating as much. At first we all thought she was depressed because I was gone and mom had said she started eating more until recently. She's so skinny I can feel all her ribs and vertabrea, she sits on the top shelf of the cage and breathes. Sorta like a half pant half hiccup deal. Earlier when I was sitting in the shower with her, she normally plays around crawling and exploring but today she just sat in either my sweatshirt pocket or hood and was breathing weird. She also was making sort of a grunting or snorting noise.

I'm honestly really scared right now I can't find anything online and I live in a really small town to where I don't think our 3(?) vets aren't qualified to do small animals. Somebody please help me! I feel like a horrible pet owner right now... Like its all my fault.

I recorded a video but I don't have Internet at the house so ill have to attach it later. I'm using my phone.

 

[jorats]

It could be a severe lung infection. Even if vets aren't that rat savvy, they still might be able to prescribe meds. You would want Baytril and doxy.

 

[EdwardsTo]

Can I get it without a prescription? How expensive are they?? Is she gonna be okay if she does get meds? Do you think she'll make it to Monday?? Our vet is closed Sunday's...

 

[SQ]

Sounds like she needs antibiotics as Jorats said ... if so, she will die horribly if she doesn't get antibiotics that are effective against the infection.
Baytril (5 mg to 10 mg per Ib) and azithromycin (10 mg to 15 mg per Ib) would be a good place to start.
They are given together twice a day - orally only, not by injection.
If they are helping, she will need to be on them for at least 6 weeks.

You should be able to get baytril from a vet (oral or injectable which you will give orally).
You shold be able to get azithromycin from a pharmacy by perscription from the vet.

Keep her warm, make sure she gets fluids so she doesn't get dehydrated.
Is she able to eat or too busy just trying to breath?
You can try giving her soy infant formula or ensure to keep her hydrated and recieving nutritrion.
Also pedalite from the drug store or viewtopic.php?f=26&t=11058 to keep her hydrated.

If her lungs are filling with fluid, she may need to be given lasix (from the vet) until the antibiotics work.

If she is too far gone, they she will need to be humanely put to sleep by a vet so that she doesn't suffer.
Most vets do not how to do it properly so you will need to make sure it is done right.
Please see the following thread for info: http://www.jorats.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... how+to+pts

 

[*Rebel_Angel*]

Yes to what they said...Death by breathing issues is really traumatic!
Hope she get's better soon tho!!

 

[SQ]

Sometimes taking a rat into a steamy bathroom will help breathing a bit for a short time - other times it is just the opposite and will make it harder to breath.
A tiny piece of dark chocolate may help keep the airway open, giving you time to get medical help if she is struggling to breath.

Hope she soon gets the vet help she needs and starts feeling better