maz - wheezing is back, switch back to enro/doxy?

[temblabamomo]

Maz has been on doxy and baytril on and off for a long time. With this recent resp trouble, he's been on them a little over 2 weeks with little improvement. That icky infection is in his lungs, poor kid. Today dr. P switched him to clavamox. We discussed azithromycin before but its hopeless because no matter what you put it in, he won't take it. He also refiled the doxy and enro in case he worsens on the clavamox, we can switch back since he at least maintains on the doxy/enro combo. We also went home with aminophylline to nebulize. He said we could mix it with some saline, or just nebulize it straight. I've never done this before, so I'm not sure what's best. Did just 5 mins wi5h it added to saline, was afraid any longer might stress Maz but he did ok and his breathing seemed more relaxed after. Any idea if nebulizing aminophylline is better with or without saline? Or does it matter?

 

[jorats]

I don't know if it matters but adding saline with dilute it, making it easier to inhale. This is especially good with meds that are normally strong, bitter and or burns the throat.

Has your vet discussed trying prednisone? That can sometimes help with respiratory issues.

 

[temblabamomo]

I don't know if it matters but adding saline with dilute it, making it easier to inhale. This is especially good with meds that are normally strong, bitter and or burns the throat.

Has your vet discussed trying prednisone? That can sometimes help with respiratory issues.

Trying to get my vet to agree to using pred is like pulling teeth. its a last resort and even then he doesn't like it. The 5 minutes of nebulizing seemed to help, tomorrow we'll do the full 15. Respiratoaz ry problems = blah :/ But mister Maz is a tough little pew, he's hanging in there for now.

 

[jorats]

I used to do 12 minutes of nebulizing. It seemed like the most my crew would take.
Starting slow is a very good idea. It will help the rat adapt.

 

[temblabamomo]

After several days on the clavamox, I am hearing wheezing sounds again. As of Monday, they could only be heard via stethoscope, so that they're now audible without is worrying. After nebulizing last night, I could still hear them :/

Not sure what to do. My instinct is to take him off the clavamox and put him back on the doxy/enro combo. But I'm not sure. Gave him doxy/enro this morning, just because at the time I was upset and convinced it was the right thing. But idk. I know we must consider other factors besides the abs.

He tolerates the nebulizer, although I think it does stress him. Wouldn't say his stress level is bad enough to make him sicker though. Skipped the nebulizer this morning because...

...I gave him a dose a prednisolone. I was concerned about drug interaction between aminophylline and pred, and until I researched it felt it better to just go with one or the other. My prednisolone is a couple of years old, but it's not a refrigerated drug, and the expiry date is 2013. Discussed here awhile back if this was possible, and was determined that it may still be good.

Anyway. Did a dose of that, took my shower, listened to him after and no longer heard the wheezes. Still breathing heavy, but not wheezing. I feel it's more likely that he was quieter simply because he'd been awake and up and about for a while, but still would like to hope it's the pred helping, since last night he was up and about for a while and still wheezy when I tucked him in for the night.

Keep with the pred? Doxy/enro, or the clavamox? Or clav + enro or doxy? And is it okay to keep nebulizing aminophylline while also doing pred?? Otherwise, he's in pretty good spirits, demanded dins last night and breks this a.m. Still not himself by far, but could be a lot worse...

 

[jorats]

Your gut instinct is dead on I would say. I'd definitely stop the Clavamox. It's never worked for me with respiratory issues. I'd do the doxy/enro. and I'd continue with a low dose of prednisolone as well.

 

[temblabamomo]

Your gut instinct is dead on I would say. I'd definitely stop the Clavamox. It's never worked for me with respiratory issues. I'd do the doxy/enro. and I'd continue with a low dose of prednisolone as well.

Thanks, I'm glad for some reassurance. Had a cat once who had recurring URIs, clav always cleared her up, but my clav experiences with rats are that it's mostly better for external things like abscesses or other skin problems. Not that enro/doxy is guaranteed to be a cure all for him, but the clav definitely seems to be a no-go.

 

[SQ]

Just be sure he does not have a heart problem ... the stress of nebulizing will make heart problems worse - starting symptoms in symptom free rats, and even killing rats with heart problems.

 

[temblabamomo]

Just be sure he does not have a heart problem ... the stress of nebulizing will make heart problems worse - starting symptoms in symptom free rats, and even killing rats with heart problems.

That was my only reservation about the nebulizing. I asked Dr. P, he said the heart sounded great. I have always been unsure as to whether they can rule out all heart problems by simply listening. In the past with a suspected CHF boy, I requested diagnostic meds to be given, but at the time they were not up to speed on such things. For now I'm just going to do the doxy/enro, and predinisolone, see how that goes for a few days. Won't be nebulizing as long as he is doing okay on those meds.