BorealHiker
Well-Known Member
So this morning, very early, we thought Mac was brighter, more chipper. Sally stayed with him all night in the recliner and/or sofa. We let our spirits lift some. But before I headed to work it seemed it was more of the same, listless Mac again. It was another horrible rainy day here, but I tried working anyway, staying in constant contact with Sally and trying to get Mac an appointment at the rat friendly veterinarian right near Bangor. By the time I gave up on work, I called home and Sally was histerical because she saw Mac failing. I drove the 35 miles home and, even though our appointment was still a couple hours off, ( and another 35 miles in another direction) I scooped both wife and rat up and headed to the vet.
The rat friendly vet clinic has one vet who is terribly allergic to rats, so we had to wait till this vet was gone for the day. We still had an hour to wait, but they got us in sooner--- I had been able to get across that Mac was in respiratory distress.
The non-allergic vet took one look at Mac and said to keep right on walking to the room where he could have oxygen. While they (we all helped) gave him oxygen, the vet gave Mac 3 shots: one diuretic, to help with the fluid in his lungs, one steroid, (which she doesn't like to use except in emergencies like this.) Then a third shot, a bronchial dialator.
Still getting oxygen, she prescribed that his current ab dose of Baytril be DOUBLED, and she gave us an ear drops containing Baytril so the disease could be fought from the inside and the outside. And a second antibiotic was prescribed to go with the doubled Baytril. And we were sent home with a diuretic to administer ourselves.
I can give names of all these meds tomorrow. I'm wiped out now. No can do. Good thing Sally is used to meds, people and rat meds alike.
Mac has responded. He's breathing much better now, and looking around, and trying to move around, but his vertigo is still there. We don't know whether it's permanent. May or may not be. He will be out of balance for awhile, especially today, he's so exhausted and full of meds.
We all prayed for a miracle, and it's looking like we got one. This is rather expensive, but we got more than an hour office visit, plus all the consultation and the meds for just under $200. If you love someone, you do it for them. But it brings home the responsibility we all have to our little friends. They're worth it. :heart:
It's been a long evening but we're home with him and we got the house warmed up very well. Mac will sleep downstairs with him, and his own private cage is right near on the love seat in case she needs to put him in a safe place. The only reason I'm not doing all this is I'm the only one here working right now (I have my own business and the next two days are to be sunny.) I got some practice last month with our agouti, Dusty, so I can take over any time needed, except, of course, when I'm at work.
Anyway, it's a middle or inner ear infection, not just an ear infection. These are harder to deal with I'm told, but are workable. But as some of you have said, it may be several weeks of ab.
I'll let you know. Poor Mac. What a day for him. Bless his huge heart :heart:
The rat friendly vet clinic has one vet who is terribly allergic to rats, so we had to wait till this vet was gone for the day. We still had an hour to wait, but they got us in sooner--- I had been able to get across that Mac was in respiratory distress.
The non-allergic vet took one look at Mac and said to keep right on walking to the room where he could have oxygen. While they (we all helped) gave him oxygen, the vet gave Mac 3 shots: one diuretic, to help with the fluid in his lungs, one steroid, (which she doesn't like to use except in emergencies like this.) Then a third shot, a bronchial dialator.
Still getting oxygen, she prescribed that his current ab dose of Baytril be DOUBLED, and she gave us an ear drops containing Baytril so the disease could be fought from the inside and the outside. And a second antibiotic was prescribed to go with the doubled Baytril. And we were sent home with a diuretic to administer ourselves.
I can give names of all these meds tomorrow. I'm wiped out now. No can do. Good thing Sally is used to meds, people and rat meds alike.
Mac has responded. He's breathing much better now, and looking around, and trying to move around, but his vertigo is still there. We don't know whether it's permanent. May or may not be. He will be out of balance for awhile, especially today, he's so exhausted and full of meds.
We all prayed for a miracle, and it's looking like we got one. This is rather expensive, but we got more than an hour office visit, plus all the consultation and the meds for just under $200. If you love someone, you do it for them. But it brings home the responsibility we all have to our little friends. They're worth it. :heart:
It's been a long evening but we're home with him and we got the house warmed up very well. Mac will sleep downstairs with him, and his own private cage is right near on the love seat in case she needs to put him in a safe place. The only reason I'm not doing all this is I'm the only one here working right now (I have my own business and the next two days are to be sunny.) I got some practice last month with our agouti, Dusty, so I can take over any time needed, except, of course, when I'm at work.
Anyway, it's a middle or inner ear infection, not just an ear infection. These are harder to deal with I'm told, but are workable. But as some of you have said, it may be several weeks of ab.
I'll let you know. Poor Mac. What a day for him. Bless his huge heart :heart:
You guys tried and that's all you could do.