Rufus' PT Update 7/3 It's time :(

[Slapdash]

Rufus, a little under 2, has a PT and when I just went to feed him I noticed his left cheek is swollen :sad3: It's the entire area where his whiskers grow, it's hard to the touch and it seems to be bothering him a little but he did eat. His teeth look ok, what could this be and do you think it's related to the PT. His balance is off and he's been circling sometimes, I don't know if he somehow hurt himself? I have no idea?

 

[victoria]

Is he on steroids? Did you check just his incisors or were you able to see his molars too?

 

[Slapdash]

Is he on steroids? Did you check just his incisors or were you able to see his molars too?

Yes, he's on prednisone and I could see both top and bottom, they don't look overgrown at all and are nice and yellow?

 

[Slapdash]

I know when my mom took prednisone for her asthma she would retain fluid, do you think it's that? I thought in that case both of his cheeks would be swollen? Thanks again

 

[victoria]

Is he on steroids? Did you check just his incisors or were you able to see his molars too?

Yes, he's on prednisone and I could see both top and bottom, they don't look overgrown at all and are nice and yellow?

You saw both his set of incisors, you mean?

If he's on Pred I doubt it would be a tumour that popped up that fast but it could very well be an abscess. Is he on antibiotics as well? (I haven't heard of Pred causing fluid retention but if it did, it would be evenly spread out I think.)

 

[Slapdash]

Is he on steroids? Did you check just his incisors or were you able to see his molars too?

Yes, he's on prednisone and I could see both top and bottom, they don't look overgrown at all and are nice and yellow?

You saw both his set of incisors, you mean?

If he's on Pred I doubt it would be a tumour that popped up that fast but it could very well be an abscess. Is he on antibiotics as well? (I haven't heard of Pred causing fluid retention but if it did, it would be evenly spread out I think.)

Yes, sorry.

What would the abcess be from? He is also on antibiotics...I've actually been meaning to post a video because he's pretty slow progressing with the PT and I was wondering if there was a possibility there was something else going on? He's headed back to the vet Tuesday anyways. I'm uploading the best pic I could get now...Thanks again

 

[victoria]

Abscesses can be blood borne or maybe there is something going on with his molars and that's were it's originating. It's a little tricky to check molars, one person would have to hold him while another use a tongue depresser to open his mouth and a light to help see. There's not much you could do even if you did find something.

I could be wrong though, and it's not an abscess at all... it just seems like the most likely. Can you get pain meds from the vet before your appointment on Tuesday?

 

[Slapdash]

 

[Slapdash]

Abscesses can be blood borne or maybe there is something going on with his molars and that's were it's originating. It's a little tricky to check molars, one person would have to hold him while another use a tongue depresser to open his mouth and a light to help see. There's not much you could do even if you did find something.

I could be wrong though, and it's not an abscess at all... it just seems like the most likely. Can you get pain meds from the vet before your appointment on Tuesday?

I can get my husband to help me check his molars. And yes my vet will call in pain meds or I can go pick them up tomorrow. I can probably also just get in with an appointment for tomorrow instead. Should I give him some motrin tonight? Don't know if that will interfere with the prednisone/abs?

 

[victoria]

I can get my husband to help me check his molars. And yes my vet will call in pain meds or I can go pick them up tomorrow. I can probably also just get in with an appointment for tomorrow instead. Should I give him some motrin tonight? Don't know if that will interfere with the prednisone/abs?

No. Do not give Ibuprofen with Prednisone, it is much more likely to cause GI bleeding. You'll probably have to get Tramadol or an opiate.

 

[Slapdash]

I can get my husband to help me check his molars. And yes my vet will call in pain meds or I can go pick them up tomorrow. I can probably also just get in with an appointment for tomorrow instead. Should I give him some motrin tonight? Don't know if that will interfere with the prednisone/abs?

No. Do not give Ibuprofen with Prednisone, it is much more likely to cause GI bleeding. You'll probably have to get Tramadol or an opiate.

