Too many ill ratties

[SQ]

I am rat sitting at Godmothers .... and the stress of the move has made a some of my rats ill,
while the condition of others has worsened .....

Matthew, Craig, Tommy, Wendy, Petra, and Jennifer (Miriam & Benjamin's kids) are now on baytril & doxy.
They have improved a bit over the last week so hopefully this combo of antibiotics will soon have them well.
Matthew is also on medicated eye drops as he is having serious difficulties with one of his eyes.
Jane, Ashley (Miriam & Benjamin's kids) and Benjamin are on baytril and seem to be improving.
Miriam - laboured breathing and head tilt. She is on baytril, lasix and metronidazole (only thing that helped her previous inner ear infections).
She has improved a bit over the last week.

Judy (Miriam & Benjamin's daughter) - she has a huge huge heart taking up so much of the space in her chest that only a tiny sliver of lungs can be seen on the x-ray .... her lungs look good but do not have space to expand :sad3: Judy is now on doxy, baytril, and added today: benezapril, lasix, & digoxin.
X-rays were this afternoon .... I am in shock and praying the meds will make a huge difference for my young sweet little Judy.

Molly - kidney failure and suspected pt is on benezapril (to increase blood flow to her kidneys), baytril, and pred. Her condition re kidneys has improved.
Moses (Eve's son) - enlarged heart with laboured breathing. He is on benezapril, lasix, and starting atenolol, and digoxin today. His lungs are in good condition.

A few others are not feeling well and may need to go on baytril etc ..... Tell (Stella) in particular.

Two of the girls each lost part of a toe last week when they climbed onto Christmas' cage during out time.
Christmas has an injury to his nose ... his nose was ripped half off his face last week ... possibly self inflicted (Christmas chewed off a toe last winter ...) as all other rats were in their cages when I believe it happened.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed (classes start next week too) ... Any suggestions or ideas?

 

[RattusNorvegicus]

I have no suggestions, but condolences. I can imagine the stress as my 7 are always having illness on top of illness. Nothing is more exhausting than that. I hope the heart meds work for Judy, and I hope all of the other meds help everyone else as soon as possible to relieve some stress. :cuddle:

Why is it that more often than not vets don't use Metronidazole in ear infections? My vet has told me, or I have read that the infection can spread into the bone, and Metro would be useful in that case. It seems like a combo of Metronidazole and Baytril +anti inflammatory would be best for inner ear infections, so why is it not used more often?

 

[Joanne]

Wow, it sounds like you have your plate full, and then some!
I would suggest working on stress management. There's no getting around the nursing and worry of taking care of sickies, so you should focus on managing how you feel.
That means exercise every day (lots of walking if nothing else), making sure you get enough sleep, and eating properly. If your body is physically OK, then it will make it easier to keep your mind OK!

 

[jorats]

I agree with Joanne. First thing's first... take care of yourself. Get yourself organized and then do what you do best and that's take care of the babies. One step at a time, one day at a time.
The rats are in great hands. Set yourself a schedule and follow through your med list.
Sending you lots of healing vibes.

 

[Dahlas]

and also know your limitations. Do what you can and don't stress over the rest....I 100% agree with taking care of yourself...but I also now no I can only do my best...and what happens happens...

 

[thefriggintribe]

If you need any help with anything just pm me. I'm always here for my fellow rat lovers. :heart:

 

[xio]

Sorry to hear that SQ I wish I was still in Fredericton to give you a hand. I hope everyone gets better soon!

 

[temblabamomo]

:hugs: I can't begin to imagine having so many to look after. The fact that so many are ill right now must be completely overwhelming. Hang in there :hugs: Sending healing vibes to all the sick little ones.

 

[Godmother]

That's a lot of nursing care. For some reason things always seem to happen at once, making life extremely stressful. I sure hope that little Judy gets some relief with the heart meds.

And please take Joanne's advice! A nice walk in the neighbourhood and scarf down the goodies in the kitchen.

 

[SQ]

Judy seems to be doing a bit better now that she is on the heart meds.
Molly is now on bromo for pt, in addition to the meds she is on for kidney failure. She races to the door to greet me when it is time for her meds ... it is adorable!

