My rat has pulled out a couple of her stitches

[debs182]

Hi there i took my rat Maddy to the vets today to have a large lump removed, it wasn't a tumor, she has been stitched from her back leg all the way up to front leg and she has pulled out a couple of stitches, its about a centimetre long and half a cm wide and looks quite raw i cant stop her from messing with it because she hasn't let me touch her all day poor thing is really grumpy right now which is understandable but will prove to be a problem when trying to transport her back to the vets as i can't take her in her cage as its too big. Thing is i don't know if i should take her back to the vets or see if it heals itself, i have antibiotics for her and she's eating/drinking fine and there's no signs of heavy bleeding i'm just really worried that i'll wake up tomorrow to see a terrifying mess.

 

[lilspaz68]

Hi there i took my rat Maddy to the vets today to have a large lump removed, it wasn't a tumor, she has been stitched from her back leg all the way up to front leg and she has pulled out a couple of stitches, its about a centimetre long and half a cm wide and looks quite raw i cant stop her from messing with it because she hasn't let me touch her all day poor thing is really grumpy right now which is understandable but will prove to be a problem when trying to transport her back to the vets as i can't take her in her cage as its too big. Thing is i don't know if i should take her back to the vets or see if it heals itself, i have antibiotics for her and she's eating/drinking fine and there's no signs of heavy bleeding i'm just really worried that i'll wake up tomorrow to see a terrifying mess.

Were you sent home with pain meds? This is where you often run into problems., pain causes rats to lick and pick at the incision and it can be a real disaster. IF they didn't send you home with pain meds there are things you can buy and use that are OTC (human grade and bought off the shelf).

As for it not being a tumour? It sounds like it was a mammary tumour but not benign, not cancerous, is that what you mean?

Here is my most recent tumour removal girl Frida the night of her surgery...she was on lots of pain meds LOL

 

[debs182]

I was told it was just a mass build up of fat, and yes the stitching is just like Frida's, she's opened it up a little right at the bottom, they didn't give me any pain meds they said they give her enough to last 48 hours but its obviously not the case as she's agitated and won't let me touch her, i'm concerned about how i'm going to take her back to the vet seeing as she won't let me touch her and her cage is too big to take in the car, i'll see how she is tomorrow maybe i can get some pain relief from the vet without having to take her back depending on how the wound is in the morning.

 

[lilspaz68]

I was told it was just a mass build up of fat, and yes the stitching is just like Frida's, she's opened it up a little right at the bottom, they didn't give me any pain meds they said they give her enough to last 48 hours but its obviously not the case as she's agitated and won't let me touch her, i'm concerned about how i'm going to take her back to the vet seeing as she won't let me touch her and her cage is too big to take in the car, i'll see how she is tomorrow maybe i can get some pain relief from the vet without having to take her back depending on how the wound is in the morning.

I would advise not waiting and going to a drug store and picking up some type of infant liquid ibuprofen instead. No matter whatever they removed she has had a big surgery and a large incision. IF you leave it until tomorrow she could open up the incision and then it's a real mess.

 

[debs182]

Thing is its after midnight here in the UK and my local store don't open until 9am, i can't go to the 24hr one because i have 2 children in bed so i have no choice but to wait until morning, i've just checked my cabinet and i have no infant ibuprofen which is probably the only time EVER that i haven't had any in the house

 

[lilspaz68]

Thing is its after midnight here in the UK and my local store don't open until 9am, i can't go to the 24hr one because i have 2 children in bed so i have no choice but to wait until morning, i've just checked my cabinet and i have no infant ibuprofen which is probably the only time EVER that i haven't had any in the house

What do you have there for children's pain? Do you have anything else?

 

[debs182]

I found some calpol (childrens paracetemol) but i'm worried it may do her more harm than good if she still has pain killers in her system

 

[lilspaz68]

I found some calpol (childrens paracetemol) but i'm worried it may do her more harm than good if she still has pain killers in her system

Most injectable pain meds are only good for 24 hours (never heard of 48 myself). I often give prescription oral pain meds 12 hours after surgery if the rat is showing signs of discomfort...and it sounds like your baby is showing pain.

Gooood!! Paracetemol is acetaminophen which is Tylenol here, only good for pain but that's what we need!

