Smidgen: Not sure this is a hernia, see last post pg3

[Petunia]

I think you should look into the senekote

and I wouldn't try the Woody's Diet as that is for MC rats

ok that's where I'm getting confused, the senekote is for MC too, it's a stimulant and in my experience with people only! you don't use a stimulant ever if there's any chance there's something obstructing the colon


so I'm really reluctant to do that, ya know?

She's had watermelon and baby food fruit. Since the warm water bath helped, I think I"d like to do that again and see if that helps her feel better, that was when she looked the best, right after the bath and the passing that big stool

 

[victoria]

My vet recommended mineral oil for a rat that was constipated, it may help Smidgen.

 

[Petunia]

My vet recommended mineral oil for a rat that was constipated, it may help Smidgen.

mineral oil used in an enema, Victoria, or ingested?

 

[victoria]

Ingested, just a few drops in food. Olive oil or fish oil capsules (opened) may do the same job.

 

[Petunia]

ok thanks! I've given them fish oil before, the vet said it was good for them so I'll try that.

I know they all love it!

 

[victoria]

ok thanks! I've given them fish oil before, the vet said it was good for them so I'll try that.

I know they all love it!

Omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties too

 

[Roo]

Oh my. I hope it turns out alright!

 

[lilspaz68]

Senekot is a children's laxative is it not? I should think it would help in her case.

 

[Petunia]

Senekot is a children's laxative is it not? I should think it would help in her case.

It sounds like it'd be a gentle thing to me too, but it's not what I thought it was- I thought it was a stool softener, instead it's a stimulant laxative made from senna. It would make sense to give this to an MC rat who doesn't have the normal contractions in their colon, but as far as I can tell, anyway, her colon still works ok
the stool softener I was thinking of is colace or dulcolax, those have no stimulants in them.

The vet who recommended it got this info straight off a sheet of general info on MC- She had a few pages of things copied from Rats Rule and Deb D's rat info and not much else. She herself had never heard of mega colon and didn't know what normal rat stools look like.


Smidgen is looking fine today- happy bouncy girl, eating and playing and all so that's great!
However, this is what she is producing for stools (two normal raisins from a different rat included in photo for reference)


Smidgens poop July 15 by catnapt, on Flickr


poop dry hard and tiny by catnapt, on Flickr

AND she still has a swelling next to her anus on one side, which could be a tiny bit bigger, I"m not really sure.

so, she's able to poop on her own, but her stool is very hard and dry and small.

She's had a lot of watermelon and some baby food fruits, today I'll give her some plum,
and this is what we have for stools. :shock:
I'm hoping that this is just what was in there from when she was not able to poop, and that the next time she goes, her stools will show the benefit of the added fruits and be more normal.

I"m sticking to just Regal Rat for the main diet for now, with the added fruits for her.

 

[Scythe]

Senekot is a children's laxative is it not? I should think it would help in her case.

It sounds like it'd be a gentle thing to me too, but it's not what I thought it was- I thought it was a stool softener, instead it's a stimulant laxative made from senna. It would make sense to give this to an MC rat who doesn't have the normal contractions in their colon, but as far as I can tell, anyway, her colon still works ok
the stool softener I was thinking of is colace or dulcolax, those have no stimulants in them.

The vet who recommended it got this info straight off a sheet of general info on MC- She had a few pages of things copied from Rats Rule and Deb D's rat info and not much else. She herself had never heard of mega colon and didn't know what normal rat stools look like.


Smidgen is looking fine today- happy bouncy girl, eating and playing and all so that's great!
However, this is what she is producing for stools (two normal raisins from a different rat included in photo for reference)


Smidgens poop July 15 by catnapt, on Flickr


poop dry hard and tiny by catnapt, on Flickr

AND she still has a swelling next to her anus on one side, which could be a tiny bit bigger, I"m not really sure.

so, she's able to poop on her own, but her stool is very hard and dry and small.

She's had a lot of watermelon and some baby food fruits, today I'll give her some plum,
and this is what we have for stools. :shock:
I'm hoping that this is just what was in there from when she was not able to poop, and that the next time she goes, her stools will show the benefit of the added fruits and be more normal.

I"m sticking to just Regal Rat for the main diet for now, with the added fruits for her.

Would it make sense to give a rat like this hydrating fluids? To 'soften' her insides up and liquidate things? The hard stools must be painful to pass.

 

[Joanne]

Those stools look dry, but at least she's pooping! I would keep it up with the fish oil/olive oil, and LOTS of fresh fruit.
Perhaps she was dehydrated? Does her skin have good rebound when you pinch it together?

I have seen really big poops from my guys too, but I think it's normal. I think the little poops are poops, and the bigger poops are the ones they are supposed to eat?

 

[Petunia]

Would it make sense to give a rat like this hydrating fluids? To 'soften' her insides up and liquidate things? The hard stools must be painful to pass.

what do you mean by hydrating fluids? subQ fluids?

 

[Petunia]

Those stools look dry, but at least she's pooping! I would keep it up with the fish oil/olive oil, and LOTS of fresh fruit.
Perhaps she was dehydrated? Does her skin have good rebound when you pinch it together?

I have seen really big poops from my guys too, but I think it's normal. I think the little poops are poops, and the bigger poops are the ones they are supposed to eat?

yeh I've seen big poops before too, but that one was very hard and she squeaked in pain when she passed it.

I guess she was dehydrated before..?
but since I realized she was having a problem, I've checked her skin many times and there's no sign of dehydration now.

 

[Joanne]

I guess she was dehydrated before..?
but since I realized she was having a problem, I've checked her skin many times and there's no sign of dehydration now.

That's good to hear! Hopefully she will continue to poop on her own...

 

[Petunia]

update on Smidgen
got a vet appt for her tomorrow, hopefully the exotics vet can figure out what is wrong with her

she's still quite swollen by her anus, that essentially hasn't changed at all

she has normal poops now but only if I "express" them, she's stopped pooping on her own

I don't think she can feel her butt, it seems like it must be numb because with all the squeezing and the warm water soaks, the only time she's protested was that one time when the large hard poop was coming out, she squeaked in pain.

otherwise, no sign that she feels anything back there, although it often looks like she's backing up and straining to go, nothing comes out.

I can get her poop out after soaking her butt and waiting a few minutes, then I can see it just inside her anus and squeeze it out.

weird, eh?

hopefully we'll have some answers tomorrow!!

at least she seems happy and ok in all other respects, plays, eats drinks and sleeps comfortably

so perplexing!

 

[Joanne]

I'll be interested to hear what the vet has to say...

 

[mamarat]

Good luck with your sweetie.

 

[Petunia]

Smidgen has a small hernia, and fat pads.
the side that is swollen is the side with the hernia

it's very small so doesn't need surgery and if I can get her to lose some wt (she's 616 grams) and keep her on a diet that keeps her stools soft and moist, then she should be ok

just need to watch it and make sure it doesn't get bigger and that she doesn't get constipated again

whew!

now to set up a rat room for them so she can get some exercise, the little butter ball!

thanks for all your good wishes, so relieved that this is not a tumor or something awful like that

 

[mamarat]

That is good news.

 

[SQ]

Great News!!

Good luck with the exercise and weight loss program.