Ok good to know thanks, will be calling the vet in the AM.

 

[SQ]

I hope it is just an abscess.
It could be a tumor or an abscess associated with a tumor.

I am in a similar situation re facial swelling and hoping to see my vet tomorrow

 

[lilspaz68]

I could be a mass or nasal polyps as well. What are his symptoms of PT?

 

[Slapdash]

I could be a mass or nasal polyps as well. What are his symptoms of PT?

He's been having trouble eating with his front hands, but has not lost complete use of them. He circles in the cage a couple times a day, and his balance is off, he also appears to have gone blind but with ruby eyes, he's always had bad vision. He goes up and down though, for example, he's been on the bottom shelf for over a week but one day last week we get up in the morning and he's snoozing in the hammock at the very top of the cage. And he still wants to eat; I just need to make sure his food is in tiny pieces, or ground to a mush cause he has trouble keeping the food in his mouth. :sad3:

 

[lilspaz68]

I could be a mass or nasal polyps as well. What are his symptoms of PT?

He's been having trouble eating with his front hands, but has not lost complete use of them. He circles in the cage a couple times a day, and his balance is off, he also appears to have gone blind but with ruby eyes, he's always had bad vision. He goes up and down though, for example, he's been on the bottom shelf for over a week but one day last week we get up in the morning and he's snoozing in the hammock at the very top of the cage. And he still wants to eat; I just need to make sure his food is in tiny pieces, or ground to a mush cause he has trouble keeping the food in his mouth. :sad3:

but no PT pushback, head bumping etc?

inner ear infection was ruled out?

 

[Slapdash]

I could be a mass or nasal polyps as well. What are his symptoms of PT?

He's been having trouble eating with his front hands, but has not lost complete use of them. He circles in the cage a couple times a day, and his balance is off, he also appears to have gone blind but with ruby eyes, he's always had bad vision. He goes up and down though, for example, he's been on the bottom shelf for over a week but one day last week we get up in the morning and he's snoozing in the hammock at the very top of the cage. And he still wants to eat; I just need to make sure his food is in tiny pieces, or ground to a mush cause he has trouble keeping the food in his mouth. :sad3:

but no PT pushback, head bumping etc?

inner ear infection was ruled out?

He does head bump, forgot to mention that sorry. We thought there was a possibility of it being an inner ear infection but over the past week I've grown pretty positive that it's a PT.

The good news is his cheek swelling has virtually disappeared today, called the vet, he said he should be fine to wait until tomorrow's appt. since it's gone away. Any ideas?

Also, for those with rats that have had PT's, how long was the progression from when you found out to when it got really bad? Because with Lily, my little girl we had to PTS a few weeks ago from a PT went downhill in less than 2 weeks. Rufus is just about at three weeks since we noticed the trouble eating and using his front arms, but he's pretty much stayed on the same level, having good days and bad. I can't help but feel that I'm dragging it out for him, but his quality of life seems to still be there, he doesn't eat as much as he used to but he still eats, and bruxes EVERY time he does. But most of the time he's just sleeping on the bottom shelf in his cube, getting up only to eat and poop, usually circling around a dozen times and then going back to sleep. I don't know, I'm just eager to see what the vet thinks tomorrow and I'll try to post a video of him moving around later.

Thanks again everyone

 

[victoria]

I think the speed of PT progression can vary widely. I have a girl now whom I realized had a PT three weeks ago (and started on Pred) who is still relatively ok (sounds very similar to Rufus, except for no lump) but my other two rats with PT declined very quickly. It depends how fast it's growing, what it's pressing on, etc.

 

[Slapdash]

I think the speed of PT progression can vary widely. I have a girl now whom I realized had a PT three weeks ago (and started on Pred) who is still relatively ok (sounds very similar to Rufus, except for no lump) but my other two rats with PT declined very quickly. It depends how fast it's growing, what it's pressing on, etc.