Moses had an emergency vet visit today.
Although his lungs are in good condition, Moses is having difficulty breathing due to his heart condition. Late last night Moses was panicing re breathing so I was up all night with him trying different things. It takes a lot out of Moses to do anything ... even eating ... he can only eat a bit before he needs to stop because of the impact on his ability to breath.
I thought Moses would need to be pts but when we went to the vet's, Moses was doing a bit better, relaxed, better color etc so his vet thinks it is too early to have Moses pts.
I am very happy Moses seems to be feel a bit better and I hope it last .... but I am afraid ...

Everyone else seems to be improving.

So .... 15 of my ratties on meds ..... plus Godmother's Stella and Mia9_28 's Teagan.
I have had as many as 19 rats on meds in the past but it wasn't this difficult ... I think it is because they are on so many different meds and because several don't want their meds and have to be syringe fed them.

 

[temblabamomo]

I honestly don't know how you do it. It takes a really special kind of person, a superhuman really, to be able to do what you are doing. I hope you know how much the rat community, rats and people alike, appreciate how much you put into these animals. So glad to hear some are improving :joy: I hope the improvement continues. And I hope Moses can find a level of comfort and stay there for a while. You don't need any more emergency visits for a good bit. Hang in there!

 

[Dahlas]

I would NEVER be able to do it....NEVER. I have no idea how you can....

 

[SQ]

I'm having a very tough time doing it ...
Probably because Judy and Moses and Molly and Alberta have so little time left,
and because I know, with all my aging rescues, this is just the beginning of what this year is going to be like ...

Thanks for listening ... it helps to "talk" about it

 

[Dahlas]

I'm having a very tough time doing it ...
Probably because Judy and Moses and Molly and Alberta have so little time left,
and because I know, with all my aging rescues, this is just the beginning of what this year is going to be like ...

Thanks for listening ... it helps to "talk" about it

wish there was more I could do....I sure know what it feels like to be overwhelmed. Right now I have one rattie on meds and it is the first time anyone has been on meds in well over a year....I am very thankful for that....

 

[mamarat]

:hugs:

 

[Joanne]

I'm having a very tough time doing it ...
Probably because Judy and Moses and Molly and Alberta have so little time left,
and because I know, with all my aging rescues, this is just the beginning of what this year is going to be like ...

Thanks for listening ... it helps to "talk" about it

It is going to be a very difficult year, but really try and focus on what you have done for these rats:
You have taken them in and given them a wonderful life, never having to worry about predators or where their next meal is coming from, never being too cold and wet, or lost and lonely. When they are sick they know that someone is looking out for them and that a kind hand will gently stroke them or give them medicine to make them feel better.
And when it's time to go, they get to pass quietly in their cage with their family, or gently fade to sleep with some gas, being held and cuddled and kissed to the end by this person who has been there their whole life, caring for them...
In a nutshell, they couldn't have asked for a better rattie life. So hang in there, you are the world to them and you HAVE made a difference! :hugs:

 

[Godmother]

I don't know how you do it. I once had six on meds, and I was always exhausted physically and emotionally trying to cope with that on top of the rest of my life.

So glad that most of your ratties are improving.

 

[Dahlas]

I'm having a very tough time doing it ...
Probably because Judy and Moses and Molly and Alberta have so little time left,
and because I know, with all my aging rescues, this is just the beginning of what this year is going to be like ...

Thanks for listening ... it helps to "talk" about it

It is going to be a very difficult year, but really try and focus on what you have done for these rats:
You have taken them in and given them a wonderful life, never having to worry about predators or where their next meal is coming from, never being too cold and wet, or lost and lonely. When they are sick they know that someone is looking out for them and that a kind hand will gently stroke them or give them medicine to make them feel better.
And when it's time to go, they get to pass quietly in their cage with their family, or gently fade to sleep with some gas, being held and cuddled and kissed to the end by this person who has been there their whole life, caring for them...
In a nutshell, they couldn't have asked for a better rattie life. So hang in there, you are the world to them and you HAVE made a difference! :hugs:

That is a beautiful way to look at it....something we all need to remember.