One kidney

[jorats]

My mom's rat Luna (19m) had her left kidney removed on Friday. It had a largish tumour attached to it. The surgery went well and our vet was in and out in short time. Recovery is slow and Luna is in a lot of pain. We don't know what this will do for her, having only one kidney. I haven't checked around yet but if anyone has any experience with a rat with one kidney, we'd like to hear it... we'd also like some good thoughts and healing vibes for Luna. She's currently displaying some neuro issues like circling. We know that anaesthetics can progress a PT but I don't think this is it in this case...but you never know.
In any case, she's not out of the woods yet... far from it.

 

[Godmother]

Poor Luna! Virtual kisses and banana mash to her, and wishes for a successful recovery. I have not heard of a rat having a nephrectomy before, so this is interesting. I hope that the removal of the tumour will give her more good time with mamarat. She's still a relatively young ratty girl, and I am glad that she got the chance to have the surgery.

 

[victoria]

I just read the Rat Room post about this. I have nothing to contribute but will be watching closely. I really hope Luna has many healthy months with your parents. I wonder if those kidney function test strips would help screen for something like this?

 

[Joanne]

Well all I know is that people do just fine with one kidney. So, hopefully ratties are just like us in that regard. The surgery can be quite uncomfortable as they usually go in from the back, so all those muscles had to be cut. Thankfully vets now realize the benefits of pain control. Several years ago they didn't give animals pain meds because they thought if the animal didn't feel any pain, they would injure themselves after the surgery. Here's hoping she has good pain control, and bounces back in a few days. (You'd be down and out for quite a while! We humans are so wimpy... LOL)

 

[Kimber]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that rats with one kidneys are less susceptible to the development of hyperplasia and carcinoma than rats with two...I think it related to liver health.

 

[temblabamomo]

I have never heard of a rat having a kidney removed and wouldn't know what to expect, but lots and lots of warm healing vibes coming Luna's way from my boys and I.

 

[Argent]

There's a kidney friendly diet that's been developed over here for ratties with all natural ingredients : http://www.ratrations.com/no8-complete- ... p-694.html

Just wondering if a mix like that would help preserve her remaining kidney?

 

[lilspaz68]

Sweet Luna. First thing to do is control that pain. What pain meds did they send you home with?

 

[jorats]

Of course we were given only metacam. I don't think my vet likes any other pain med for rats. I have asked her about it a while back and she didn't look comfortable with it. What would dr. Munn use? If I have a name, maybe I could mention it and she would look into it.

 

[lilspaz68]

tramadol is a good one for an additional pain med...

http://ratguide.com/meds/analgesics/tramadol.php

 

[lilspaz68]

Is the dosage high enough of the metacam? Even 1 day on a higher dosage can make the world of difference then you can lower it...for me its always getting them over that initial first day or 2.

 

[jorats]

tramadol is a good one for an additional pain med...

http://ratguide.com/meds/analgesics/tramadol.php

thanks! if she's still bad on Monday, I'll get mamarat to call and ask for that.
Ya, we've been using the higher dosing.

 

[jorats]

Argent, I haven't thought of it that way... she will probably need very low proteins now, I'll have to research that.

Kimber, that's very interesting...

Thanks everyone for the well wishes!

 

[lilspaz68]

Do you still have some bromocriptine just in case?

 

[Moon]

I sure hope she starts feeling better!

 

[jorats]

Do you still have some bromocriptine just in case?

Yes we do... we are keeping a close eye on her. If she shows anything else to indicate PT, we'll call the vet on Monday and ask her if we can start her on it.

 

[lilspaz68]

Give Luna a gentle kiss for me? :heart:

 

[Ollie]

My mom's rat Luna (19m) had her left kidney removed on Friday. It had a largish tumour attached to it. The surgery went well and our vet was in and out in short time. Recovery is slow and Luna is in a lot of pain. We don't know what this will do for her, having only one kidney. I haven't checked around yet but if anyone has any experience with a rat with one kidney, we'd like to hear it... we'd also like some good thoughts and healing vibes for Luna. She's currently displaying some neuro issues like circling. We know that anaesthetics can progress a PT but I don't think this is it in this case...but you never know.
In any case, she's not out of the woods yet... far from it.

My daughter has only one kidney. She just gets 6 month check ups. But overall she does well. Just have to watch for blood pressure UTI that can lead to kindey inifections.

 

[Godmother]

If she is still in pain, an opioid would be really helpful for at least a day. So I hope that mamarat's vet will give the OK.

 

[theratlady]

buprenorphine is also good jo