Rapid breathing, clicking, lethargy?

[user 78]

Grey has been experiencing some random breathing noises for the last month or so. There's no trigger, as far as I can tell. She's been on atleast 2 separate 14 day courses of Baytril and Baytril/Doxy. Neither of these seemed to really give any improvement. Monday night I decided to try Children's Benadryl to see if that could help her. Over Tuesday day, she sounded much better than the night before, so I thought it was working. Tuesday night around 11p [med time, heh] she suddenly presented with this weird frenetic breathing that had a click to it, lethargic, extremities were cold to the touch, and just generally listless. I've given her .04cc of prednisone for an anti inflammatory [lungs] and .14cc of Baytril [10mg/kg dosage].

After waking up every hour to check on her through the night, she seems barely moderately better. She's moved around some, but her fur is poofed, her breathing is still frenetic and clicky, and she's still mostly lethargic.

Any ideas? Suggestions?

ETA : I forgot I had video
http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j140/ ... V01862.flv

 

[jorats]

:sad3:
Can you try Zithromax? My mom had a rat that we were sure was about to pass and we put her on Zithro and she made a full recovery.
The clicking is usually lungs, but that rapid breathing could also be heart.
I'd also keep her on the pred.

 

[Dahlas]

I hope she is okay....poopr little girl...she is so sweet looking.

 

[user 78]

The problem is that her breathing is so bad that she's having difficulty taking the meds. She tried really hard last night with the Baytril [she lubs it], but had to take several breaks. I'll try to get some Zithro in her later.

 

[jorats]

Oh that's not good. Poor girl.

 

[user 78]

:happydance:

I made up some 80mg/ml Zithro and gave her the high range dosage. She's in the hammock and was excited about the syringe and grabbed it! Yay!!!

 

[jorats]

Phew!! They sure like to scare us. Will you be doing Baytril/Zithro combo or just try the Zithro alone? Or Zithro/doxy?

 

[user 78]

She'll be getting Baytril/Zithro. She's not out of the woods or anything, still not all that great. But, she ate 3.5cc of Ensure/Rehyd/Baby cereal for me, so I'm calling ti good for the moment. She snuggled up in the hammock. It's not rocking back and forth with her breathing, and I can hear her breathing, so I'm thinking something's working

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

Thank goodness something is working.

 

[jorats]

mamarat was going through something similar with her Jazz. She was put on Baytril but it wasn't doing anything, she had coastal breathing and not interested in eating anymore. Since adding the Zithro, she's more alert and wants to eat now!
How's your sweetie doing now?

 

[user 78]

She is a completely different rat.. She's running around the cage, power grooming Lil, and really tucked into breakfast. She also ate 15cc of ensure/baby cereal for me earlier. I haven't heard any crackly noises, though her breathing still seems shallow and fast. She bright eyed and alert, though!

I'm currently debating on trying lasix/elanapril as a diagnostic for her, though. I recently learned that there are several rats in her lines, either directly related or closely related, that have serious resp. issues. One sweet boyo passed not too long ago at just 22mo from a similar quick onset. This is carried on both sides, as her mother/father were part of a line breeding and were brother/sister. Even with that taken into consideration, I'm worried about how quickly this came on, and to what extent, and how many symptoms she had in common with a heart condition. She didn't turn purple, but she wasn't pink, either. So, depending on everything, I may be trying those two meds out somewhere down the line.

 

[Godmother]

Such a relief that she improved so fast, but what a scare she gave you. It sure sounds as if some benazepril is in her future.

 

[jorats]

That's good news!
I didn't know she was from a breeder. How old is she?

 

[user 78]

She's 1yr 4mo

 

[jorats]

Oh boy... that's young. Is she a Tek rat?

 

[user 78]

Yes, she is. I've spoken with Melina, who keeps track of TEK's lines for him, so that she can keep that on record.

 

[jorats]

Hopefully she makes a full recovery and it's not her heart.

 

[skinnyhippiechick]

I'm so glad to hear she's doing better.
:joy:

 

[Moon]

Poor girl... hopefully she's still feeling better.

 

[user 78]

She's still doing good. She's has a moment of noisy breathing every now and again, but it seems to really be responding to the Baytril/Zithro/Pred combo.