Poor Millie has bumblefoot on top of everything else - RIP

[rhapsody]

I was checking Millie over today, and discovered that she has early stages bumblefoot.

I'm 99% certain that the poor girl has PT, and I've had her on Pred for the past month. She's always been a bit on the pudgy side, and combined with her very limited mobility at the moment (she's also started sleeping in her potty), I guess the conditions were ripe for bumblefoot. Thankfully, the lesions haven't broken open yet, so I hope that I caught this early.

Er, is this contagious? Just checked everyone's feet just now, and the rest of the kids are fine.

As for treatment, I have amoxicillin on hand. Can I combine that with the Pred? She doesn't seem to be in pain, but I have Metcam too.
And since the blisters haven't broken yet, I'm unsure if the topical treatments recommended by the Rat Guide will work ...

And lastly, how much is too much for poor Millie? She's still very enthusiastic about her food, but she struggles so hard to eat. She spends most of her time curled up in a cardboard box (I change it every couple of days since she'll soil it), and she's not keeping up her personal hygiene. Plus she developed a mammary tumor soon after her PT symptoms showed up. The last thing she needs is another ailment ...

 

[victoria]

An antibiotic with Pred is a good idea, maybe Baytril will be better since it's not as harsh on the stomach. Bumblefoot is often quite painful BUT you cannot give Metacam and Pred concurrently. An antiseptic and an ointment to help with healing, along with soaking (if possible) should help, especially if it's early and she's not putting weight on it often.

It's not uncommon for mammary tumours and PT pop up close to each other. As sad as it is, they usually don't have a chance to grow and bother the rat before the PT takes it's toll.

You can try helping her out with grooming and eating by wiping her with a wet face cloth or baby wipe and giving her soft foods in shallow bowls. It's hard to know when to draw the line with PT. For me it has a lot to do with the rat's outlook - some are still eager and get excited about aspects of life, others just give up and make the decision for you.

 

[rhapsody]

Oh, good thing I have Baytril too - got her started on that last night. Also gave her a nice little saline solution soak - boyo, that really helps clean her up better than the baby wipes I've been using.

Er, what kind of ointment should I use? I can easily get Neosporin, but there's so many different kinds of it ...

Thanks for the warning on the Metacam! Glad I asked about it.

Do I need to worry about the bumblefoot infection spreading to the rest of my kiddos?

 

[victoria]

Bumblefoot is caused by a variety of factors - bacteria, genetic predisposition, habitat, weakened immune system, and weight to name a few - it's not contagious to your other rats. It's likely the Pred weakened her immune system and made her susceptible.

I have no idea what ointment to suggest, maybe just go with the original formula. There's this thread on bumblefoot in the reference section that gives some good suggestions, but I don't know if bandaging Millie's leg will not make her miserable.

 

[jorats]

Poor girl... It's not uncommon for a weaker rat or one with a compromised immune system would also develop bumble foot.

 

[rhapsody]

I'm going to try to bandage her feet to hopefully help keep them clean at least. I'm not going to be able to keep up with cleaning her sleeping/potty spots since I leave for work around 7am and usually don't get back til 8pm. I don't want her languishing in her own mess for that long with those sores. From what I've seen on weekends, she only budges for a quick bite and a couple licks of water during the day. And at this point, I think she lacks the coordination to chew the bandages off.

Will get some pics later once she's had today's treatment.

 

[rhapsody]

Hmm, has anyone tried something called Manuka Honey UMF +16 for their rats?

One of my friends has successfully used it to treat nasty infected cuts on her hamsters. According to her, it used as an occlusive dressing to keep out debris, and it has the added benefit of promoting wound healing.

Will pick some up after work if you folks think it might help with the bumblefoot.

 

[victoria]

I've never heard of it but I have heard of the immune boosting properties of Manuka honey. Let us know how it goes

 

[*Rebel_Angel*]

Poor girl! Hope she feels ok soon tho!

 

[MumsyRat]

I wouldn't bandage bumblefoot. The whole idea is to dry out the infection, not hold it in. No shavings, keep her cage lined with fleece/fabric and see if you can get your hands on some Cholorhex, Blu-Kote, or some other strong antiseptic to put on her foot.

I usually buy old fleece blankets at thrift shops. It's inexpensive and since they're used they are nicely broken in - soft and more absorbent than new ones. Make sure you wash them in a mild detergent. You should be able to buy the antiseptic at a farm supply or tack shop.

:thumbup:

 

[rhapsody]

Well, there's good news and bad news.

Good news: Thanks to the advice from everyone, I think the bumblefoot infection is on its way to clearing up - one foot is just slightly inflamed, and the sore on the other is shrinking steadily in size.

Bad news: I think we lost the battle with the pituitary tumor - poor Millie has lost all coordination at this point, and treating her is like handling a dead fish. I'm having her evaluated by the rescue folks tonight to see if the most humane thing to do at this point is having her put to sleep. This is the first rat I've had to make this decision for, and I don't really trust my instincts - I'd prefer to keep her going if I can. And the vet, even though he's great at surgeries, I know that money is his bottom line, and well, I don't feel comfortable following his guidance on this one.

 

[mamarat]

:hugs:

 

[rhapsody]

I had to say goodbye to poor Millie last night. The rescue folks took a look at her, and said although she might have a couple more weeks, those last days were going to be bad.

Its one thing to have a critter die in your hands on their own accord (its happened several times with my hamsters), but its entirely different to make him/her die. I stuck through most of the procedure, and at the very least, I was there to hold her as she faded. Still had nightmares last night.

 

[MissGuardian]

I´m sorry :sad3: :hugs: