old rat needs help!

[mmuffin]

My rat is about 28 months old (not exactly sure because I rescued her from a shelter), and I know that is pretty old for a rat. She has always been healthy and she lives with 2 of her babies (now 2 years old).

I don't know if her time has come or what, but she has been slowing down for the past couple of weeks. Yesterday, I noticed significantly more red stuff around her eyes and nose. In addition, she is not eating or drinking much I tried feeding her soft and nutritious food (like Ensure, scrambled eggs, baby food, etc), but no luck! She is not very active..sleeps a lot and she cannot really walk properly. I don't know if she is sick or if her time has come. I know rats are good at masking their pain, but she is not breathing abnormally nor she is making any (audible) noises that indicate discomfort or illness. I have moved her and the babies to a lower level cage so that she doesn't have to climb so much and to keep her from failing.

Any ideas what is going on?

Also, I am trying to search online about 'signs that your pet rat is dying', but no luck. Any input about that? I am worried, but I know death and aging are inevitable :sad3:

 

[SQ]

The red staining is porphrin and may mean that she is stressed or ill
Can you describe her walking?
Can she grasp something like a cheerio with her front paws.
How does she sound when you hold her up to your ear and listen to each side of her chest?
Will she take soft food off your finger?
Can you take and post a picture?
It is important to keep her warm and hydrated.

 

[henry's_mum]

the red stuff stuff is porphyrin, it's caused due to illness, and stress most of the time.
Your rat is def. getting to the unfortunate age that most of us think lucky to say goodbye.
I would suggest having her checked out by a vet, it's always a good thing, when you're uncertain.

 

[mmuffin]

The red staining is porphrin and may mean that she is stressed or ill
Can you describe her walking?
Can she grasp something like a cheerio with her front paws.
How does she sound when you hold her up to your ear and listen to each side of her chest?
Will she take soft food off your finger?
Can you take and post a picture?
It is important to keep her warm and hydrated.

She doesn't really walk, but if she does, she 'wobbles' (i.e., lack of balance)
It takes a lot of effort for her to grasp something.. her front paws look weak and they're always in a 'fist'
Her heart rate is no difference from her babies (though I could be wrong)
Nope, she doesn't want to take any (soft) food

Her babies are grooming her and giving her a lot of cuddles. She had problems chewing hard food a couple of days ago, so I switched to soft food. She ate the soft food, but her appetite is ceasing (to almost none)

 

[mmuffin]

She looks so frail and weak!

 

[Dazzle87]

Some of the symptoms sounds like a pituitary tumor, hopefully someone who has actually experienced them will chime in though.

 

[jorats]

Poor thing... I agree, it could be pituitary tumour. I'd give her lots of extra cuddles and make her comfortable.

 

[mmuffin]

oh no!! is there anything I can do to help her? I read online and there doesn't seem to be a cure. I want her to be comfortable

and yes, she does have all the signs of pituitary tumor!

 

[SQ]

I am so sorry.
If it is PT, and the tumour is slow growing, predisone and an antibiotic might help to buy her some good quality time.
You would need to see a vet for the meds.

Try to keep her comfortable and hydrated. Pain meds may help to keep her comfortable.

 

[SQ]

If she seems to be in pain, ( see viewtopic.php?f=26&t=18981 for info on signs of pain)
you may want to have a vet put her to sleep.
See http://www.jorats.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... how+to+pts
for info., many vets do not know how to do it properly and it is good for the owner to be present.

 

[mmuffin]

How much would a vet visit cost for PT and medication? How about the cost of rat being PTS?

I am going to the vet tomorrow, but need a ballpark of the price

 

[victoria]

It really depends where you are. If you provide a location, members in that area can give you an idea of what they pay.

For me, I pay $58 for an exam and it would be about $30 for Prednisone and Baytril for a few weeks, plus tax. It varies a lot though, and you can pay much more or less than that.

 

[mmuffin]

kitchener, waterloo, or hamilton.

Thanks!

 

[SQ]

Can. vets listed here: viewforum.php?f=24

You might want to start another thread with a title asking about rat vets in those cities

 

[crumbilina]

I live in Hamilton, but I take my girls (and boys now too) to a vet in Kitchener.

In Kitchener, Mitchell Animal Hospital. Ask to see Dr. Gerald. He is WONDERFUL with rats, and he is experienced with PT - he has treated 1 of my girls who had it. He is also very gentle with the rats. A consultation for a pocket pet is $60 on my bills, antibiotics run generally about $30ish. Pred maybe about the same, I'm not sure as the bill for that was last year and is tucked away somewhere. Their number is 519-743-1322. Cost of euthanasia here was $48 to pts and an additional $81 for cremation with no return of ashes.

In Hamilton, if you are desperate for an appointment you could see Dr. Keir at Gagemount animal hospital. He is very nice and gentle with the rats, but I have a suspicion that he dosed one of my girls too low on antibiotics and therefore I did not see a therapeutic effect. If you go there, have a good idea of what is going on and what you need to help it (Ie: you think she has a pituitary tumor because <insert reasons here> and you need pred and an antibiotic). Ask him to make sure that the concentration of the medication is put on the side of the bottle (when i went there, he did not put it on). I use this vet only in emergencies when I can not get back to Kitchener. Their prednisilone was about $15 from there and a "brief exam" was $20 one time and $60 another, not sure of full exams. Their number is 905-389-7387. I would not trust this vet to properly pts, I have never tried, but from my experience with this vet, I would just go to my Kitchener vet.

Hopefully this information can help you! Good luck with your girl!
Any additional questions feel free to msg me

 

[mmuffin]

thank you soooo much!!

 

[crumbilina]

No Problem!

When you call you can also ask what their fees are just to double check

 

[Sharlees rattakisses]

My Jenny has a PT. as well :sad3:
All I can do is keep her hydrated and pain free.
She gets her food all over her so I bathe her daily.
Jenny :heart: it!!
Brushing and grooming her with a tooth brush and cuddles on my chest make her so happy.
Just love her and keep her comfortable.
I am so sorry. :hugs:

 

[mmuffin]

I am going to see Dr. Gerald today! Hopefully everything goes well! I would be really sad if she had to be PTS... but I don't want her to suffer :sad3:

 

[lilspaz68]

I am going to see Dr. Gerald today! Hopefully everything goes well! I would be really sad if she had to be PTS... but I don't want her to suffer :sad3:

Just remember the steroid therapy sometimes doesn't work, but it can sometimes give you a total reprieve for a couple of weeks to 2 months. I always try