Help my new rat Bandit!

[gohugatree]

Today I went to a pet store to find a poor little rat stuck under a heavy water bowl. I lifted her out immediately but it looks like she's broken her legs or something, I honestly don't know. She's getting better and starting to walk a bit more on them - so she could have just been in shock, but I'm worried about her tail. Rats use their tails for controlling their body temperature and she's pretty cold. I keep warming her up with my hand but has anybody else ever experienced this? I just want to help her. (Keep in mind I dont have the money for the vet)

 

[Dazzle87]

What can you see? Swelling? Limping?

How old is the rat?

Is she eating?

Do you have fleece in her cage to keep her warm?

 

[gohugatree]

What can you see? Swelling? Limping?

How old is the rat?

Is she eating?

Do you have fleece in her cage to keep her warm?

I don't see any swelling - a bit of limping in her left back leg that used to be super limp, and her right back leg is more limp but she's starting to use it a bit more - I got her from a #(*$ing horrible pet store that didn't treat their animals properly, I have no idea how old she is but she's not full grown.

She's eating a bit, it's hard because she needs to support her body weight with her front paws but she also needs them to eat, I've been giving her soft food out of a spoon - and I called a vet who said grinding up 1/4 of a 200mg ibuprofen in her water might help.

Ill be giving her a blanket soon, she's cuddled up with me right now for warmth and her body's getting warmer.

 

[gohugatree]

Update: My dad thinks it might just be nerve damage since she's getting better.

 

[lilspaz68]

Its most likely swelling from being trapped. I would not advise an ibu pill, but instead go out and get infant liquid Advil...get the grape-flavoured one and they usually will happily take it from the syringe.

Can you post pics of her?

 

[gohugatree]

Its most likely swelling from being trapped. I would not advise an ibu pill, but instead go out and get infant liquid Advil...get the grape-flavoured one and they usually will happily take it from the syringe.

Can you post pics of her?

I can do ya one better and post a video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4VSfPWoxns

This is how she was about 30 minutes ago - now she's hopping on her back legs, so she's using them somewhat properly now.

 

[jorats]

It looks to me like she severely injured her back and she's slowly adapting or feeling a bit better. I really hope she's walking more normal now because if she's still dragging like in the video, that's serious, she would need to see a vet.

 

[lilspaz68]

Can you keep taking videos so we can see her progress?

 

[jorats]

Another thing to try, pinch gently her back feet slightly to see if she reacts by pulling back.
How old is she? Is she always puffy like that or just since the incident? Piloerection is usually a sign of pain/discomfort and or stress.

 

[temblabamomo]

Poor baby! She doesn't seem as bad in the video as I initially was expecting. That she has already improved a bit is good. Fingers crossed that perhaps it is just a bad back injury and she will regain function as the swelling goes down. Sending healing vibes her way.

 

[gohugatree]

Can you keep taking videos so we can see her progress?

I sure can I'll post some more later on, she's been out a lot with my dad and I just got back from an interview so I'm gonna let her stay in her cage for a while - I did end up putting some ibuprofen in her water but it's just a bit, it'll be fine. But yeah I'll definitely try and post a video tonight!

 

[gohugatree]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm9c3jEb_UY

She's getting better Sorry the dog licking himself in the background LOL....

 

[gohugatree]

Another thing to try, pinch gently her back feet slightly to see if she reacts by pulling back.
How old is she? Is she always puffy like that or just since the incident? Piloerection is usually a sign of pain/discomfort and or stress.

She doesn't have the strength to pull it back but she does react. I think she's just fluffy~ But I did just see her for the first time this morning so who knows.

 

[jorats]

She looks a bit better. Any improvement is a good thing.

The dog is gorgeous! Is that a border collie?

 

[lilspaz68]

She looks like she has something going on, she's pretty young, 8-10 weeks maybe? Is she able to eat and drink normally?

 

[gohugatree]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSuJ8yvADzc

She's not supposed to be coughing like that... If that is coughing.

She just took her first bite of food (that I've seen) today and its 10pm. She's been drinking water though pretty consistently. But the food she ate is a good mix of their needed diet so I hope she prefers it and keeps eating.

I'm nervous about overnight but I'm just super paranoid lol.

It actually a sheltie collie mix his name is comet.

 

[gohugatree]

And another thing; I think she had a seizure earlier for about 8 seconds. She was just shaking. I wish I had the money to take her to the vet, she deserves the best care she can get.

 

[lilspaz68]

That is not coughing...that is a respiratory infection What did the seizure look like? Was she standing shivering or was she batting at the air with her paws, did she fall over, convulse ? You are going to have to figure out a way to get her to a vet, or figure out a way to get her to me, and I will see if my vet can save her I am in Toronto though

 

[gohugatree]

That is not coughing...that is a respiratory infection What did the seizure look like? Was she standing shivering or was she batting at the air with her paws, did she fall over, convulse ? You are going to have to figure out a way to get her to a vet, or figure out a way to get her to me, and I will see if my vet can save her I am in Toronto though

I figured - my other rats cough sometimes too. Trust me they're first priority when I get a job - but for now I can't even get to Toronto. I literally have no money. But if you're willing to come to Oshawa and take her to a vet you would definitely be my new best friend.

The seizure wasn't bad at all, but I'm sure it didn't feel good. It was just 8 seconds of slight involuntary shakes. I can't sleep cause I'm worried -_-

 

[gohugatree]

Sorry I'm sleepy, didnt answer all the qs. She was standing - didnt fall over.