JJ Sick - I think his mighty heart is failing!

[MumsyRat]

My JJ, who just recently turned 2 has lived in the basement, which is the boys room almost his whole life. Of course he comes to visit me upstairs to hang out on the couch and watch TV or to hand around the desk while I'm on my computer. For the past year or so, his cage door has been left open and other than travelling along the ramps I've made for him he's never left his "area". Just a few minutes ago he came up from the basement into the living room ON HIS OWN! That means he had to get down to the floor and then climb 12 stairs to come to me.

He's been on antibiotics the last couple of weeks for a minor URI - it never got so bad that he was gasping or anything, he just had a wheeze and he's been getting medicated more as a precaution than anything else. Right now I've got him sitting inside my shirt and he seems to be very content here.

What's going on? Does anyone think that JJ knows something bad is happening and he wanted to come & get me? He is acting a bit strange and seems to be a bit limp. He is not gasping or costal breathing, his eyes are clear and his feets and tail are pink.

Or was he lonely for me because I've been busy and neglecting him the past couple of weeks?

I'm not sure what to do. It scares me whenever a pet acts out of character. Ideas anyone?

 

[jorats]

It could very well be that he was missing you. But you are right to be concerned, too many times I've had rats behaviour change days before they became too afflicted by a pt. :sad3:

 

[Dewi]

Hmmm... it could be either. I hope he was just bored and felt like company, but can you keep him close by just to watch him?

 

[lilspaz68]

I sometimes find when their time is coming to a close they want to be with their human mom a lot more than usual. Like when you have a sick rat and they don't want to be in their cage but with you instead, and you lie awake with them sleeping on your chest.

This is possible, or he misses you. They are amazing little characters!

Just keep an eye out for any symptoms beyond his mild URI...is it responding to meds at all?

 

[MumsyRat]

I kept JJ in my room last night and I think he had a mild heart attack at about 5 a.m. He was panicky and gasping. I think it's congestive heart failure and obviously he knew something was coming up.

He had responded very well to the baytril I had him on. I thought he was pretty much 100% better. I'm going to try him on enalapril and see if he starts to feel better.

Keep your fingers crossed for my JJ!

 

[rat.charmer]

Poor JJ! Lots of healing vibes for him!

 

[SQ]

Burrell has an enlarged heart and is doing much better on fortekor, atenolol, lasix, and digoxin.

 

[mamarat]

Sending healing vibes for your JJ.

 

[morats]

I met JJ. last Saturday, a beautiful odd eyed guy. I have him in my prayers.

 

[Godmother]

I do hope that your dear JJ responds to enalapril. Such a smart boy to have sought you out to warn you!

 

[Dewi]

Oh no! Healing vibes being sent.

 

[lj]

We're praying for you.

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

Poor JJ his is in my thoughts and hope the meds work soon. What a smart guy to come looking for his mommy.

 

[LA]

Aw Mumsy, how is JJ doing. My sweet little man. :hugs:

 

[MumsyRat]

Thanks LA. JJ seems to be much better except that his appetite is off. I'm not sure if that's from the medication or not.

In addition to his medication I'm giving him a drop of hawthorne extract 2X daily plus a piece of banana. Hawthorne is proven to improve heart function, especially when combined with other heart medications and the banana gives him potassium, which his heart needs too. If I offer him a lab block he drops it on the floor and bugs me to give him something else so I've been giving him peas, baby cereal, yogurt and cheerios. He's still willing to eat that. And of course Arthur and Gaston offer to help him eat it!

JJ and Arthur are both 2 years old now but I don't want to post it in the Over the Hill club for fear of jinxing them! I want them to get to age 3!

 

[Moon]

Poor man, hopefully he's feeling better soon.