Smokey - back from the vet

[mia9_28]

Even forcing it... he basically doesn't swallow anything... he's been an old grump all night, constantly fighting back the syringe, no matter what yummy stuff is in there.

 

[SQ]

Is he dehydrated?
Dehydration will make rats go downhill fast.

If so, he will need to be rehydrated ... orally with fluids since you don't likely have access to materials for a sub-Q injection.
See viewtopic.php?f=26&t=11058
Pedi lite from the drug store is good too.

Ratsforever bought some stuff from her vet that worked amazingly to get her ill rats to start eating and drinking.
I'll see if I can find out the name

 

[mia9_28]

Yes, he he pretty dehydrated...
I tried to make him drink... he refuses and wont swallow..
Can any vet do sub Q injection? Should I bring him to my town's vet (although she has no experience with rats)?

 

[hopefloats]

when they get dehydrated it is bad. As SQ said they can go down hill fast. Keep trying with the syringe and even if you just put a few drops on his tongue i have found that to help. Have you tried ensure?

 

[mia9_28]

I do have a syringe with a needle, now that I remember... but I think it would be too big..

 

[mia9_28]

when they get dehydrated it is bad. As SQ said they can go down hill fast. Keep trying with the syringe and even if you just put a few drops on his tongue i have found that to help. Have you tried ensure?

I keep trying... but he really is a fighter and wont even let me near his mouth anymore..

 

[hopefloats]

Try on a spoon. One of my boys will run if he sees a syringe. Dip your finger in it and let him lick it off of it. Any way you can get it in him, do it. I spent a lot of time dipping my finger in ensure to pull a rattie back. It can happen but you have to find what will work.

 

[mia9_28]

Try on a spoon. One of my boys will run if he sees a syringe. Dip your finger in it and let him lick it off of it. Any way you can get it in him, do it. I spent a lot of time dipping my finger in ensure to pull a rattie back. It can happen but you have to find what will work.

Yeah.. I've tried those as well...
I'll keep trying though...

 

[hopefloats]

If you take it and rub it on his mouth will he groom it off?

 

[mia9_28]

If you take it and rub it on his mouth will he groom it off?

Not immediately, but if I put him down somewhere, he eventually grooms a little. It would take quite the while.

 

[EDK]

Ya my two boys dont like their meds either, luckily its a tube inject straight into the mouth, when i can get them to hold still long enough to open up, pfft, little fighters they are too. Good luck with your boy

 

[mia9_28]

YES! Tried a different flavor Ensure, that I actually bought yesterday and he drank a bit!
Sadly... he still refuses any water... is he letting himself die..?

Is Ensure good enough to keep him hydrated?

 

[hopefloats]

mine wouldnt drink water, if ensure is what the will eat, give it to him. I give them as much as they will take. It will help. Once he starts drinking the ensure, he may be more willing to drink water when he gets some of his strength back.

 

[mia9_28]

mine wouldnt drink water, if ensure is what the will eat, give it to him. I give them as much as they will take. It will help. Once he starts drinking the ensure, he may be more willing to drink water when he gets some of his strength back.

He's definitely got some strength back... I hope he recovers... :heart:

 

[mia9_28]

It's been over a week now that he's been on Baytril + Doxy with little improvement...
Should I take him back to get an x-ray of his lungs? Just in case it's something more serious than just an URI?

Any suggestions on other meds that work good for URI with dosage with a vet reference? (she believes Baytril is like the only thing safe for rats and is REALLY skeptical about giving any other meds, ugh)

I had decided that from now on, I would go to a different vet (the one in my town) to try it out. But, I brought Deno there to get euthanized and it was really horrible.... The whole time, she left the door open, while dogs were barking and passing in front of the door.... it was so stressful for Deno. At least, for the last injection, she brought him to a room in the back.... but yeah... I was not impressed with how careless they were.

 

[mamarat]

Have you tried Baytril and Zithromax? I have a lot of success with that combo, even cured my girl with pneumonia.

 

[SQ]

Baytril (10 mg/Ib) and zithro (10 to 15 mg/Ib) (dose Rat Health Care book)

Get the vet to consult Scott

 

[mia9_28]

Baytril (10 mg/Ib) and zithro (10 to 15 mg/Ib) (dose Rat Health Care book)

Get the vet to consult Scott

I had called Scott.. but he never called back.... actually, he NEVER calls back...

 

[SQ]

Vets can consult with other vets.
He may not even get your message ...

 

[mia9_28]

I was just reading on Rat Guide that Zithro is less effective on older rats....Smokey is two years old in a week.
Did anyone have success with Zithro on older rats?

And again, would an x-ray be necessary to see if there's anything more serious?