I swear (injury)

[Melissa's ZOO]

So I had the girls out Friday night and some how Ivy hurt her self. she was in a corner with Jaz and the next thing I know she lets out this awful squeak and she and Jaz a fighting. When I separated them Ivy was holding her tail to the side at the base, walking funny and pissed off. I tried to pick her up but she just squealed bloody murder and when one of the other rats comes near her she attacks them. She even acts like it is her left shoulder when I pet her on that side she gets all puffy and squeaks, sometimes nipping me. But I can pet her on her other side and she is fine.

Any ideas on what she did? I thought maybe she got her tail caught in the wheel of FN since they were right by it.

As of this morning she is still sore and agitated with a worried look on her face. She still eats, fights the others for treats and comes out for free range. So other than the pain and being angry she is still Ivy.

Should i give her some Ibuprofen, or something else for pain?

When I pick her up I have to slide my hand under her belly and let her back legs dangle with my fingers between them, this seems to be the only way to pick her up without hurting her.

 

[mamarat2]

Might consider taking her to the vet if it seems like her shoulder.

As for the tail, if you don't see anything broken visually she could have gotten it caught and pulled? I would think ibuprofen or metacam would definitely make her feel more comfortable.

Xray maybe...?

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

I really can't tell if it is her shoulder or her tail, she is sensitive to both. Last night I touched her tail and she squeaked and began licking the end of her tail, so am leaning more towards her tail.

How much Ibuprofen and what is metacam?

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

Oh and she still climbs all over the cage like it is nothing. Rats kill me one minute they act like they are in pure pain and the next they are running around like nothing happened.

I ended up with two types of animals that show no pain until it is usually to late. Rats and Pitbulls.

 

[lilspaz68]

Sounds like she wrenched something good, her spine maybe? The nerves may be jangling at the end of the tail not the site of the injury. Metacam is a prescription pain med from the vet that is also an anti-inflammatory. Its great for after surgery, injuries, strains, etc. You can use Infant's ibuprofen (motrin, advil, etc) but I'll let someone else give you the proper dosage. I am at work and my chart is at home.

http://ratguide.com/meds/nsaids/ibuprofen.php

 

[mamarat2]

Metacam is otherwise known as meloxicam, you get it from the vet.

Ibuprofen dose for rats is the following, the PO stands for "per os" which means given orally:

10 mg to 30 mg/kg q4h; PO 1
or

15 mg to 60 mg/lb q4h; PO (low dose for analgesia, high dose for anti-inflammatory effect.


Got that from The Rat Guide link here:

http://ratguide.com/meds/nsaids/ibuprofen.php

Hopefully Shelagh will see this and help you with calculations, I'm bad with that end of it.

 

[lilspaz68]

hehe...if you can buy the ibuprofen and give me the concentration...eg. 200 mg/5 ml on the bottle, and the weight of your girl I can give you the dosage.

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

250mg per tablet. I figured I would give her about 50 mg since she is only about 14 ounces (maybe less I have to go home and weigh her). I just called my vet and he suggested giving her 50 mg twice a day for three days and if she is not any better to bring her in for an x-ray, but the rats heal really fast from injury and she may just needs some relief from the pain and some rest.