Lung Damage (scarred lung's, etc)

Do you have a rat/rat's with lung damage? if so, what's the cause? (on going resp issues, etc)

What are the symptoms? (Congestion? etc)

What are some things you do to help?

 

:stickpoke:

:giggle:

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

:giggle: The title made me giggle....it took me a second to realize it was scarred lungs.

I had a boy with scarred lungs/pulmonary abscesses...we tried many things but found baytril with occasional doxy to work the best. I also used metacam for days when he was really bad. Other than that I just spoiled him rotten until it was time to let him go.

 

I have the worst spelling ever :emb:

What caused the lung damage?

That's what I think Toby has (viewtopic.php?f=21&t=21864&start=60) ..along with my vet

I have a humidfyer in front of the cage running 24/7, I run the shower for about 15 min's a day with him in the room, I put him in the carrier with the humidfyer pointed towards it with a towel over all of it twice daily for 15 min's each time and I also use saline spray near him daily ..it all helps.

He only makes sounds (congested sounds when he gets excited/stressed out/or just wakes up ..the rest of the time he is fine.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

There was no way of knowing for sure....could have been crappy genetics, myco, a really bad URI that didn't respond to meds fast enough, I really have no clue.

 

Thanks.
How long did your boy last? did you have to make that tough decision

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

He lasted a good 8-9 months (I'm not exactly sure when it started) and I think a big part of it was having his cage mates be so good to him and let him continue to be alpha even though he was getting weaker. His favourite treat was always strawberry Ensure so I knew the day he refused it that I would let him go and that's what I did. As hard as it was I couldn't imagine having him get to the point where he was gasping so I knew I made the right decision (I know sometimes it happens so fast that not everyone has the chance to make the decision).

 

Toby is still doing good atm, but his congestion is more ..but he isnt near gasping yet ..once he gets there I'll be making that tough decision as well

He has had res issues for a good year ..now this

 

[jorats]

Scarred lungs and pulmonary abscesses are totally diffedrent. If your rat has pulmonary abscesses, there's pretty much nothing you can do except hope to slow the growth so that means long term meds.

Scarred lungs is lungs left damaged after a bout of pneumonia. This should not require medication other than keeping him on an inhaler to help open the airways and allow for easier breathing with the scarring.

You will only know which your rat have with a postmortem. We have only a couple of rats with scarred lungs.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

Sorry I should have specified, I wasn't sure which one my boy suffered from and I didn't have a postmortem done so I will never know for sure.

 

I am in the process of getting an inhaler atm, what one should I get Jo? (my vet is new at this remember :giggle

 

[jorats]

I'm not sure which one from the vet, I've always used my own inhaler, at the advice of my vet, it has helped but I don't know which is available to animals.

 

SQ mention this one: ventolin HFA, salbutamol sulphate inhalation aerosol, 100 mcg, bronchodilator for oral inhalation.
It is for people and from the drug store by perscription
So thats what I'm trying to get.

The one you have, is that by precription too?

 

[jorats]

Ya, I'm pretty sure that's the one I use.

 

[temblabamomo]

i had a boy with chronic respiratory problems, he had several URIs and eventually pneumonia. he bounced back, but his breathing was never quite the same, dunno if it was scarring or abscesses tho'. vet prescribed oral albuterol to help his breathing, not sure what dosage but it was a teeny tiny amount. in the beginning it seemed to help a bit, but after some months as his lungs worsened it was less and less effective. were warned when he first started taking it that it could make him kind of hyper, speed up the heart, and possibly result in panic attack type behaviour.

 

[jorats]

were warned when he first started taking it that it could make him kind of hyper, speed up the heart, and possibly result in panic attack type behaviour.

Those are the side effects on humans as well (I sure do know that well). But I haven't seen it in my rats yet.

 

[temblabamomo]

were warned when he first started taking it that it could make him kind of hyper, speed up the heart, and possibly result in panic attack type behaviour.

Those are the side effects on humans as well (I sure do know that well). But I haven't seen it in my rats yet.

i never noticed any extreme hyper activity, but he was definitely a lot more lively after he took it. but i chalked that up to him feeling better because he could breathe a lot easier.

 

God I love my vet clinic.

I called down yesterday, told them about the inhaler and what it was called, what I planned to do ..today my vet called and said it's ready

Jo: how often do you use the inhaler?? How many sprays? etc

Would putting Toby in his carrier, covering it with a towel and spraying it in work?

 

[Rachael]

I've got a few rats here that have damaged lungs, just from bad respiratorys that never went completely away.

 

I've got a few rats here that have damaged lungs, just from bad respiratorys that never went completely away.

This what I believe Toby has!

He has been batling resp issues almost a year! ..used to have lots of poroh and wheezing ..now only congestion.