My rat update, post-op :) i would love some tips

[Lourice]

Well today was the super stressful big day of getting their little balls chopped off, and i'm very glad to say that everything went perfect. They've been home since 3 pm (it is now 1:43 am) and they're energetic, they're eating well, and Maurice is currently climbing up the side of his cage and scaring me.

They slept a LOT today, which I'm guessing is from the medication because they were quite loopy when i picked them up, but now they're coming back to being themselves. I'm monitoring them and checking up on them every few hours, and trying very hard to fight the temptation to let them out of their cages. The last thing I want is for them to strain themselves (cough* shouldn't be climbing up the side of the cage, maurice * cough) so I'm just checking in with treats and such.

I've been given Septra to give them for the next 10 days, which i am glad about because I'm scared of infections, so hopefully that will all go well and they will heal perfectly and have no complications.

Louis is acting just a TINY bit strange, he's not as eager to come out of his cage as normal, and is kind of spending a lot of his time in his home. Should I be worried?

Any tips for post-op healing time?
I've removed all hammocks, all levels in the big cage (except one that i lowered to the ground so he doesn't have to struggle to get up) and I'm trying to keep the cages as clean as possible. What else can I do to make this time easier for them?

 

[victoria]

Honestly I don't even remove hammocks and such after a surgery unless there's an exceptional circumstance. They're comfortable resting in them and most rats that open neuter sites do so by grooming, not running around. Did you get Metacam? What are their weights, doses and the concentration?

I think if you want to let them out you want. (Not at the same time if they live separate though.) Like you said, their climbing up the sides of the cage. They're more likely to be kept busy and leave their sutures alone if they're out with you.

 

[jorats]

I agree with Victoria.
Also, I usually give all my rats some soy milk after every surgery. They love it and it hydrates them.
It's so great that everything went well and they are recovering really good too.

 

[Lourice]

I agree with Victoria.
Also, I usually give all my rats some soy milk after every surgery. They love it and it hydrates them.
It's so great that everything went well and they are recovering really good too.

This might be a stupid question, but i'm clueless about neuters so i need to ask. Is it normal that they still have a fluid filled sack after the neuter? i was expecting that there would be nothing there, just a wound. will this sack go away? it's weird looking. they look like balls still but it's obviously not. what the hell is it

 

[lilspaz68]

The actual testes in the sac are removed, but it takes awhile for the swelling to go down and then the shrinkage to begin. they will look like they have normal testicles for a few days yet.

I just pop surgical patients back in their cage with no other changes unless it was something very severe or they aren't recovering well.

They sent you home with metacam?

 

[Lourice]

The actual testes in the sac are removed, but it takes awhile for the swelling to go down and then the shrinkage to begin. they will look like they have normal testicles for a few days yet.

I just pop surgical patients back in their cage with no other changes unless it was something very severe or they aren't recovering well.

They sent you home with metacam?

Alright, I feel better ow that i know its normal.

They did not give me metacam but they gave me septra. She said they dont need metacam

 

[lilspaz68]

The actual testes in the sac are removed, but it takes awhile for the swelling to go down and then the shrinkage to begin. they will look like they have normal testicles for a few days yet.

I just pop surgical patients back in their cage with no other changes unless it was something very severe or they aren't recovering well.

They sent you home with metacam?

Alright, I feel better ow that i know its normal.

They did not give me metacam but they gave me septra. She said they dont need metacam

Sigh, another vet who doesn't beleive rats need pain relief. IF you see your boys pressing their bellies to the floor over and over, or doing owwie stretches, then they NEED pain relief, and its best to have it on hand. You can pick up infant liquid ibuprofen at the drug store..Advil grape-flavoured dye-free is one rats usually are happy to take from the syringe. You might not see things until later on once the initial pain injection wears off.

Goliath showing the owwie stretch

 

[victoria]

Septra's an antibiotic, given to prevent abscesses. I agree with Shelagh, rats do need post op pain meds. Most complications arise because pain isn't being adequately managed and they chew open incisions.

 

[Lourice]

The actual testes in the sac are removed, but it takes awhile for the swelling to go down and then the shrinkage to begin. they will look like they have normal testicles for a few days yet.

I just pop surgical patients back in their cage with no other changes unless it was something very severe or they aren't recovering well.

They sent you home with metacam?

Alright, I feel better ow that i know its normal.

They did not give me metacam but they gave me septra. She said they dont need metacam

Sigh, another vet who doesn't beleive rats need pain relief. IF you see your boys pressing their bellies to the floor over and over, or doing owwie stretches, then they NEED pain relief, and its best to have it on hand. You can pick up infant liquid ibuprofen at the drug store..Advil grape-flavoured dye-free is one rats usually are happy to take from the syringe. You might not see things until later on once the initial pain injection wears off.

Goliath showing the owwie stretch

They have not been showing any signs of pain, and they've actually been doing very well. i keep checking on their wounds and they do not seem to be touching them so I do not think they're in pain. :\

 

[Godmother]

That's a relief. How is the one who was less active?

 

[Lourice]

That's a relief. How is the one who was less active?

he's much better and back to his old self. i think he was just super tired because he's anxious so he probably did not sleep all day at the vet's office.

i've been taking them for walks on my shoulder so they have time out of the cage but no exercise, and they're been loving it.

if we get by tomorrow with no problems then i will relax and feel like i'm totally out of the woods

 

[lilspaz68]

Don't worry about limiting their exercise, it was just a neuter surgery Rats heal scary fast so just let them do their normal things and they will recover fast.

 

[jorats]

I've had several males go through surgery and I'd say most never required pain meds but I still keep some on hand here in case they need it. But I've found that with neuters, my males bounce back really fast.

 

[Lourice]

I've had several males go through surgery and I'd say most never required pain meds but I still keep some on hand here in case they need it. But I've found that with neuters, my males bounce back really fast.

yeah, i'm super pleased with how well they took their neuters. i have yet to have a problem, knock on wood, and i need it to stay that way.

i bought them baby food today (organic, creamed corn and veggies with chicken) so they'll be getting their meds that way from now on.
i don't know why i haven't gotten them baby food up until now, but it's an awesome idea.