Sick rattie. Update: He's gone.

[DadRat]

Update:

He's had his first doses of metacam and baytril. Eaten a blueberry. Trying to get him to drink more, he is not impressed. Moved the cage into the bedroom, which is warmer and less drafty than the living room.

Cuddled with him for about an hour, although he hates being wrapped up and keeps squirming out and laying beside me.

He looks so pitiful, he seems almost disoriented in the cage, can't make up his mind where to go. Hurry up and kick in baytril! Healthy happy rat GO!

 

[Moon]

Healthy happy rat GO!

This sounds like a "Go go gadget" command, heh.

If only demanding health would work. Good luck!

 

[jorats]

I really do hope this isn't a pituitary tumor.
Get well little man!!

 

[DadRat]

I really do hope this isn't a pituitary tumor.
Get well little man!!

Oh dear God, please no.

Would that be a reason he is cold?

 

[jorats]

I really do hope this isn't a pituitary tumor.
Get well little man!!

Oh dear God, please no.

Would that be a reason he is cold?

I don't remember cold being one of the main symptom. A sick rat will be cold... probably more an infection.

 

[maria-mar]

Good luck for your rattie!... :heart:

 

[DadRat]

Update:

Have had 2 doses of Metacam and 4 of Baytril. Doesn't seem to be any better or any worse. Slept most of the day, explored briefly this evening but wore out fast.

Still poofed up, hunched, squinting, and unsteady. Least he was moving around for a few minutes, that's more than yesterday.

Will eat blueberries and yogurt, haven't seen him eat much labblock or drink from his water bottle [but as unsteady as he seems, I'm going to try offering it to him when he is out and awake again, so he doesn't have to stand up for it].

*still praying and worrying*

 

[Maple]

Have you tried feeding baby cereal or wetting the block?

 

[DadRat]

Now about 50%-60% through his Baytril doses, with no real change. Still sleeping a lot and unsteady, poofed, hunched, and squinty.

Going to call the vet this afternoon for advice regarding a change of meds, starting treatment for PT, anyway to rule out PT, etc.

He doesn't have all the PT symptoms, but he has some. The ones he has I can almost attribute to just feeling really, really bad but I'm not sure if that is just wishful thinking.

*keeps praying*

 

[jorats]

You can't rule out PT, it's pretty much ruling out other illnesses to determine PT, until a postmortem proves it.

For PT, you'd want prednisone or dexamethasone. It can't hurt to add it to his meds. But I wouldn't stop the Baytril. Sometimes it takes almost a month before you see real improvement.

 

[mamarat]

There is also Cabergoline for PT now. It is expensive (400 dollars) but it has given the rat 7 extra months of quality life. Good luck to your sweetie.

 

[DadRat]

Update:

Finished Metacam yesterday. Now had 7 doses of Baytril with no change: still sleeping a lot, unsteady, perhaps confused, poofed, and squinty. Vet's opinion is that it is either viral and the Baytril can't touch that, or it might be PT. We start him on Pred Sunday or Monday, vet wants to make sure the Metacam is out of his system first as she does not feel they mix well.

 

[maria-mar]

Is the rattie any better?.... :sad3:

 

[DadRat]

No. :cry3:

 

[jorats]

The pred might help him perk up. Keeping my fingers crossed and keeping him in my prayers.

 

[MomRat]

Just wanted to post a symptom update - I'm here for the next 24 hours or so, just came home to take care of my boys. =) I need to do some research on HED, too.

We've just about concluded that the early warning signal of what is going on now was several falls - from the couch and end table, just looking over the edge like normal and THUMP hitting the floor. He's a lot more inclined to do it now, he fell off the bed last night when I glanced away. His balance is almost non-existent, he used to stay crouched on his hind paws to groom his entire back and belly, and to do so now without falling over backwards almost immediately requires a hand behind him. Add to this the fact that he HAS finally started developing penis plugs - I got one out last night and he had already redeveloped it 12 hours later this morning. :doh:

Jacob is using his teeth instead of his tongue. For eating yogurt off a plate, for getting water off my hand, and in comparison to his previously almost constant kisses to any part of people he could reach, nibbling at my lips/face instead of kissing. He has an occasional upper lip snarl on his left side, and his teeth appear to have become slightly angled to the right - they are grinding just a little crooked. Cause, or effect?

His leg muscles are incredibly weak. I do need to do some research on HED, now, but this doesn't seem to be localized to his back legs. All legs and toes are having trouble gripping, he just sort of slides off your leg/tummy onto the bed/couch, and more often than not lands on his head/side rather than his feet.

He is still, as David said, poofed, squinty, sleeping more than is normal even for a boy rat of 18 months, not wanting to explore or play except in a confused, wandering sort of way, and incapable of climbing. We started him on Prednizone last night, and still have Baytril for another day or so. No real improvement yet, but hopefully he will at least get a little more appetite. *crosses fingers*

Any other thoughts, based on this? We were wondering if it was possible he has had a stroke...

 

[jorats]

Those are classic PT symptoms.

 

[MomRat]

Jo, he's had two doses of Pred. in the last 24 hours, continuing to dose every 12. What improvements should we be looking for, and how soon?

 

[SQ]

Hope the pred helps and gives him some good time with you.

 

[jorats]

What pred can do is stop the progression. What happens is that it reduces the inflammation in the brain so it allows to function properly. The HED won't come back but may not get worse. He should regain his appetite and be more interested in life. That can last up to 2 months, then the tumour keeps growing.

The Cabergoline is a drug used for pituitary tumors in humans and now have been found to work in rats as well. But it's so very expensive. It shrinks the tumor and slows the growth rate...give one rat up to 7 months of good quality living.
Many years ago, I was in contact with an Australian who was working closely with his vet using this drug and he had amazing results as well. Only recently has Cabergoline got the green light from North American exotic vets.