HELP!!!

[Kriix]

Hi,

I am talking to a lady that just adopted 2 young rats. They appear to have an upper respitory infection but she can not afford to pay $45-60 to have them seen by a vet, plus the cost of medication. Is there anything that she can do to help them out, or another way to aquire antibiotics?

The only information that I was given is that she has had them for 2 days, they are approx. 7 months and they are sneezing, have lots of thick pink liquid comming out of thier noses, their breathing weird, have bulging eyes. She also has another rat from before the adoption and is worried about this one becomming infected.

I have called both small animal vets in my city and they said that it was illegal to give out the antibiotics withought a check-up.

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[xxchelle]

Sounds like a bad URI. She needs to get them to a vet ASAP, or give them up to a knowledgeable rat owner who can properly afford them. They desperately need antibiotics, it's scary how fast a URI can go very downhill.

 

[StaceyM]

Short of seeing a vet, I'm not sure what else she can do. As you have discovered, meds are not available without being seen by a vet. In London, I would recommend:

Clarke Animal Hospital
1920 Dundas Street
London, Ontario
N5V 3P1


Dr. Jason Gerena DVM, BSc
Phone: 519-457-7700
Fax: 519-457-7900

Without medication they could go downhill fast. She'll need to do something ASAP.

 

[Rachael]

They have to see a vet.....

 

[trexgorawrrrrr]

i really hope she gets them to a vet, or finds someone who can take care of them.

if all three rats are together, then all three need to be treated. it's contageous, and they'll all have it.

 

[Kayla]

Is this the same person that posted on kijiji?

viewtopic.php?f=54&t=17371&p=236933#p236933

 

[Maple]

Is this the same person that posted on kijiji?
viewtopic.php?f=54&t=17371&p=236933#p236933

I was wondering the same thing Kayla.

 

[Kayla]

Can anyone get over there to assess the situation? It may be worse or better than we think.

 

[victoria]

I would suggest that if she can't afford a visit to the vet she surrender all three of them to a rescue or even the vet if they will take them. It's the best outcome for them. Even if her original rat is not sick, the day will come when she needs a vet and if her owner can't afford one the poor girl can really suffer.

It's sad, and I'm sure not what she wants to hear but it's what's best for the rats and the longer she waits the less likely it is those girls can recover.

 

[Maple]

I would suggest that if she can't afford a visit to the vet she surrender all three

I hear what your saying but don't agree. People have children all the time they can't afford.....how would you suggest they handle this?
I think Kayla has a better suggestion.

 

[Kayla]

She is trying to get rid of them. They are posted on kijiji. I also got back that they have "greenish tails" as well. They are both female if anyone is able to rescue them. I have some extra meds, but it's not sounding like an illness I'm comfortable giving meds for without seeing a Vet.

 

[Maple]

I thought she was only trying to get rid of the 2 from the Kijiji ad but wants to keep her own rat cleo?
Any guess on the "green tail" thing? and did she mention any sort of odor with it?

 

[Kayla]

Yes, she's just getting rid of the two sick ones. (I assume if her other rat becomes sick she'll do the same with her)

 

[sprite71]

I am picking them up tomorrow.. and they will be into the vets

 

[Kayla]

I am picking them up tomorrow.. and they will be into the vets

:bow:

 

[Maple]

Hurray sprite. Let us know the outcome of the vet visit.

 

[sprite71]

they according to her have wet tail and resp illness.. thats where the odor is coming from. She also makes her own food and keeps it in a bucket. I will get them tomorrow evening and wll update then for you

 

[sprite71]

I have a feeling diet is the culprit for the wet tail and the resp illness is the bedding. This is the most common mistake kids make. and she is a kid in school

 

[sprite71]

I am also going to check the cage of cleo. and will give her the rattie 101.

 

[Maple]

It sounds like they have some kind of gastrointestinal distress caused from improper diet but this would not be classified as wet tail. Wet tail is more of a bacterial imbalance in the stomach of hamster's not rats. Ask your vet, the information will be interesting.