I need some advice

[jennifervb]

For those of you unfamiliar with the circumstances surrounding my boys... a short history. Ben and Basil are two rescues who came to grace my home last year. Ben and Jerry came to me in February and Basil came to me in July after Jerry's much too early death in June.

Ben is the epitome of health. The little man leaps and bounds and keeps his little eating habits in check. He has no illnesses or injuries to boast... a perfect little Adonis.

Basil is in good health but the little man is built more for comfort and less for speed. He suffered a bad swelling, in his little leg, about a week ago and is on Baytril and Meloxicam (meloxicam ended on Sunday). The swelling is gone and he is walking on the foot but somehow it looks as if he is still cautious on it.

I have ordered Oxbow and once the bag arrives... he and Ben will be reverting back to their (not as favored) oxbow diet. I have every reason to believe that Basil's problem results from his whopping 713grams so I want to bring him back down to his 675.

My question is this; should I rehome the boys back into their 2 level ferret cage or leave them in their 4 story rat skyscraper? I worry that the levels may be exaserbating Basil's condition but I also worry that Ben could be deprived of the space he needs to burn off his amazing energy.

The rats generally see 2+ hours of floor time a night with extensions on the weekends. Would the transfer to the smaller cage hurt Ben? I do not want to separate my boys. They are attached to each other and I feel that any separation would be detrimental to both.

It is, absolutely, possible that Basil's diet, mixed with a large cage to romp in, would expedite his healing process. I would just feel better if I had some input from you. :love6:

Thanks~n~Hugs

 

[jorats]

Definitely don't separate rats. That would cause more stress and impede the healing process.
How much smaller is the ferret cage? Can they move in there just long enough to allow Basil to heal and then to go back in their skyscraper?
Getting Basil's weight in check is important but make sure they don't lose it too fast though.

 

[jennifervb]

Definitely don't separate rats. That would cause more stress and impede the healing process.
How much smaller is the ferret cage? Can they move in there just long enough to allow Basil to heal and then to go back in their skyscraper?
Getting Basil's weight in check is important but make sure they don't lose it too fast though.

Hi Jo, :heart:

The ferret cage is about 1.5 levels smaller than the skyscraper but it is wider. There is only one ramp as opposed to the skyscraper's 3. It is, absolutely, possible to move the boys to the ferret cage and then back to the skyscraper; I just wonder how long Basil will take to lose his weight. Ben is now 15 months old and we can only guess that Basil is somewhere in the ballpark of 15-20 months. If his weight loss program is to happen gradually then, by the time I move them back into the skyscraper, they might both be ready, age-wise, for the smaller cage.

They will continue to get one HT block a day along with their fruit and vegetables; I just don't want the HT in the cage all the time. It obviously tastes good and Basil is eating significantly more than his fair share. :wink:

 

[jorats]

I have to limit the HT as well. They really love it.

Sounds like you have them on a good regime. I bet he'll lose weight in no time. Now, don't get worried when you see his "empty" skin hanging around him.

 

[jennifervb]

I have to limit the HT as well. They really love it.

Sounds like you have them on a good regime. I bet he'll lose weight in no time. Now, don't get worried when you see his "empty" skin hanging around him.

I hope he doesn't stop giving me eyelid kisses because of this... my little fuzzbundle. :love6:

 

[jennifervb]

Now that Basil's LEFT foot is good.... his RIGHT paw is now swollen!!!!!!!

I have rehomed both Ben and Basil to the ferret carrier and their new diet starts today (Oxbow to be delivered today!!!)

One question; On 3/9/08 Basil had his last dose of Meloxicam. His last dose of Baytril was on 3/14/08. Can I put him back on the meds or do I need to contact the vet first?

The vet suggested that his first swelling could have been a tumor but, since it went away with the meds, I am assuming that it was a sprain. I believe his new swelling is also a sprain so I do not want to drag him into the vet's office again.

Any advice?

Thanks! :hugs:

 

[mamarat]

Was Basil on Baytril the first time his paw was swollen? I had Jamz who was on Baytril most of his life. After 5 or 6 months his front paw swelled up and I put him in a one level cage but the swelling would not go down. Finally took him to the vet and she said the Baytril was causing the swelling. I took Jamz off, the swelling disappeared. Put him back on Baytril and the swelling came back in his other paw. Jamz was switched to Zithro and he was ok. In certain animals, vet said meds can cause that reaction as well as tremors.