What is the concentration of it? (mg/ml)

2 thigns

What gas was used on your rat for surgery? Not Halothane right (rare and old school) but I need to know.

and this is the dosage for it we just need a guess on her weight and we'll work out a dose for you and your sweetie

100 mg/kg to 300 mg/kg; PO (oral), q4hrs 1

 

[debs182]

she had general anaesthetic, and the paracetemol is 125mg here's what it says on her sheet

Inject 0.13 Mls Meloxicam Inj 0.5%
Inject 0.10 mls Enrofloxacin Inj 2.
Inject 0.05 mls Buprenorphine 10ml

And now her wound is over half open, i really am dreading tonight, i'm not going to sleep

 

[lilspaz68]

she had general anaesthetic, and the paracetemol is 125mg here's what it says on her sheet

Inject 0.13 Mls Meloxicam Inj 0.5%
Inject 0.10 mls Enrofloxacin Inj 2.
Inject 0.05 mls Buprenorphine 10ml

And now her wound is over half open, i really am dreading tonight, i'm not going to sleep

Ohh no. Buprenorphine again. Did you notice her relentlessly picking and pulling at fleece and other stuff? You may need to wrap her up. The buprenorphine can cause rats to try to eat things they normally wouldn't and makes them pick at incisions. How much is it open? Can you take a pic?

Do you have a tensor bandage or something similar there?

 

[debs182]

i have nothing to wrap her in and she won't let me near her, i'll try to get a pic, its really breaking my heart and theres nothing i can do due to the time of night

 

[lilspaz68]

i have nothing to wrap her in and she won't let me near her, i'll try to get a pic, its really breaking my heart and theres nothing i can do due to the time of night

old pair of nylons? I will post pics on the wraps I have done.

 

[debs182]

i don't have any nylons, i'm gonna attempt to get some rest now if possible its 1:45am and i need to be up early before my children as i don't want them seeing her like this, then i'm getting on the phone as soon as the vet is open, might have to ask my dad to see if i can use his car as its bigger than mine so i should be able to squeeze her cage in there seeing as she won't let me touch her

 

[lilspaz68]

i don't have any nylons, i'm gonna attempt to get some rest now if possible its 1:45am and i need to be up early before my children as i don't want them seeing her like this, then i'm getting on the phone as soon as the vet is open, might have to ask my dad to see if i can use his car as its bigger than mine so i should be able to squeeze her cage in there seeing as she won't let me touch her

I shall pray that the medication has worn off by then!! Good luck!! She might be just groggy in the morning, but she may need to be stitched back up like Inca did (my vet uses glue).

 

[Rachael]

How is she now?
I'm also in the UK and Calpol is fine for ratties. We've used it quite a lot, they take it quite easily off the spoon or you can mix it with something nice for her. It definitely makes a difference if they're in pain... good luck...

 

[lilspaz68]

I think Debs went to bed. I think the little girl is having a reaction to the buprenorphine more than the lack of pain meds. We''ll have to see in the morning.

 

[Joanne]

It may be the medication making your rat act strangely, and not so much the surgery. Once the narcotic wears off, she may let you pick her up, although she'll be sore. Good luck! I hope she doesn't open the rest of the incision.

 

[debs182]

Hi there, i've taken her back this morning and they have put a few staples in, they tried to put a collar on her but she weren't having it and pulled it straight back off lol, she's still trying to mess with them but they are still in secure, she's sleeping right now which is a good thing i asked the vet for some pain relief but they said they wouldn't because they reckon the one the gave her yesterday won't wear off until tomorrow i just hope she's better tonight for both hers and my sake

@Racheal how much calpol do you give your rat? Just in case i need to give her any after tomorrow

 

[lilspaz68]

Hi there, i've taken her back this morning and they have put a few staples in, they tried to put a collar on her but she weren't having it and pulled it straight back off lol, she's still trying to mess with them but they are still in secure, she's sleeping right now which is a good thing i asked the vet for some pain relief but they said they wouldn't because they reckon the one the gave her yesterday won't wear off until tomorrow i just hope she's better tonight for both hers and my sake

@Racheal how much calpol do you give your rat? Just in case i need to give her any after tomorrow

Give us the approx weight of your rat and the concentration of the Calpol. All those meds wear off in 24 hours, so she'll be due for pain meds soon.

 

[debs182]

I couldn't honestly say what weight she is, she's quite slim as she's lost a bit of weight and just your average size in length, the calpol is 120mg of paracetemol per 5ml. She's been asleep for the last hour which has to be a good thing, poor girl is probably shattered through the lack of sleep just like me lol