Something is wrong with Neville-Passed over night

[handmeafish]

I feel like maybe i'm just being paranoid but neville is really freaking me out. Last night he was a little lethargic, but I honestly wrote it off and him just being more snuggly than normal, like he's growing up...
But tonight I took them all out again and Neville is not really moving around much. He just wants to snuggle in my lap, and as I pet him, he gets squeaky. I would move him, and try to get him to play, but he is just uninterested. He's just kind of being a lump. He seems to squeak more when I touch his hips... Maybe he was just protesting about being moved. I just don't know.


i'm really hoping that you are all going to just tell me that I am crazy, and he's sleepy. But with Ronny's sudden passing, I'm worried.

Also my vet fund is drained, because I found out i'm being sued for past medical debt, and had to use pretty much my entire savings to stop them from taking me to court.. I had no clue what was going on. But I will make it work if I have to get him there...

 

[xxchelle]

He looks puffy to me in that picture... is he?

Can you check his teeth? Has he lost weight? Any other symptoms/signs of illness?

 

[handmeafish]

no weight loss (lol maybe weight gain sense i switched foods.), and his teeth look fine. Its definitely his hips. I just checked range of motion and stuff (I checked on Arhtur first to see what seemed normal) and he squeaks and protests when I try to move his legs down. Hes holding them very gingerly, but that would explain why he isn't walking much. He doesn't look swollen, but he iis keeping his legs pulled into his body.
He feels warmer than arthur, but hes been hiding under me and my computer, so i think that might be making him more warm. He hasn't had porf discharge.
he is a bit pouffy, especially on his head.
This video is of him walking, and of how he's just kinda letting his feet hang. Maybe he fell or something.
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[handmeafish]

Let's try that.

 

[jorats]

How old is he? In the video, that's typical old manrat walk. But in the picture, he looks in pain, he is puffy and squinty

 

[handmeafish]

The top is a video as well, if you click on it it goes right to photobucket. He's only 9 months or so.
He is squinty and he's holding his ears back. I don't have metacam, but I can get motrin in the morning. (Its stil 6am here, I don't think much is open)
I don't have an excat weight, but he's smaller, like 370 or so, about the size of a girl. I can weigh him, but not until 10 when my work opens... at that point I could also get a dose of meloxicam if someone could help me with dosing info, just until I can figure out how to get him to the vet.

 

[jorats]

I can't help with the dosing... I'm not good at that. But for his size, mine would get about 0.03 of metacam, more if I see they need it.

 

[temblabamomo]

Has he been peeing/pooping regularly? I've never seen a constipated rat before, but I've known a few cats who've shown the same symptoms and it turned out they were constipated. Just a thought. I hope you're able to get to the bottom of this and see your boy feeling better soon.

 

[lilspaz68]

.26 cc's for your boy, he looks very uncomfortable. Gentle air kisses to him, and pray the swelling causing the pain goes down and he feels better.

 

[handmeafish]

He's been both peeing and pooping fine (both on my bed last night)
He seems a little better this morning, but still in pain. I think he must have fallen or something

 

[lilspaz68]

Jo, I used the new dosing recommendations...yours is perfectly fine using the .2-.4 mg/kg...I just think with pain like that, I like to get on top of it quickly which is why such a big dose.

 

[jorats]

Jo, I used the new dosing recommendations...yours is perfectly fine using the .2-.4 mg/kg...I just think with pain like that, I like to get on top of it quickly which is why such a big dose.

Is that on the rat guide? I always thought it wasn't enough.

 

[handmeafish]

I came home, and the other rats had managed to get down into the bottom of the cage (I have the super pet exotic, and i separated it into 2 levels. They had kicked him out, and I think maybe he strained him self getting out of the hammock.
I gave him .25ml at about 12:00. I had to wait until they were done in the back to get it, because so not friendly people were working.
i noticed that his tail has a blueish streak down it. He isn't even grooming him self at all, he barely lifts his head. It looks like he was trying to eat some of the baby food I'd left in his cage, because he got it all over his front. He's breathing hard, and bruxing a lot.
I am trying to figure out how to get him to the vet. I am going to see if they will do like a payment plan kind of thing, because I feel like this is probably going to be expensive. But if he hurt himself, there isn't really anything they can do any way...
On the plus side, my dad is going to pay the suit against me, and let me pay him back in small increments, so that will help me a little.

Edit- how often can I give the metacam?

 

[handmeafish]

I have the ability to get a 10gal aquarium from a friend. I feel like keeping him alone is the best move right now (because Seamus is being stupid and keeps like standing on him, or perstering him, and splitting up the cage isn't working) I'm also thinking having solid walls will keep him from climbing when he starts to feel better.
I know that aquariums, and that size, are not a good idea under normal circumstances, but if I keep it clean, and give him plenty of out time, do you think that would be a good idea?

 

[Joanne]

It sounds like separation may be a good idea. Is there a really mellow buddy that can go in with him?

How old is he? A fall seems like the most likely thing, but you never know. A vet visit would be the best option. Sometimes with trauma a steriod is helpful, especially if he has a back injury. It helps reduce the swelling around the spinal cord. But better to have the vet decide what the best course of action would be.

 

[handmeafish]

Neville has just become a lump on my bed he didn't even move to pee.
I'm super worried. I think i'm going to have to make that tough choice soon, because he isn't improving, even with the metacam.
When can I give him more? sense he's in so much pain would I be better off to give something else like ibuprofin?

 

[Dazzle87]

I'm not sure when, I know the most they should get in a day is 1-2mg/kg.

Do not use ibuprofen with it, they're both NSAIDS, and metacam is better for pain anyway.

 

[victoria]

I think Metacam and Ibuprofen are about the same at controlling pain. I *think* (I can't find the info right now) that you can give it every 4 or 6 hours.

 

[handmeafish]

he's almost 9 months old.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

I can't offer any help but I'm sending lots of healing vibes your way :hugs: