I'm so scared I'm going to lose her

[BriannaDawn]

I just don't know what to do with my rat Charlotte. She broke her foot a few days ago and I pulled her through that. Well I guess the stress of that sent her into respiratory distress. I took her to the vet as soon as I could get her in. She got on meds but I can't seem to get her breathing under control. She wont take her meds (I got it in her the first two times.) well today she's not even swallowing it. It's just kinda sitting in her mouth. I had to remove her from the cage cause her mom and her sister kept trying to get her meds out of her mouth. I have a humidifier running I don't even know if it's helping much. I just am out of ways to help her and I don't know what to do with her. I know I'm kind of a newbie with rats. Is it just time to face the facts that she's long gone. This all just happened so fast. I just want my old Charlotte back, and I don't want her to suffer. :cry4:

 

[handmeafish]

poor thing.
Have you tried hiding her meds in really yummy stuff like strawberry ensure or even whipped cream (its a lot of sugar, but i've heard of people using a little incase of emergency.

 

[BriannaDawn]

poor thing.
Have you tried hiding her meds in really yummy stuff like strawberry ensure or even whipped cream (its a lot of sugar, but i've heard of people using a little incase of emergency.

I checked her over she did swallow it eventually. I checked around to see if any dropped out but there weren't. I think for tomorrows dose I'm gonna try that. It's hard to get her to eat most foods. The humidifier has been running for an hour and she's actually starting to sneeze again. Seems to be a good sign that she's getting some mucus moving. She also just groomed herself. Maybe it will help her pull through. I'm crossing my fingers for her.

 

[BriannaDawn]

Just another update : She just settled down and went to sleep. She hasn't slept in 2 nights the poor thing. Her breathing it actually starting to mellow out. I'm crying tears of joy to see her actually look like she's making progress. Hopefully she's stays on this path. I'll pray for her tonight and hope for the best. I think I panic too soon but this was my first emergency situation it was pretty scary. Again I'm still a newbie only been a rat mamma for almost 3 years.

 

[toeberto]

Poor Charlotte. It's so hard to watch them go through this sort of thing.

Hang in there. I hope she continues improving.

Sarah
http://bentorats.blogspot.com/

 

[Roo]

I hope she continues improving. My rat Nibbler has been having breathing problems and has been too weak to eat real well. The best luck I've had is mixing it with strawberry instant baby cereal (a really small amount of it) and then feeding it to her directly off of my finger. Also, make sure she's been drinking. Nibbler hasn't and I've had to make sure she gets liquid through extra water mixed in with the cereal.

Humidifier was a good idea, I'm sure it's helping a little. You can also run the shower so the bathroom gets all steamy and then take her in the steam with you. (I always have to turn the shower off because the noise frightens Nibbler, but the steam seems to clear her up for a little while)

:heart:

 

[jorats]

It's important that Charlotte remains with her cage mates the separation might cause even more stress and send her into a depression which will hinder her recovery. You'll need to pull her out when giving her meds. It's also very important to get those meds in her, that's the only way she can get better. What type of meds is she getting?

 

[BriannaDawn]

Thanks for all your support. She made it through and is breathing again. She was doing so well today I was crying. She's back to her old self again and has been sweet and snuggly. She does get winded still and it still pretty tired but she gets better everyday. She's been cleaning herself again and eating normally. I'm so proud of her, she's stronger than I am. So happy my girls back.

I hope she continues improving. My rat Nibbler has been having breathing problems and has been too weak to eat real well. The best luck I've had is mixing it with strawberry instant baby cereal (a really small amount of it) and then feeding it to her directly off of my finger. Also, make sure she's been drinking. Nibbler hasn't and I've had to make sure she gets liquid through extra water mixed in with the cereal.

Humidifier was a good idea, I'm sure it's helping a little. You can also run the shower so the bathroom gets all steamy and then take her in the steam with you. (I always have to turn the shower off because the noise frightens Nibbler, but the steam seems to clear her up for a little while)

:heart:

Yeah I had to hand feed her the whole time she was sick. Even then she wasn't eating a whole lot but I kept trying. The Humidifier helped allot, the credit for the idea goes to her vet Dr. Tobin. He suggested it to help her breath, it seemed to work unless it was a coincidence.

It's important that Charlotte remains with her cage mates the separation might cause even more stress and send her into a depression which will hinder her recovery. You'll need to pull her out when giving her meds. It's also very important to get those meds in her, that's the only way she can get better. What type of meds is she getting?

I wanted them to stay together, they were getting rough with her cause of the sweet smelling strawberry flavored medicine in her mouth. She kinda needed a break from them for a night. The next morning I reunited them and they were happy to see each other. The medication is called Sulfatrim. It's been allot better getting her meds in her since her breathing improved. She's way more willing to take it now. Before everything was just making her panic.

 

[handmeafish]

So glad she's doing better.

 

[victoria]

I've had some luck with Septra (Trim/Sulfa) in rats that weren't responding to Batryl and Doxy. I hope your girl feels better soon :hugs:

 

[BriannaDawn]

So glad she's doing better.

Thank you, I'm glad she is too. :hugs: I was so worried about her.

I've had some luck with Septra (Trim/Sulfa) in rats that weren't responding to Batryl and Doxy. I hope your girl feels better soon :hugs:

Thanks :hugs: She seems to be responding well to the Sulfa.


I took a couple pictures of her this morning to send to my sister who was worried about her. She's still kinda looks cruddy but she deffinately looks better then the day before. She looked really sad and pathetic.

Found her sleeping in the little box I had given them, poking her little nose out. She had been sleeping in front of the cage by the bars the day before.

And then she came out to say hi! Her nose and lips had been blue it was so sad. but now there a little more normal.

 

[mamarat]

What a sweetie. Hope she gets better and better.

 

[lilspaz68]

Severe pain can give you symptoms like fast breathing, etc...was it a true URI or was she in agony?

Go back to the broken foot, what did you do about that?

 

[BriannaDawn]

Severe pain can give you symptoms like fast breathing, etc...was it a true URI or was she in agony?

Go back to the broken foot, what did you do about that?

She wasn't breathing fast, she was breathing slow. Like really slow, and her lips and feet were blue. She was like sucking in her sides all the way, it was really hard to watch. She's breathing normally today, doesn't seem to be getting winded much anymore. I was giving her a small dose of ibuprofen to help her with the pain of it. The vet checked it out while I was there he said it had pretty much healed. I haven't seen her favoring it lately I've been checking on it.

 

[Godmother]

So glad that she is doing better. It is a torment to watch a rat struggle for breath, and I am glad that you were able to get the meds down her and to nurse her back to recovery.

 

[BriannaDawn]

So glad that she is doing better. It is a torment to watch a rat struggle for breath, and I am glad that you were able to get the meds down her and to nurse her back to recovery.

Thank you :hugs: It's a hard thing to watch. When I made her appointment the only one I could get was 4 hours from when I had called the vet. Those were the longest 4 hours ever.

 

[Rachael]

Poor baby.

 

[Rattus]

Glad she is doing better! the Res. infections are terrifying, they are my worst fear for rats, its agony watching them. If it was a really bad infection once she is done her meds keep a CLOSE eye on her for another week to 2. Sometimes it flares back up if her body isnt ready to be taken off meds. Normally my rats get better after 2 weeks on meds, but every now and then Ive had a rat that just days after they stop meds they get bad again over night and need an added 3-4 weeks.

What a cutie she is!