That does sound like him. Since Lily and him were my first two with PT's, I'm just so worried about what's going on in there head's. Like if he's happy, or still in there so to speak? A lot of times lately, he'll walk right out of the cage if the door's open, completely oblivious, or unable to stop himself, and if I put my hands out, he'll walk right into them and sit in my hands. I want him to be happy, and the logical me thinks, hes only walking into my hands the same way he walks out of the cage because he can't help it. He was always loving and loved being with us but always hated being touched a lot or picked up, he would back away, insulted lol, then come back again. But he is very social I just think his personality is more of the keep to himself type. So for him to walk into my hands and sit there...I wish I knew if it was the PT or him wanting to be with me.
With Lily, she progressed so fast, I just knew when it was time. But I think the prednisone is actually helping his symptoms, I just want to know he's still happy. :heart:

 

[victoria]

I think the speed of PT progression can vary widely. I have a girl now whom I realized had a PT three weeks ago (and started on Pred) who is still relatively ok (sounds very similar to Rufus, except for no lump) but my other two rats with PT declined very quickly. It depends how fast it's growing, what it's pressing on, etc.

That does sound like him. Since Lily and him were my first two with PT's, I'm just so worried about what's going on in there head's. Like if he's happy, or still in there so to speak? A lot of times lately, he'll walk right out of the cage if the door's open, completely oblivious, or unable to stop himself, and if I put my hands out, he'll walk right into them and sit in my hands. I want him to be happy, and the logical me thinks, hes only walking into my hands the same way he walks out of the cage because he can't help it. He was always loving and loved being with us but always hated being touched a lot or picked up, he would back away, insulted lol, then come back again. But he is very social I just think his personality is more of the keep to himself type. So for him to walk into my hands and sit there...I wish I knew if it was the PT or him wanting to be with me.
With Lily, she progressed so fast, I just knew when it was time. But I think the prednisone is actually helping his symptoms, I just want to know he's still happy. :heart:

I have a very hard time with PT... I really can't tell if they are happy or suffering and I never know when the right time is. My first time I let it go too long because Lizzie was never ready and finally rushed in when she started having seizure after seizure. Grace on the other hand gave up, long before she had many physical symptoms. I don't know which of those two is worse.

 

[Slapdash]

I think the speed of PT progression can vary widely. I have a girl now whom I realized had a PT three weeks ago (and started on Pred) who is still relatively ok (sounds very similar to Rufus, except for no lump) but my other two rats with PT declined very quickly. It depends how fast it's growing, what it's pressing on, etc.

That does sound like him. Since Lily and him were my first two with PT's, I'm just so worried about what's going on in there head's. Like if he's happy, or still in there so to speak? A lot of times lately, he'll walk right out of the cage if the door's open, completely oblivious, or unable to stop himself, and if I put my hands out, he'll walk right into them and sit in my hands. I want him to be happy, and the logical me thinks, hes only walking into my hands the same way he walks out of the cage because he can't help it. He was always loving and loved being with us but always hated being touched a lot or picked up, he would back away, insulted lol, then come back again. But he is very social I just think his personality is more of the keep to himself type. So for him to walk into my hands and sit there...I wish I knew if it was the PT or him wanting to be with me.
With Lily, she progressed so fast, I just knew when it was time. But I think the prednisone is actually helping his symptoms, I just want to know he's still happy. :heart:

I have a very hard time with PT... I really can't tell if they are happy or suffering and I never know when the right time is. My first time I let it go too long because Lizzie was never ready and finally rushed in when she started having seizure after seizure. Grace on the other hand gave up, long before she had many physical symptoms. I don't know which of those two is worse.

It is so difficult. And everyday takes an emotional toll on you. I never know what we're going to come home to and I wish I could be home with him. And I'm always sitting at the cage watching him, trying to tell if he's happy. I think I'll know deep down in my gut when it's time. :sad3: We can only do what we feel is right by them :heart: