Oliver is freaking out: Update 03/04

[Chevalrose]

So Oliver freaked out again today. It's been over a week since he's done it. This time he spasmed after again...I wouldn't doubt from hitting his head. Afterward I put his head on my nose and he like, drooled on me. I'm thinking that if he hits his head at all like he had been then he's going to seize every time. Does that sound feasible? I hasn't spasmed or anything or freaked out in over a week...he's been fine.

 

[lilspaz68]

You might want to consider anti-seizure meds at this point.

 

[Chevalrose]

So he did it again, this time not getting enough "momentum" to hit his head because I opened the door and just touched him and he didn't seize. I'm really at a loss with this one.

 

[lilspaz68]

So he did it again, this time not getting enough "momentum" to hit his head because I opened the door and just touched him and he didn't seize. I'm really at a loss with this one.

I would start ruling out physical (seizures) and then work back to behavioral. He needs help that's for sure. Poor little booger.

 

[Chevalrose]

So, he did it again, and at this point I think that it's both behavioral and physical. It seems now when he freaks out he starts seizing, whereas before he just ran around scared. Maybe it's from hitting his head so many times, but now fear seems to cause seizing. I'm about to go to VA for the weekend so I'm hoping that I can get him in tomorrow before I leave. My mom will be watching them so she can at least give him medication.

Poor little guy. I should probably tell the breeder this.

 

[jorats]

You most definitely need to tell the breeder. Keep us posted on what the vet advises.

 

[lilratsy43]

Stupid breeders! Those two girls I tell ya!! At least you have him with you and he will get the proper care he deserves! I hope you can get him into the vet and maybe try some seizure meds. Best of Luck!

 

[Chevalrose]

So I'm taking him to the vet this afternoon. He freaked out again with no seizure. I wish it was at least consistent!!! He didn't seem to do it through the night (usually it wakes me up). Let's hope we can figure something out.

 

[Chevalrose]

Ok, so here's the first step my vet is taking:

Treat Oliver for possible internal parasites (that might have traveled to the brain)...given Iremectin.
Also treat him for possible Toxoplasmosis with covomycin.

She agreed that his freak outs are probably fear related, but the ones that end in seizures could be because he feels a seizure coming on...so we'll see.

 

[mamarat]

I hope it helps, poor little guy.

 

[Joanne]

It really sounds like seizures to me. Poor baby, he must be bewildered. I have never had a rat with that problem, so I don't know how it is treated in rats. A friend of mine's dog had recurrent seizures and she was treated with phenobarb (which seemed odd to me, because they don't use that drug for people's seizures).

Actually, Phenobarbitol is a bartiturate/sedative used as an anticonvulsant. Its labelled use is for the management of generalized tonic-clonic (grand-mal) and partial seizures.

I hope you get a handle on what's really wrong with your little guy!

 

[Chevalrose]

I thought I'd give you an update. Oliver has not had a seizure since January! :happydance: Of course this being after my vet gave me a supplement to give him that I only used a couple times after we got it (and it wasn't cheap). It seems he's grown out of it?

To be honest I really think that his seizures are caused by a mis-fire when he gets scared. Now that he's used to everything around him, he doesn't get absurdly scared anymore. Whatever the reason, I'm glad it seems to be over.

 

[jorats]

That seems to be exactly what happened to my Moose. He outgrew his panic attacks.

Great news for Oliver!!

 

[mamarat]

:joy: Great news for your little man.

 

[Rachael]

Glad it's stopped now... it doesn't really sound like seizures to me ?

 

[Godmother]

That's a big relief!

 

[Chevalrose]

Rachael, it didn't start out as seizures...but it progressed to him getting scared and having his crazy running sprees end up in seizures (without a doubt) to a point where the time he would run would get shorter and shorter before he seized (at first he would blindly run/freak out for 10 seconds without a seizure, then do the same thing and seize at the end, then he would only freak out for 3 seconds before he seized).

Whatever the cause, I'm glad it seems to be gone...it was pretty scary and seemingly mysterious.

 

[Rachael]

Ah. What were his seizures like? Sorry I'm curious you don't have to answer. *_* I'm glad it's all sorted now anyways.

 

[Chevalrose]

Well he would end up on his side spasming...he would usually kick his back legs out and sometimes look like he was trying to get something out of his mouth (taking both paws and pushing away from his mouth). He would usually release his bladder and bowels...sometimes he would squeal or grunt. They lasted around 20-30 seconds (although they seemed like forever). I would usually hold him and keep his head pointed down so he wouldn't accidentally swallow his tongue or something. Afterward he'd be very fatigued and I would hold him and lay down on the couch for a while.

I also noticed that the longer between seizures the more he perked up. He would be really mellow and tired for days after he had a seizure. Now he's right as rain.

 

[maria-mar]

Brave little Oliver, and brave you!... I just read all the post, i'm so happy everything worked out for him in the end ^_^