She's been sick since I got her

[Sam]

Hello everyone,

Six months ago, I adopted a rat from the SPCA. Her name's Lucy and she's maybe a year and a half. Right from the start, I noticed she breaths noisily and had more red discharge than my other rats but not THAT much so I didn't think too much of it. When her breathing became noisier, I took her to the vet and she was put on Baytril for fives days and that seemed to help although the "oinking" never stopped, just got somewhat better. I've taken her to the vet's many many times since then and she's been on and off Doxy. She never really fully recovers. The vet believes that a week of antibiotics should be enough to treat her, although I am thinking it's not. Recently her noisy breathing got worse and she was put on Doxy again. She has been on it for about two weeks now and I am running out. I have about 2 days worth of Doxy left and she is still "oinking" and has red discharge.

Is there anything that I could suggest to the vet that will help Lucy kick this myco once and for all?

Also, I'm getting sick of going there. The secretaries are openly disgusted by Lucy...

Thank you!


Oh! She gets 3mg twice a day

 

[jorats]

Any chance you can find an exotic vet? You are right, one week is not enough. Rats need at least a month on baytril.

 

[lilspaz68]

Hello everyone,

Six months ago, I adopted a rat from the SPCA. Her name's Lucy and she's maybe a year and a half. Right from the start, I noticed she breaths noisily and had more red discharge than my other rats but not THAT much so I didn't think too much of it. When her breathing became noisier, I took her to the vet and she was put on Baytril for fives days and that seemed to help although the "oinking" never stopped, just got somewhat better. I've taken her to the vet's many many times since then and she's been on and off Doxy. She never really fully recovers. The vet believes that a week of antibiotics should be enough to treat her, although I am thinking it's not. Recently her noisy breathing got worse and she was put on Doxy again. She has been on it for about two weeks now and I am running out. I have about 2 days worth of Doxy left and she is still "oinking" and has red discharge.

Is there anything that I could suggest to the vet that will help Lucy kick this myco once and for all?

Also, I'm getting sick of going there. The secretaries are openly disgusted by Lucy...

Thank you!


Oh! She gets 3mg twice a day

Ohhh dear!! So many things being done wrong to your lady.

1) 2 weeks minimum for a course of antibiotics (my vet prefers 3 weeks)
2) doxy alone is often not enough and should be used concurrently with another antibiotic like baytril.

Basically your girl is just starting to get the abs built up in her system, the infection just starts to get under control when the abs are stopped and the infection flares up again, possibly worse than before. Over and over.

Do you have ANY other vet you could see? You might want to contact Little Mischief Rescue and see if they can recommend a better vet?

 

[Rissa]

Where abouts in BC are you? Lilspaz is right Little Mischief can probably recommend a vet or I could give it a shot depending on your area.

 

[Sam]

I will try to find a better vet but it won't be in my city. I have looked for another vet in my city and most don't know anything about rats. Others are "large animal" vets.

My first choice is just to get some suggestions for the best way to treat this and make the recommendation to my current vet.

So she'll be going back sometime this week. Should I ask her for Doxy twice a day and Baytril once a day? Has anyone had luck with this combo?

 

[Rissa]

You would be surprised what kind of vets hide in cities you would never imagine, if you don't feel comfortable posting your location you can PM and I can see if I can help, I know of vets all over BC

 

[Sam]

Thanks, I've emailed Little Mischief and hopefully they will get back to me.

For the situation at hand, is Doxy twice a day and Baytril once a day a good idea? My current vet is not a bad person (although I do quite dislike the secretaries) just inexperienced I guess. I want to give her some suggestions as to what may work, but I will be looking for a new vet.

 

[lilspaz68]

Thanks, I've emailed Little Mischief and hopefully they will get back to me.

For the situation at hand, is Doxy twice a day and Baytril once a day a good idea? My current vet is not a bad person (although I do quite dislike the secretaries) just inexperienced I guess. I want to give her some suggestions as to what may work, but I will be looking for a new vet.

IF you think your vet will try to learn, print this off and take it with you...

http://www.rmca.org/Articles/dchart.htm

and maybe this
http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_ ... aytril.php

and this
http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_ ... ycline.php

 

[Sam]

Thanks, I've emailed Little Mischief and hopefully they will get back to me.

For the situation at hand, is Doxy twice a day and Baytril once a day a good idea? My current vet is not a bad person (although I do quite dislike the secretaries) just inexperienced I guess. I want to give her some suggestions as to what may work, but I will be looking for a new vet.

IF you think your vet will try to learn, print this off and take it with you...

http://www.rmca.org/Articles/dchart.htm

and maybe this
http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_ ... aytril.php

and this
http://ratguide.com/meds/antimicrobial_ ... ycline.php

Woah thanks for all that info
I really do believe that she is a good person and is willing to learn.

 

[Nekopan]

If you live in the Okanagan region or Vancouver Island, I could help you find a rat-knowledgeable vet.

 

[SQ]

It is good to keep rats on antibiotics for at least 4 to 6 weeks .... we do at least 6 weeks.
baytril as well as doxy are twice a day and can only be given orally to rats.

I would suggest that you order a Rat Health Care book for yourself and take it with you when you go to the vet.
(See book section at http://www.ratfanclub.org, buy the newest edition)
Or if you can afford it, buy one for yourself and one for your vet.
It is an excellent resource .... just ignore the section on home euthesia as it is for emergencies and is not humane.

 

[Sam]

It is good to keep rats on antibiotics for at least 4 to 6 weeks .... we do at least 6 weeks.
baytril as well as doxy are twice a day and can only be given orally to rats.

I would suggest that you order a Rat Health Care book for yourself and take it with you when you go to the vet.
(See book section at http://www.ratfanclub.org, buy the newest edition)
Or if you can afford it, but one for yourself and one for your vet.
It is an excellent resource .... just ignore the section on home euthesia as it is for emergencies and is not humane.

Great, thanks! hahah I'll definitely ignore the euthanasia part; I don't think I'm emotionally stable enough to read anything like that

 

[Sam]

Hi again.
I just wanted to thank everyone for their information. Lucy went to the vet's today and she is now taking 6mg doxy and 3mg Baytril, both twice a day for six weeks. It's in a raspberry suspension but she hates it hhahah

Thanks again
:bow:

 

[lilspaz68]

Wonderful news Sam!!! She has a real chance now :joy:

 

[jorats]

That is great news!