 

[jennifervb]

Was Basil on Baytril the first time his paw was swollen? I had Jamz who was on Baytril most of his life. After 5 or 6 months his front paw swelled up and I put him in a one level cage but the swelling would not go down. Finally took him to the vet and she said the Baytril was causing the swelling. I took Jamz off, the swelling disappeared. Put him back on Baytril and the swelling came back in his other paw. Jamz was switched to Zithro and he was ok. In certain animals, vet said meds can cause that reaction as well as tremors.

Basil has been having issues with his paws for the last couple of months but there was no swelling. When the paw swelled, 2 weeks ago, he was put on Baytril and Meloxicam for the first time in his life (as far as I know). The swelling went away. His Baytril ended on Friday morning and he was fine until Sunday.

I will keep an eye on him and see if the swelling goes away on its own. He has had little foot injuries to his back right paw (went away on its own with no meds), his left front paw (Baytril and Meloxicam) and now the right front paw... My little man weighs 713 grams... he is about 150 grams heavier than Ben and sometimes seems to have trouble going down the 3 ramps in the rat skyscraper.

 

[jorats]

I wonder if it might be cellulitis? This can also cause swelling.

 

[jennifervb]

I wonder if it might be cellulitis? This can also cause swelling.

What would cause cellulitis in rats Jo, a bite? (can you tell that I am a medical specialist? :laugh4

 

[mamarat]

Anything like a bite or even a small scratch that bacteria can get into.

 

[jorats]

My vet told me it's a bacterial infection in the blood. And like what mamarat wrote.

 

[jennifervb]

My vet told me it's a bacterial infection in the blood. And like what mamarat wrote.

Basil has an appointment, with the vet, tonight. I will bring up the possibility of cellulitis. If it is cellulitis; do you know what it can be treated with?

My poor little rat man. Life is harsh. First he gets rehomed into a smaller cage... then he gets put on an Oxbow diet... (his least favorite food)

life can be tough. :rose:

:love6: my little rat men :love6:

 

[jorats]

The firs time we encountered the swelling and my vet thought it was cellulitis she gave us Bactrim. But I think Baytril will work as well.

 

[jennifervb]

Basil was seen by his vet last night... (who is completely in love with the little man... :wink: )

She suggested that he could possibly have either a sprain or Polyarthritis. We have him on Meloxicam for 2 days to determine if the swelling is caused by a mere sprain or if there could be an infection in the bloodstream.

I don't believe it is an infection but the 2 days on Meloxicam will tell. If the swelling does not go down with the Meloxicam then I am to put him back on his Baytril and consider having bloodwork done.

Basil was precious last night. He tolerates the vet but he hates going there. He was upset and trying to get away from the vet (which is normal) but one thing he did was completely new. Once he found refuge in my arms; I was able to stroke him and plant little kisses on top of his head. Despite his upset, and the fact that he was in an unpopular place, he managed to calm down and actually closed his little eyes and dozed. He licked my fingers and bruxxed. :love6:

I just adore my little guys. :love4: :heart: :rose: :love4: :heart: :rose: :love4:

I will keep you posted on his progress. Pray that the swelling is just a result of a sprain. :hugs:

 

[jorats]

I'll be keeping all my fingers crossed that it's just a sprain.

Heal little man heal!!

:balloons3:

 

[mamarat]

I so hope your little man heals.

 

[jennifervb]

Thanks!!! :hugs:

I will bring my baby through this ordeal one way or another.

Fortunately, he is still active, hungry, thirsty, a powergroom fanatic, interested in my ears, nose, eyes, toes, hair, eyebrows and armpits laugh4

His coat is healthy and he has no porphyrin issues. His sneezing has reduced to practically nothing and he continues to steal blueberries from Ben. :laugh4:

I know how resilient rats can be and that is why I am cautious. I often think of little Summer and her little jawbone replaced with infection. By looking at her, I never would have guessed that she was so critically ill.

I will keep a sharp eye on my boys and make sure they take what the doctor orders! :love6:

 

[PiedPiper]

Get well soon, Basil!
Maybe a few of these will help speed you along the way! :tumkiss:

 

[jennifervb]

Thanks for the support everyone!!! :hugs:

Basil's swelling has decreased but it is not gone. He walks on the foot but he still tends to favor it.

He is now back on his Meloxicam and Baytril. Once this round of meds is complete; we will wait and see if the swelling returns in another foot. If it does, I will take Basil in for bloodwork and get him on the right antibiotics.

He swallowed his little rat pride and deigned to eat his Oxbow!!! LMAO!!!! :laugh4:

As a reward, he now gets his yummy meds and one HT lab block all to himself. He seems to be happy with this because I am still getting eyelid kisses. :love6:

My precious little furmen... :love4:

I will keep you posted. :heart: