Seizures?

[hprats]

Today I got up to Fred having a seizure. This was about half an hour ago (we slept in super late, I've been sick myself...). At least it certainly looks like seizures, he convulses for a period of time (10-60 seconds) and then lies still, still breathing for a bit and then starts again. He's not just twitching or something, it's full-on convulsing. It's very upsetting to see.

My other five rats were completely ignoring him. I removed them and they're all having out time in the rat room (which was actually the plan for all fix of them as soon as I got up).

I've tried touching him, but he doesn't like it, if I pet him while he's not seizing, he rubs the spot where I touched him like it was an irritation, so I know he's conscious. I offered him some apple sauce because he likes it and I thought it would be good for hydration, but he can't take it.

Is there anything I can do? Is it hopeless and he needs to be put to sleep? He's just over 2 years old (2 years and 2-4 months, his age was a bit of a guess at adoption). He's had absolutely no symptoms I've noticed, other than usual aging. Slow, gradual weight loss (my other two boys around his age have been losing weight about the same), and overall less energy. Up until last night though, he's had the energy to rush to the cage door/side of the cage when I come by, he hasn't exhibited any symptoms of respiratory illness, no trouble eating, no loss of coordination/mobility.

 

[Aida]

Hello Hprats,

I don't know enough about seizures or their sympotoms to help you with that. However, I know that your rat NEEDS to see a GOOD vet asap. There are multiple vets in/around Ontario(is that where you are?) that the rat shackers use, and they will tell you what is the best option for your rat. If you go to any old vet, they'll just tell you to put it to sleep- they've been known to put rats to sleep over a cold.

Also, if your rat, although old, is healthy otherwise- they have been known to recover from seizures. But they need medical attention.

 

[hprats]

Yeah, I have a regular vet, but they're closed on Sunday. I haven't heard anything good about taking rats to emergency vets for anything other than euthanasia and I don't want to take him if that's what they'll recommend if there is a chance he can recover from this.

 

[lilspaz68]

When the seizure was over, did he slowly come out of it? Start blinking, swallowing and moving a little? Or is he just sleeping (its very tiring). How long ago was this? Have you noticed that his body seems limp on one side than the other or he isn't moving enough yet?

 

[hprats]

When he isn't seizing (he's coming in and out of it), he is conscious enough to scratch/swat away at his head after I tried petting him to comfort him (usually he's a big fan of scritches).

It started two hours ago, but the major seizing/convulsing seems to have stopped about 30 minutes ago and now he is mostly lying still with occasional twitches. His eyes will move to look at me if I approach him and speak softly, and any loud noises seem to trigger more seizing.

He hasn't gotten up off of his side since it began.

The time between seizure activity is getting longer though.

 

[lilspaz68]

Oh dear. I think if he's not drastically improved by tomorrow morning, take him in and let him go

Also don't try to touch him, as its obviously setting him off...keep it as quiet and just keep one small light on (lights, noise, touching can all trigger seizures). I am so very sorry The seizures themselves aren't painful as they happen. Also if you can, seizure-proof his cage,. bank up the bedding, put any hard objects away (like ceramic bowls) or even tuck fleece into corners...does he flop everywhere when he's having a seizure?

 

[hprats]

Yeah, he's on the bottom of the cage and there's nothing in the area. He moved all the bedding out of the way with the seizing.

I don't know whether to put the other boys in the top half of the cage for the night, or to set up their old cage.

 

[lilspaz68]

Yeah, he's on the bottom of the cage and there's nothing in the area. He moved all the bedding out of the way with the seizing.

I don't know whether to put the other boys in the top half of the cage for the night, or to set up their old cage.

Put them in the top half, the sounds of them might actually comfort him, if you find that they set him off even more than make up their old cage. Looks like you are going to be sick and sitting in front of the cage watching him.

 

[hprats]

Okay, I put them in the top half. He seems to be completely unaware of them though, which I guess is fine.

 

[hprats]

I think he's fallen asleep. He finally has closed his eyes and hasn't had any seizure activity in a while. His breathing has slowed, before he was breathing pretty heavily. He looks more comfortable but I want to get him onto some soft bedding.

I did move him onto a big pile of carefresh, and he was insanely limp, and moving him triggered some twitches, which makes me feel bad, but obviously I want him to be as comfortable as possible for the night.

 

[Aida]

I think he'll be fine as he is. There really isn't anymore you can do, until tomorrow at least. I'm keeping my fingers crossed- poor little guy. ):

 

[lilspaz68]

Just let him sleep, he won't care how comfy he isn't.

 

[Moon]

Oh man, that does suck. This is a good time to remind people to not offer food or water until the seizures are 100% done - if they seize while ingesting they could choke and make things worse.

I hope a good long sleep finds him in better health tomorrow But a good long fit of seizures like that can not be good.

 

[hopefloats]

I can tell you that your body can hurt after a seizure. The postical stge of a seizure can last a few hour with beng very sleepy and achy from the ways the muscle contract during a seizure.

 

[Aida]

Oh Moon, that is such an important piece of information! THANK YOU!

Come to think of it, I'd never give a seizing person any food/water.... why didn't I think it would apply to rats? *facepalm* x]

Can they choke on their tounge, too?

 

[hopefloats]

I know humans cannot choke on their tongue it is IMPOSSIBLE to swallow your tongue. If you dont believe me, try it

Rats I dont know I dont think they can choke on it so to speak. BUt do not stick your fingers in their mouth to save it....

 

[Aida]

Oh wow, I thought you're supposed to put something in their mouth to prevent their tounge from going backwards and choking them. I just read that that's even more dangerous. Well, I'm glad I learned that! Thanks!

 

[lilspaz68]

How is he today?

 

[hprats]

He didn't make it through the night.

When he went to sleep, I became hopeful he'd recover. He was restful for a few hours, so I went to sleep for a bit too, but when I woke up and checked on him, he was worse again. Convulsing and then lying still with his eyes open. I couldn't go back to sleep after that, though I kept going back to bed. At first he'd look at me if I came by, but the next time I checked on him, his eyes had stopped moving when he wasn't seizing, though they remained open. At this point I was feeling really, really bad about not taking him to the emergency vet earlier in the evening. The next time I checked on him, he was making a loud noise with every breath, and I tried speaking to him, but even speaking softly and slowly triggered seizures, so I went back to bed, and the next time I checked on him, he was gone.

In the end I am glad I didn't take him to the emergency vet (though yeah, I was really regretting it last night). I think it would have been really stressful for him to be packed up and moved in that state, rather than him remaining in his home, where at least he knows he's safe, if very sick.

 

[hprats]

I made a memorial album on Facebook, and my sister was nice enough to comment "ew, their tales are gross"

That was the picture my sister thought was gross.