Pearl with PT - We helped her pass

[jorats]

Ooooh, I bought that toy too! It's great!
Good news on the extra baytril. :joy:

 

[lindsayfawn]

that's great news she's having some improvement! :joy:

 

[lilspaz68]

Keep going lovely girl, there's a whole forum behind you and your mom! :happydance:

 

[LA]

I'm sad to say tonight Pearl has regressed as I knew she would. I'm sure it happened really fast as this morning she was just fine and this evening I knew, we gave her the cheerio test and she failed. I have upped her dose for now. We'll see how she goes. Pray for Pearl tonight.

 

[sausage4ever]

Come on Pearl you can do it...a prayer for you :hugs:

 

[henry's_mum]

:hugs: :hugs: :hugs:
Oh hun, i'm so sorry, common sweetie, we're pulling for you
:heart: :heart: :heart:

 

[LA]

I'm very torn at this moment. Because last night I know what Pearl was telling me. 'It's ok mommy, I'm ready.' I know I heard it, she was consoling us, trying to make us feel better about it all. Wayne and I have decided that we are uping this dose this one time and we will see how she is next Wednesday. I hate waiting until then but that's the next time I'm off when the vet is open. I don't know if I can have her PTS and go right to work, not my first.

 

[lj]

:hugs: So sorry LA. I really hope the extra meds help. Keep us posted.

 

[SQ]

I hope the extra meds will help,
and that if they don't, that Pearl will be ok waiting until Wed.

:hugs:

 

[mamarat]

:hugs: My vet doesn't think rats suffer with PT. I've had a few pass at home with an extremely aggressive one.

 

[lilspaz68]

Almost all of my PT rats pass at home. They just slip away quietly. ANY sign of distress and I would take them in don't worry.

 

[SQ]

I have only had two rats with pt ...
Lois went fast at home, but Hannah Elizabeth needed to be pts by the vet.
PT can cause pain ....
I hate pt

 

[lilspaz68]

I don't think PT can cause pain, unless its untreated maybe? My vet, Jo's vet both agree that they just stop after a certain point...now these are progressive and slow-growing PT's that are being treated with steroids. I know someone who decided that he wouldn't "dope up his rat" but would let her die naturally from PT. The rat lingered for over 3-4 weeks in a terrible state. Whereas with a treated PT that responds to the steroids you might get that time or a bit more, BUT the difference is they are comfortable and even happy. Its the quality of life that is improved. That End Stage is only a day unlike weeks untreated. My rats have a very predictable pattern with PT, and my sign is they stop eating...they usually pass that night on me, or beside me.

 

[SQ]

Nice to hear Shelagh.
Of course, I have always treated my rats with steriods if they had pt.

Several years ago, I was told that rats did experience pain as a result of the pressure inside their heads as the tumor grew (makes sense, people with brain tumours experience pain ... headaches, etc)
... and that it was thought the head butting they do with pt might be a sign of pain.
It has been my understanding that steriods help the swelling associated with the tumour but do not stop its growth.
I guess metacam would help manage any pain.

In people:

Signs and symptoms of pituitary tumours are caused either by direct pressure from the tumour itself, or by a change in the normal hormone levels. As the tumour grows, it puts pressure on the optic nerve (which leads to the eye) and this often causes headaches and sight problems

from http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancerty ... mours#9286

Sorry for the thread jack.

Really hoping that the increased meds help Pearl.
:hugs:

 

[jorats]

I spoke with my vet with regards to pt and she's convinced that the rat does not feel pain when they have a pt. they have an enzyme that is released and blocks the pain... I also talked to Vanessa about this and her vet, Dr. Munn told her the very same thing.
All my pt rats pass at home. Not once did I see or feel that they were in pain.

 

[LA]

Increasing the meds unfortuately hasn't done anything. She's worse tonight. She can barely move, she's not eating... not even cool whip. I was thinking she was waiting for me to get home as I went out shopping tonight. I have called my coworker and she's going to cover me tomorrow morning. If she hasn't passed then we will help her pass tomorrow morning at the vets. Her quality of life is terrible right now. I wanted to wait until Tuesday but I can't, especially since I can't get meds into her.

Thank you for all your well wishes and info you have passed on. I understand what you are all saying. Something I did want to pass on that I had been thinking about today is this. They may not be in pain, but I have seen the frustration and upset that Pearl has shown I'm not sure whether trying to up the meds is the right choice. I have seen how she improved the first time and she still wasn't 100% either a stoic girl or a simple girl. I can't quite place it. They know what they were like and when they can't be like that I'm sure they aren't happy about it.

I don't know, tired sad ramblings, but I thought I would put that out there so we can discuss it.

 

[SQ]

Increasing the meds unfortuately hasn't done anything. She's worse tonight. She can barely move, she's not eating... not even cool whip. I was thinking she was waiting for me to get home as I went out shopping tonight. I have called my coworker and she's going to cover me tomorrow morning. If she hasn't passed then we will help her pass tomorrow morning at the vets. Her quality of life is terrible right now. I wanted to wait until Tuesday but I can't, especially since I can't get meds into her.

Thank you for all your well wishes and info you have passed on. I understand what you are all saying. Something I did want to pass on that I had been thinking about today is this. They may not be in pain, but I have seen the frustration and upset that Pearl has shown I'm not sure whether trying to up the meds is the right choice. I have seen how she improved the first time and she still wasn't 100% either a stoic girl or a simple girl. I can't quite place it. They know what they were like and when they can't be like that I'm sure they aren't happy about it.

I don't know, tired sad ramblings, but I thought I would put that out there so we can discuss it.

I know what you mean ... some rats seem to accept each day as it is presented but ...
I see the same thing in the rats I am treating and have treated for heart disease .... they are not 100 % either ... and sometimes I ask myself similar questions ...

If Pearl is not interested in eating, it sounds like she may have decided that this is it.


:hugs: to Pearl and to you

 

[lilspaz68]

When they stop eating, that is my personal sign, that its enough, they have decided. they may have gobbled food in the morning, but that evening, they just refused and passed in a few hours.

I think its very individual with a rat, as to how much it bothers them or not...most of mine just slip away, some after licking my hands, or quietly bruxxing (real bruxxing, not PT) when I stroke them or hold them.

I have more trouble doubleguessing with my CHF rats then the PT rats...it seems CHF is much more prevalent in your area Holly, and PT down here in Ontario.

I am so sorry LA. I hope your sweet Pearl has a peaceful passing. :heart:

 

[Dahlas]

I am very sorry LA......I know what you are feeling. it is so difficult to know what to do sometimes.
:hugs:

 

[jorats]

What you are saying LA, is exactly why my vet doesn't medicate heart failure. She tells us that it's painful to them and it only prolongs the inevitable. She also says that with CHF, there is always an underlying condition, a reason why the heart started to fail and if that doesn't get treated, then it's no use treating the CHF.
She has the same mindset for PT... but she doesn't mind giving us the dex because she knows how desperate we are not to lose our babies at that time. It's almost like it gives us the time to say goodbye. It could be days, weeks or months...
I don't put my PT rats on dex anymore... it's the inevitable.