Southpaw Animal Clinic Prices for a Possible Broken Leg?

[WindyWolf1998]

My friend fears her rat has broken his hind leg, but needs to know how much it'd cost as she's tight on money. We're going Tuesday for our own rats, but would that be too late for her rat to go with us? She says he's dragging it behind him and uses the other three legs, just not his back one. I'm willing to help pay for some of it, but we need to know soon.

 

[lilspaz68]

Is it swollen? Is it discoloured? Or is he an old fellow who is going through hind end degeneration?

 

[WindyWolf1998]

He's really old for a rat, I'll ask her what it looks like as I havn't seen him lately. She says he's just not using it, it looks perfectly fine.

 

[lilspaz68]

could be HED, which becomes a paralysis of the hind end, and they often start by dragging hind legs behind them...is he in pain?

 

[WindyWolf1998]

She says he doesn't seem to be in pain, and he can move it a little. Is this fatal??

 

[lilspaz68]

She says he doesn't seem to be in pain, and he can move it a little. Is this fatal??

Not a bit. If its a sprain, they will heal on their own, if its a sprain with swelling, you can treat at home with infant liquid ibuprofen, if its age, then its progressive, and not painful.

 

[SQ]

Scott at Islandview likely has more experience re rats and if you are concerned about costs, their prices are usually lower.

 

[jorats]

It could very well be hind end degeneration if so, that's no big deal. He will stop using the leg and adapt accordingly.

 

[WindyWolf1998]

I am sad to say that he has passed away about a week later, my friend believes he may have had cancer, as his lower half began to swell the day or two before. My rat is fine, but the spot behind her ear had matted fur before it fell off, revealing a cut. The cut has healed, but my Mom thinks it's coming back...? My rat has also been scratching alot, but the vet couldn't find mites or anything in her fur. The vet told us to put salt water on the cut, but she was itchy before the vet told us to put that solution on the cut.

 

[SQ]

Sorry your friend's rat died

Where is your rat scratching? Head and neck areas?
Are there any scabs?
Pictures?

Could be a problem with skin being ichy because of dry air if the humidity is too low.
Mites are too small to be seen and when suspected, all rats are treated with cat or kitten revolution from the vet.
The amount of revolution applied to the back of each rat's neck depends upon how much each rat weighs.
My previous suggestion as to a good rat vet still applies.

 

[*Rebel_Angel*]

Aww so sorry for ur friend's rat!