Olivia -Even Better Update 8/15

The Rat Shack Forum

Help Support The Rat Shack Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

LA

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2007
Messages
5,093
Location
Midland, ON
Olivia is the cagemate of Pearl who passed two months ago from PT. We got both of them from Mumsy after she rescued them from a family with no time for them. They got them at a pet store in Barrie. Both dumbos, one black self and one siamese. We have no clue if they are sisters or just cage sisters. Olivia 26 months now.

Olivia has always been a stoic girl. Never one to show affection, Pearl did that for her. The only time I ever had kisses from Olivia was when I stuck my finger through the bars as she was grooming and she just included my finger in that. She would sulk if someone got something she didn't. I often would give her a little baby food if one rat was getting a med treatment. Only time she cuddled would be when she freaked out. She only did that a few times, once when we moved to my parents for a bit and we had to stick them in the small cage to clean their big one. It was just too much for her to handle. The second time was when we were vacuuming too close to the cage and she panicked. You could cuddle with her then, she'd just sit there. Hazel was her favourite 'playmate'. I think she always tried to be one above Hazel.

Why am I telling you all this. It's to explain how she was, and show you how she is now. After dealing with my first case of PT with Pearl. This is different but not.

Olivia has definately changed, she doesn't have as much coordination, but for the most part we see it in her where no one else could. She's different, but unless you know her well you can't see it. She can eat a cheerio, but it's not easy. She can hold it, but she rests it on the table instead of holding it up. She would bite off a big piece and turn her head to the right trying to eat it and dropping it. She'd leave pieces, which she didn't do before. We weighed her and noticed she'd lost weight. Her weight loss is in line with what Pearl lost. I noticed she wasn't eating lab blocks which I would see her eat all the time before. She's not bugging Hazel, she climbs down the side of the cage but she will end up falling because she doesn't have the coordination. She's obviously not herself.

So obviously I thought of PT, I've only dealt with one case, so it's not as if I know all the symptoms and such. She's also getting older, she could just be slowing down. Stroke? What else? So I decided that since I had some pred left from when Pearl was on it I decided to put Olivia on it. I started it on Wed. night I think. I was going to take her off of it this AM because I hadn't seen any improvement. Until she climbed down the side of the cage without falling this morning. I have a little more left so I will keep her on it and see if she improves more. I'm going to take her to the vet once I'm nearing the end of my pred and hope my vet takes my suggestion.

Anyone else have any other suggestions?

One thing I forgot to add is this. When Pearl was sick, right before she got sick the first time with the PT we noticed the food pile had been moved. It normally resides on the top level of the martins. They don't like it in the bowl. When it moved it was put on the main level in a corner. We didn't realize at the time what was going on. We put Pearl on meds and she got better and the food pile moved back to the top level. A day before she went downhill again, the food pile moved back to the main level. It was thing we realized what was happening. The cagemates knew before we did.
So I noticed just before I noticed Olivia off that the food pile had moved. Of course I had forgotten about it. Then Olivia had issues, and it struck me one night and Wayne and I agreed, the girls knew. The food pile had been moved overnight last night from the main level to the top level again and Olivia improved overnight. Interesting huh?? I really have to remember that next time.
 
So this morning I was going to take Olivia off the pred but I gave her the end of what I have. Her dose was .36 but I only had .30, but I gave it to her anyways. Tonight she's not as well. I'm not sure if it's because I gave her a slightly lower dose or if she's going to stop responding. I saw the classic pushback tonight when we tried her with a cheerio. Now I'm pretty sure it's PT. I will be making an appt to see the vet this week to get her continued on meds.

Oh and the food tonight was half on the upper level and half on the main.
 
I'm so sorry about little Olivia. I do hope it's not a PT (though it sounds like you might be on the right track :sad3: ) and that you have lots more time with your little girl.
 
Hope you can get her on pred and an antibiotic. Sounds like it is going to buy her some good quality time.

as for the food pile - very smart and supportive ratties.
 
She's declining, she's very confused, it's so sad. We have an appt at the vet today at 11 to try meds as I'm almost out of pred. I happen to think that the PT has grown and also the fact that I gave her a lower dose didn't help either. However I am getting her to eat babyfood and ensure so that's good. I'm doing three feedings to try and keep her from losing more weight.

Poor thing.
 
Back from the vet... I love my vet. When they get to know you and your way with animals and they trust your judgement it really makes it easier. Note to all, stick it out with one vet if possible and let them see what type of owner you are, it makes all the difference.

Olivia of course had perked up a little from this mornings breakfast and dose of pred. So she was better then Pearl was when we took her to the vet, but my vet knowing what my girls are like knew something was up. She has had a shot of dex and I have a script for pred to get. If she improves from the shot I'm to go in on Wed for a second shot. It's of course touch and go at this point. We will see what happens. Until the time comes I get to cuddle my non cuddly girl :heart:
 
Olivia has been improving slowly. She's going in for her second shot of dex tonight and I hope it improves her more. She's being fed baby food with ensure. She's gained 6g YAY. Go my girl :heart:
 
Good for Olivia! 6 grams huh? Not used to cheering for weight gain. Olivia darling I wish I could give you some of mine, or at least some of Melki's. :giggle: :heart:
 
Second shot. She's lost weight again, however she hasn't been eating until this morning so maybe it's due to that. Keep your fingers crossed for the second shot to really do it's job.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top