Pneumonia - the silent killer

[Nekopan]

One of my boys was just diagnosed with pneumonia. :sad3:

He has never had a sick day in his life, and then Friday evening he was suddenly puffy, lethargic, and breathing rapid and shallow. I got him to the vet ASAP, where I was given Baytril and doxy. The prognosis the vet gave was not good; she told me he may get better for a little while but will most likely go downhill again in the near future.

Two things I wanted to check - she told me to separate him from his cagemates since he is highly contagious. I haven't as they have been with him leading up to his illness and since he's been sick. I figured they have already been exposed and isolating him could stress him out. Another thing she suggested was a humidifier or steaming him in the bathroom. I've heard this is better for URIs or other respiratory distress, rather than late-stage pneumonia. What should I do?

Is there anything else I can do for him, other than keep him warm and comfortable? I've been syringing him water, Ensure and baby food.

 

[victoria]

Separating him is unnecessary and probably harmful so you're right not to do it.

Steaming can help, but only if it doesn't stress him out. I have never found a humidifier to help, but I think others have seen success with them.

Can you ask the vet to add Metacam to his drug regimen? It can definitely make them more comfortable at least, and I find that way they are more likely to eat.

I also change the cloths in their houses whenever I do meds now - it's where they're most likely to pee and it helps to keep their environment clean. Removing as many environmental stressors as possible can give some relief.

Is he still lethargic? I have had a few rats recover from pneumonia so there is hope.

 

[lilspaz68]

No separating...
Not sure of the steam, if his lungs are full of fluid, you are just adding more when they have pneumonia
Doxy and baytril alone for pneumonia? That's a tough one...metacam would be a good addition, or even a steroid can be used for adjacent therapy with pneumonia.

My only pneumonia case that survived made it on baytril/zithro. We started with baytril/doxy, then chlorpalm, then sub-q injections of dex and gentocin, and last chance was baytril/zithromax and it worked.

I am sorry Neko. :sad3:

 

[SQ]

It might be useful to give limited lasix until the antibiotics start to work
http://ratguide.com/meds/urinary_tract_ ... semide.php

This may be helpful:
http://ratguide.com/health/lower_respir ... umonia.php

If the antibiotics clear it up and it returns, it may be due to a heart problem. In which case heart meds could be given.

Hope he pulls through.
:hugs:

 

[temblabamomo]

I'm sorry you're guy is going through this. I could be completely out in left field on this, but is nebulizing meds a possibility? I had a boy with pneumonia, vet kept him over the weekend and she said she started his antibiotics via nebulizer so they'd go straight to his lungs. Sent him home with oral baytril/doxy. He bounced back, was with us another year, although he did have recurring resp issue from there on. Just a thought.

 

[lilspaz68]

I don't think Neko has a nebulizer, otherwise all sorts of possibilities open up for her.

 

[mamarat]

I had a girl come back from pneumonia too. She was given oxygen for about an hour at the vet and sent home with Baytril and Zithro. She bounced right back and lived to 33 months and was never sick after that. She was on meds for 3 months though. Good luck with your baby.

 

[Godmother]

So sorry to hear about your rat. It is hard to see them go through that. But many do recover from pneumonia. And you were so right not to isolate him.

 

[Nekopan]

I feel a little hopeful hearing that a few rats have made it after having pneumonia.

Nebulizer is not possible. Should I ask next time at the vet about adding Metacam, or switching the doxy to zithro? I may have trouble convincing her though, I believe Rissa asked about switching to zithro for a chronic URI/pneumonia case and the vet wouldn't even consider it, since it is off-label use.

He is still eating for my boyfriend, but not for me. I think he's upset about the meds.

 

[temblabamomo]

Any improvement in his condition?

 

[Nekopan]

He is starting to look better. He's eating on his own, and more active.

 

[temblabamomo]

He is starting to look better. He's eating on his own, and more active.

That is good to hear. Many warm healing vibes being sent his way, and fingers crossed for continued improvement. I really hope he bounces back.

 

[mamarat]

That's good when they start to eat on their own. Hope he gets better and better.