how do you know if they have an inner ear infection?

lindsayfawn · Mar 13, 2008

I've looked up some stuff on inner ear infections and it says that the rat can be off balance and have a head tilt. I looked this up because I'm still kind of concerned about willow.
She's not fully off balance but enough to notice. So I was wondering how off blanance does she have to be to have an inner ear infection? I've noticed that when she eats she most of the time if not always only eats with one paw and keeps the other one on the ground and when she's grooming and sitting on her back feet she looks wobbly like she's fighting to keep sitting.
I noticed the other day that she'd be running and then kind of move her head to one side and shake it a little, it's usually always to the right.
Could this be signs of ear infection or something else?

jorats · Mar 13, 2008

This could be symptoms of inner ear infections but also pituitary tumours as well. How old is she?

lilspaz68 · Mar 13, 2008

Ear irritation (shaking it, extra grooming/digging) is a sign of a possible inner ear infection. Is she still on abs?

lindsayfawn · Mar 13, 2008

she's not on anything because the vet said that there was nothing abnormal that came back in the tests on her urine.
I would says she's about 7-8 months old by her size? She was older when I got her. I haven't noticed her digging at her ears at all, it's mostly the off balance and just extremely hyper and ready to jump off anything with out thinking.

jorats · Mar 13, 2008

I'd say keep an eye on her and if she starts to tilt her head, then rush her in for some Baytril.

SQ · Mar 13, 2008

and predisone ...

and please take her to Dr. Krista Forman or Dr. Scott Stewart as they are fairly knowledgeable about rats.
The other vet you took her to is not.

lindsayfawn · Mar 13, 2008

yeah I'll make sure to see Doc Foreman next time. I've only seen her twice, she's pretty busy lady. I'll keep an eye on willow for a bit and if I notice she's different I'll take her in next week.

lindsayfawn · Mar 17, 2008

Well it's nice to report that Willow seems to be getting better. She's not as wobbly as she was and Ang noticed a big difference in her too this weekend. So that's great news! She sure is a little fighter that Willow lol Crazy little thing.