squealing rat

[Tuuli]

It's about 4:35am and I woke up to this CLANG in my rat's cage.I lifted him out and he starts squealing like a pig. It's been 15 minutes and he won't stop. When it's calm, it sounds like a cricket, but then it'll get up to something literally squealing it's REALLY loud. Our vet isn't open on weekends, what do I do!?

 

[Tuuli]

I think he's in pain, but I can't find out where's hurting him.
He's jerking as if he was going to throw up.
He's completely limp and squealing at the top of his lungs. It's so depressing. The noise just breaks your heart.
Is there any pain medication I could give him!?

 

[victoria]

I was thinking pain when I read your first post - my husband stepped on a rats tail and that's how she reacted. If he's still squaling an hour later though, it's not an injury. He has an ear infection, right?

Did you ever get an anti-inflammatory from the vet? (Metacam/Meloxicam?) Or can you pick up some infant Advil at a pharmacy?

 

[Tuuli]

I've got him to stop, he only stops in this certain position though. When we were at the vets on friday she gave us steroids, B12, a new anti biotic and hydrated him from under the skin. never any anti inflammatory though

 

[victoria]

Ok, if he's getting a steroid you can't give Advil. If you want, you can pick up infant Tylenol in case he needs it. It doesn't sound good if he was in extreme pain for that long... maybe he fell and hurt himself but if the pain is caused by the ear infection it's going to be hard to help him.

Do you know exactly what meds he's on and how much of each?

 

[Tuuli]

He fell asleep and was fine, now he's woken up, he's doing it again.
My mom thinks he's gone into organ failure. Since he was making weird jerking noises last night. Our vet isn't available on weekends.
I'm okay if he wants to die, if he has no fight left in him. I just don't want him to die in pain. I love that little rat. He's literally gotten me though everything this year.
All I want to do if help him.

Also, he's on Doxycycline. I believe it's called twice a day. 4cc's every day.
His head tilt has completely gone though. This morning I was about to write the vet an email thankingg her for everything because he was walking, jumping around and eating on his own. Then he just started declining again. and now we're here.

 

[victoria]

Just Doxy? Did she give a steroid injection or give you oral steroids to give at home? Do you know what steroid was given?

 

[Tuuli]

She gave an injection. I'm sorry, I don't remember the name. I believe it started with Me....
He was also getting penicillin shots.
Now that he's sleeping, it really does sound like it's his respiratory system. But every now and again he makes a REALLY loud squeal.

 

[victoria]

I'm sorry I don't know what could be causing his symptoms. He's in pain but I can't tell you from where. His respiratory system may be strained from screaming, the Doxy will help a bit if it's a respiratory infection but he'll need something more than the Penicillin for a respiratory infection. (Batryl or - I know you don't like it but it is good with another med - axithromycin would be best for a respiratory infection.) The Pen G sounds like it did a great job on his ear infection - were the injections weekly?

Here's the dosage info for Tylenol: http://ratguide.com/meds/analgesics/acetaminophen.php Use the 100 mg/kg to 300 mg/kg, PO (oral), q4hrs or 200 mg/kg, PO guidelines as they're the most scientifically sound. If you need help figuring out a dose, give us his weight and tell us the concentration (mg/ml) of the suspension you buy.

 

[Tuuli]

thank you for trying to help us.
He had no strength left. I held him and told him he was okay to leave us. He stopped screaming and held my finger and passed.
It's amazing how animals understand us so well.
Gizmo was such an amazing rat and I'm so glad I was able to share his life with him.

 

[Tuuli]

He's an angel now <3

 

[Joanne]

I'm so sorry your little man had to have such a rough passing. I'm glad you could be with him and that he's at peace now. :hugs:

 

[victoria]

I'm very sorry for your loss. :hugs:

 

[dspch911]

:heart: :sad3: RIP sweetie :sad3: :heart:

 

[mamarat]

I am so sorry. RIP little sweetie.