Hunter's Gone :(

[jorats]

My Jersy had a lump on his spleen as well but we decided to just go with Baytril to start. It turned out to be some type of infection and he completely recovered and the lump went away after two weeks.
Gosh it's scary when things happen that fast. I hope your little guy gets better.

Was the lump clearly visable? or could you only notice when you touched in that area?

No, the only way you could tell was a good palpation. I couldn't feel it, only my vet.

 

My Jersy had a lump on his spleen as well but we decided to just go with Baytril to start. It turned out to be some type of infection and he completely recovered and the lump went away after two weeks.
Gosh it's scary when things happen that fast. I hope your little guy gets better.

Was the lump clearly visable? or could you only notice when you touched in that area?

No, the only way you could tell was a good palpation. I couldn't feel it, only my vet.

Sounds alot like Hunters, maybe it's just an Abcess? (Fingers Crossed)
I guess we will find out Tuesday.

 

[jorats]

Keeping my fingers crossed tight.

 

Thanks Jo, means alot.

 

[Rachael]

Is his breathing still laboured?
It is your decision, he's your rattie and we can only do what we think is best but with internal tumours I don't put them through opening them up or attempting to remove it. :heart: I'd be a bit worried because you lost his brother in surgery, is it possible the litter have underlying heart problems (the laboured breathing)? Do you think it's a good idea to put him through surgery if his breathing isn't too good? Poor Hunter, wish they could be healthier.

:hugs:

 

His breathing is perfect and always has been.
But now is has darrhea ...but the vet said thats to be expected with spleen problems.
Anything I should feed him so he dont get dehydrated.
I only seen one spot of diarrhea and it was on the bars of the cage and had fallen on the floor.

 

[jorats]

This is going to be one of those decisions that could go either way. Damn if you, damn if you don't.
When my Jersy had the lump on his spleen, my vet never said anything about shortened lifespan but also didn't think surgery would ever be an option. Jersy also never acted the way your Hunter did, falling over and being limp. All he did was cry out in pain when I would pick him up.
But if Hunter was mine, I'd get the exploratory surgery done. I'd rather know then be depressed thinking he had a ticking time bomb inside of him.

 

[Maple]

Poor little guy, I hope things turn out OK for him. :cuddle:

 

[Rachael]

This is going to be one of those decisions that could go either way. Damn if you, damn if you don't.

sadly yes.

 

[Godmother]

For the diarrhea, you could try Lilspaz's tried and true recipe: BRAT (Bread, Rice, Applesauce, Toast?)

And of course to keep him well hydrated. A tiny bit of sugar and salt in water or some other liquid that he likes would help. Pedialyte is one way to make sure that the concentration of sugar and salt is correct.

Giving him yogurt in between doses would also help. If none of those things help, it is supposed to be OK to give a little bit of Peptobismol or Kaopectate, but I have never tried that.

I don't understand why a lump on the spleen would have anything to do with diarrhea, though. Is your vet back Tues July 20 or not til the 27?

 

[lilspaz68]

BRAT diet is
Banana
Rice (brown is best)
Applesauce
Toast

Good try Godmother :thumbup:

Live culture yogurt may help.

Diarrhea is a potential sign that the digestive system is involved, if it continues he may have a mass inside or impeding something other than the spleen.

Is he still full of gas?

 

Godmother my regual vet is not back until next monday, the vet I seen for the emergency is doing the surgery.i

This morining he only has squisy poo's not diarrhea.

Could the dirrhea be from the stress of being taken away from his sisters? or being on the pred?

I really don't know what to do anymore.

Should I do the surgery with the different vet, Or wait 8 days for my normal vet to come back? but if I wait and something happens?

 

[mamarat]

If you trust this vet I'd go with him. Try giving Hunter unsalted soda crackers for the diarrhea. It works with mine.

 

[Godmother]

:wallbang: Good thing Lilspaz read this thread! I must've been brain dead to have written Bread instead of Banana. My rats love bananas so much that it is the easiest thing for me to try (other than yogurt, which they also love) for diarrhea.

Glad to hear that it has eased. I am not sure whether Pred can cause loose poop, but any GI problems certainly can.

Good luck with your decision. It is so hard to know what to do, but the exploratory will at least let you know what is going on.

 

I have given Hunter some pedialyte, bananna and toast.

 

I do trust this vet, as he is very experienced and I know that he know's what he is at ..but I'm just scared, this is so hard for me right now.

 

[mamarat]

:hugs: It is very scary for you. We are all here to help.

 

sorry, I know I have you all drove nuts with my questions but I have one last one.

If you were me, what would you do?

Hunter has not been in pain since the night of the rupture, he only seemed to be in pain for about an hour that night. Since then heh has showed no signs of sickness or pain, except for suishy poo's.
Give the diagnosis that he may have a spleen tumor and may only live 2-3 weeks with it and right now has to be restricted from any activities and has to be kept from his sisters. Would you go ahead and get the exploratory surgery done?

 

It's not even like I can get a second opinon as my regualr vet is on holidays and the rest of the vets there are dog vets. I cant get him to call another vet as he is not back until tuesday which is the day for surgery, if I don't take him Tuesday I will have to wait another 8 days.
He is very confident on this surgery as he has removed tumors from the spleen before. First he will check to see if it is a tumor, and if not spread he will remove it, but if it is spread he is going to leave it.
He is very experienced with rat's.

 

[mamarat]

If Hunter were mine I would go with the surgery. The vet seems very knowledgeable. Of course the decision is entirely up to you.