Spinal Injury: Decision Time?

[Whiskerpatch]

Hello all, I realize that I am new, and have yet to even introduce myself, but my dilemma has caused me to stumble across this magical website, and I'm hoping beyond home that I can get some sound advice.
Around five days ago I came home from work to a horrid surprise. One of my baby boys, Patches, had his stomach and neck covered in urine. I thought it was very odd of him to lay in his own waste, but 'tsked' and washed him regardless. The next day, it happened again.
I realized the he had no control over his bowels, a lame left rear leg, partial control of his right rear leg and a limp tail. I've been creating a makeshift diaper out of surgical tape and cotton balls just so he won't be filthy. I'm also bandaging his left rear leg to his body just so he won't drag it raw. He's being a sweetheart and not ripping it off while I'm at work, which I'm still thankful for.
I've got him Baytril, for all the good it will do, and am giving him organic baby food, pumpkin loaded, because its his favorite, and the last thing I want his for him to have digestive upset from the Baytril. However, I realize that a decision needs to be made.
Patches is acting the very same, and the thought of euthanizing him pains me, but so does the thought of him nearly dragging himself around the cage. He no longer attempts the upper levels, because he has to drag himself up, and due to lack of rear control, tumbles down....But how do you make the decision to put down an animal that hasn't gotten the memo that he's not okay? (I've been told that I shouldn't amputate both his tail and rear left leg because he will be left too off balance. is this true?)
Another concern I have is his brother, Tawny. They've been together forever, and I know they enjoy company. IF Patches must be put down, would Tawny be okay? Both males are neutered, so theoretically, I could get a female friend for Tawny (because I decided no more boys. ) My dilemma is that I have no desire for new children. I want mine...And I want Patches to be okay.
Any chance that with the extent of his injuries there's any chance of recovery? :sad3:

-Whiskerpatch

 

[jorats]

How old is your little guy? It almost sounds like a stroke. If that's the case, with prednisone, he might recover. It's worth a shot.
Also, rats do very well even if limited to zero hind end mobility. Some rats as they get older they develop hind end degeneration. These rats don't need any extra care except a more padded cage and no more ramps to climb. Rats do very well dragging themselves around, they don't become raw or anything. I've had a boy, have total loss of back end mobility and he lived almost a year like that. He was quite content too.

 

[lilspaz68]

Could also be a bad urinary tract infection, this can sometimes paralyze a male rat (you never seem to hear of this in females). I had a male in foster returned to me with a "back injury from a possible fall" which turned out to be a UTI.

Metacam for pain and inflammation and baytril for the infection had him all better. How long has he been on the baytril?

 

[Whiskerpatch]

Patches and Tawny will turn two years old mid-September. Today will be his third dose of Baytril. Now, my Vet is honestly playing this all by ear, Patches and Tawny are his first tiny patients besides kittens and puppies, and has him taking 2mL once a day. I was the one who requested Baytril, which is why I wasn't certain it would help. Is there a way to tell if he has a UTI?

Now, a stroke was suggested to me, funnily enough by the salon manager at Petco. If it is a stoke, would I need to massage his legs to help along mobility? I've been far too afraid to jostle him too much for fear of making it worse.

Now, seeing as how I'm in the dark about true cause, would giving him all of these medications mentioned, metacom and prednisone along with the baytril be a smart thing to do?

Now, even with no recovery, I'm willing to go the extra mile to keep up with diapers, and pad his floor more. Currently their floor is made of cut outs of fleece. On this note however, my concern is with amputation. Is there any stock the tale of him being left too of-kilter after amputation to adept? His limp tail and leg concern me because I'm afraid they will get hung somewhere. :/

Also, I cannot thank you all enough for such a speedy reply. You've no idea how much it means. <3
-Whisperpatch

 

[victoria]

Baytril can be given with either Pred or Metacam but not the last two together. If it's a stroke, Prednisone would help relieve inflammation and that may help him recover. If it's a UTI, Metacam will help with inflammation and pain. A urine sample could confirm a UTI.

.2 cc's of Baytril sounds a bit high. Do you know the concentration? Baytril should be given twice a day to rats, not once. (Your vet may be extrapolating from guinea pigs and rabbits on that one.) Most vets use a dosage guideline of 10 mg/kg.

 

[lilspaz68]

Lots of us have had boys with HED, limp tails,dragging feet and all...they adapt very well to it and can get around and where they want to go surprisingly well. All I usually do is hang hammocks under shelves, cover wire shelves and put ramp covers on any ramps. I also hang low hammocks like a double decker they can just walk into easily. I don't think you need consider amputation at all.

 

[jorats]

Amputation would be very drastic, especially when rats do very well adapting to their limited mobility. Event he dragging the legs, it's not a big deal to them.
As for your question, no, an amputation would not make a rat unbalanced. But I still don't recommend it.

 

[Whiskerpatch]

You know, it really helps to get advice from people with first hand experience. I've been floundering in the dark trying to go off of what I learned when my cat's leg had to be amputated, so that was my first thought. Also, when conversing with relatives, who think nothing of rodents, I've had to act like it was a cat with this injury instead of Patches himself! I guess talk of "quality of life" and "the humane thing" got to me, but a rat and cat are completely different.

I have no idea how much the baytril has been diluted. I gave the Doc Patches weight and he took it from there. D: Should I stick with what he got me, or give him 1mL in the morning and one at night?

On the note with the UTI, how much urine would the vet need? And will a cotton swab soaked be enough? Because I'm building up quite the collection of them!

The idea of amputation, while not something I'm against, was a last resort for me because I was uncertain what would be in Patches best interest. I was actually dreading it because I didn't want anything, much less something his size, to go through something so painful!

I am SO glad to know that there is such hope that everything will be okay. I've been so worried these past few days that I didn't know what to do with myself. I'll defiantly head to the store tomorrow to get some more felt to cover the ladder's and convert them to ramps so he can still get the benefits of a tall cage.

-Whiskerpatch

 

[SQ]

Can you find out the strength of the baytril (mg/ml) and how much Patches weighs in grams or Ibs?

With this info, people on here can calculate the amonut of baytril he needs to get twice a day.

 

[Aida]

Good luck with your little boy. I'm going to be reading up on this thread everytime there's a new issue.

And welcome to the rat shack! <:]

Also, I'm not sure why no one has asked this yet, where are you located? Maybe we can help you find a more experienced rattie vet who will be able to determine what it really is.

 

[lilspaz68]

Check your bill or the bottle and the mg/ml should be on there.

 

[Aida]

Oh, right! You can also post a picture of the label if you can't find it.

 

[Joanne]

I agree that amputation is not necessary. I too question the cause of your boy's limited mobility, and feel that it would probably be a good idea to treat him for a possible stroke and UTI as well, covering all your bases.
Convert your cage into a "limited mobility"-friendly cage. My rat Jazzy had hind-end degeneration but was very happy otherwise. I lined the cage with fleece, and covered the ramps with tube socks so that she couldn't get a foot or tail caught. I would start her at the top of the cage, and when I came home I would usually find her at the bottom. I made sure there was food and water available on several levels, so that if she went down levels, she could access something.
Here is a video I made of her - see how well she chugged along (she also had mammary tumours):
[BBvideo 450,375:27mpblzf]http://youtu.be/drzyrhpjGGg[/BBvideo:27mpblzf]

There's still hope for your boy!