Unsure if something is wrong - Ruby's gone =(

[DarkBlade]

Boo, than Kamchie, now Ruby. How nice. :gaah:

My little guy here is neutered since november and we have no idea how old he is but we got him this summer and he seemed pretty much grown up. Enyways, it's been two days since his right eye seem to crust just a little bit not much but it's always closed or very close to it. I noticed tonight that he's been scratching himself to the point of getting the fur off above his left ear and he's scratching alot at the right ear too. Also, he seems to be more active than usual, which is unusual for him cuz he's always so lazy and sleepy. The way he moves is weird. He seems almost restless, like he can't sleep. He stays up when I pet him but as soon as I stop, he starts scratching his ears and go restless again. Oh, and he sneezes alot. He did sneeze a bit before but nowhere near often as now. But, he doesn't have any trouble breathing from what I can see and hear.

I checked the symptoms for head tilt and I don't see any discharges, it doesn't smell weird, he walks straight but I seems to be turning his head to the right often, which is the side of his closing eye. I think I'm gonna make a check up at the vet. :sad3: :sad3: What do you guys think?

 

[jorats]

Ya, I recommend a vet check for this one. Poor little guy. Poor you. When it rains, it pours.

 

[SQ]

Yes, vet apt asp

 

[mamarat]

I would bring him to the vet too. Poor thing.

 

[DarkBlade]

Yeah bad timing for pouring rain. Money's running low at the end of a student's year. :smiling:

But, what do you think Ruby has? A head tilt beginning maybe?

 

[xxchelle]

Inner ear infections usually don't start with the eye, I've always had them start with the actual head tilt, then sometimes eye has issues later on. It's definitely time for the vet.

 

[DarkBlade]

I pushed the poor receptionist to go see the vet in surgery for a special appointment cuz I needed one fast. X) Got it monday at 6h50 pm. :joy: Wow three appointments on the run!

I just hope it doesn't become too bad till then. Is a head tilt / inner ear infection hard to cure? I imagine it's with antibiotics?

 

[mamarat]

I've found ear infections take a long time to heal with meds. Two of mine still had their head tilt (not as bad) after the infection was cured. They were both rescues and my vet said the treatment was started too late for the tilt to go away.

 

[xxchelle]

I just figured I'd point out for anyone else reading, that a head tilt doesn't necessarily automatically mean inner ear infection. Head tilts can be symptoms of neurological issues as well. Though the most common cause for a head tilt is an inner ear infection.

They take a while to heal, and the tilt might be permanent... but I didn't think your boy had a tilt? Unless I'm not understanding correctly.

 

[DarkBlade]

I'm unsure if he has a tilt actually. It's weird. His head doesn't always tilt and when it does, I'm still confused if it's really that. It seems tilted but lightly. But I noticed that the inside of the ear is getting red as he scratches alot. Also, his fur is now puffed up and he looks awful; he looks older.

 

[xxchelle]

Here's some examples of head tilts:

 

[DarkBlade]

Oh no he isn't bad like them. It's very slightly and not always. But he seems to turn the way he's tilting his head alot. While I was eating dinner, I put him on the table and he was shaky at first, had trouble with balance but it was ok after 10 seconds or so.

 

[SQ]

The pictures posted above are great. However, head tilt starts off with a slight head tilt and worsens to what is seen in the pictures.
If your rat has a head tilt that isn't as severe as in the pictures, it doesn't mean that he does not have an inner ear infection.

With an inner ear infection, a rather long course of baytril + clavamox or of chlorpalm will cure the infection. An anti inflammatory (such as pred) is also given, at least initially. This is to decrease the inflammation in order to prevent further permanent damage. The amount of damage to the inner ear will determine the severity of any permanent head tilt.
It may not be an inner ear infection. If it is neurological then the treatment is the same – antibiotic and pred.

It may be something else completely different. There may be something wrong with his ear that is bothering him.
For example: he might have a growth in his ear or ear mites (tests for mites give false results and are painful so not recommended).

 

[mamarat]

If he's scratching at his ear it's likely hurting . Your boy sounds like he's in pain. Can you get him to a vet sooner?

 

[xxchelle]

SQ is right, I should have mentioned that those are advanced head tilts and they don't just go to that overnight. Unfortunately, they were all surrendered to me with head tilts, so I've never caught the "starting" phase on camera

 

[DarkBlade]

I know. :sad3: :sad3: The best I have is monday night. They're closed on week-ends and booked for today.

 

[SQ]

You might consider contacting the vet and telling them that he is in pain and can not wait 3 days.
It can't hurt ...

 

[DarkBlade]

I'll call when I get home from college. I already had to push her a little to get an appointment Monday.

 

[DarkBlade]

Well, I don't have the money to pay 100$ more to see a vet out of hours so Ruby will have to though till monday. He's doing better =3 He rested alot, regained his sleep hours and he stopped scratching and being restless. I helped him by petting him for hours during the drive to Bathurst. His eye is still kinda crusty and it's always closed. While petting him, I was examining his ear and noticed it seems thicker than the other. I than went on rat health and checked all the ear diseases / problems. There's one that describes a situation where blood is accumulated in the ear and it turns red and gets swollen. Perhaps it's that.

 

[mamarat]

Does it look like a lump is growing in his ear?