URI, meds aren't working....

[MandaRaeRae]

My rattie, Duke just seems to be getting worse. He's on two heavy antibiotics for his respiratory infection. Yesterday he seemed to be getting a bit more chipper, however this morning when I went to give him a dose, he's acting even more lethargic and his wheezing is back =[ The vet said to continue the medicine until next Monday, but I'm afraid he may not make it. Poor little guy is fighting so hard too. He's still eating and drinking; but not like he normally did. Just a few minutes ago I went to check on him and he seemed as if he was in a comatose state, but when I gave him a finger with peanut butter, he woke up and ate it, drakn a bit of water and cleaned his little face. I'm really worried, has anyone ever been through this before? I could really use some support =[

 

[eagle]

What meds is Duke on and what is the dosage you are giving? How long has he been on the meds?

 

[temblabamomo]

My rattie, Duke just seems to be getting worse. He's on two heavy antibiotics for his respiratory infection. Yesterday he seemed to be getting a bit more chipper, however this morning when I went to give him a dose, he's acting even more lethargic and his wheezing is back =[ The vet said to continue the medicine until next Monday, but I'm afraid he may not make it. Poor little guy is fighting so hard too. He's still eating and drinking; but not like he normally did. Just a few minutes ago I went to check on him and he seemed as if he was in a comatose state, but when I gave him a finger with peanut butter, he woke up and ate it, drakn a bit of water and cleaned his little face. I'm really worried, has anyone ever been through this before? I could really use some support =[

What meds is he on? Have you double checked to see that he is getting the right dose? Occasionally, we see rats who are being under dosed who respond once the dosaged is upped.

How long has been on the antibiotics? If he's not responding to them and has been on them for a while, you may want to ask your vet about trying another antibiotic.

 

[MandaRaeRae]

Doxycycline -.08 ml every 12 hours
Baytril 10%-.04cc once a day

He's been on the medication since Friday. The vet had told us that he seemed to have the infection for a good 4-5 days before we brought him in, but his behavior wasn't at all different, and he wasn't showing any signs of the illness. His nose had started bleeding Friday morning, and by late morning he started wheezing. He's about 2 and a half years old. It's weird because his cage mates aren't ill or showing signs at all either.

 

[MandaRaeRae]

I am going to speak to the vet today, I'm waiting for them to call me back...I'm just really worried.

 

[lilspaz68]

I am going to speak to the vet today, I'm waiting for them to call me back...I'm just really worried.

Can you give us a guesstimate on his weight so we can check the calculations on the antibiotics? Baytril can be given once daily but when a rat is really sick its best to give it twice a day.


Hmmm if I work backwards and guess your boy is 400 grams (smaller boy) the doxycycline is 25 mg/ml? (check the bottle or label).
400 gram rat dosed at 5 mg/kg at a concentration of 25 mg/ml gets a dose of .08 cc twice a day

If I use the 400 grams again, dosing at 10 mg/kg (for baytril) at a concentration of 100 mg/ml the dose would be .04 cc but it should be TWICE a day.

 

[MandaRaeRae]

I am going to speak to the vet today, I'm waiting for them to call me back...I'm just really worried.

Can you give us a guesstimate on his weight so we can check the calculations on the antibiotics? Baytril can be given once daily but when a rat is really sick its best to give it twice a day.


Hmmm if I work backwards and guess your boy is 400 grams (smaller boy) the doxycycline is 25 mg/ml? (check the bottle or label).
400 gram rat dosed at 5 mg/kg at a concentration of 25 mg/ml gets a dose of .08 cc twice a day

If I use the 400 grams again, dosing at 10 mg/kg (for baytril) at a concentration of 100 mg/ml the dose would be .04 cc but it should be TWICE a day.

Yes, that's what the label says and he is a smaller guy. So should I space it out every 12 hours?

 

[lilspaz68]

I am going to speak to the vet today, I'm waiting for them to call me back...I'm just really worried.

Can you give us a guesstimate on his weight so we can check the calculations on the antibiotics? Baytril can be given once daily but when a rat is really sick its best to give it twice a day.


Hmmm if I work backwards and guess your boy is 400 grams (smaller boy) the doxycycline is 25 mg/ml? (check the bottle or label).
400 gram rat dosed at 5 mg/kg at a concentration of 25 mg/ml gets a dose of .08 cc twice a day

If I use the 400 grams again, dosing at 10 mg/kg (for baytril) at a concentration of 100 mg/ml the dose would be .04 cc but it should be TWICE a day.

Yes, that's what the label says and he is a smaller guy. So should I space it out every 12 hours?

I would. give him .04 cc twice a day, as the baytril is the stronger medication in this combo and underdosing that could be the problem here.

the 10% baytril you were given. Is it mixed with other liquid or flavourings? Or does it just smell like alcohol and is clear and thin?

 

[MandaRaeRae]

I am going to speak to the vet today, I'm waiting for them to call me back...I'm just really worried.

Can you give us a guesstimate on his weight so we can check the calculations on the antibiotics? Baytril can be given once daily but when a rat is really sick its best to give it twice a day.


Hmmm if I work backwards and guess your boy is 400 grams (smaller boy) the doxycycline is 25 mg/ml? (check the bottle or label).
400 gram rat dosed at 5 mg/kg at a concentration of 25 mg/ml gets a dose of .08 cc twice a day

If I use the 400 grams again, dosing at 10 mg/kg (for baytril) at a concentration of 100 mg/ml the dose would be .04 cc but it should be TWICE a day.

The baytril is just clear. The other medication has peanut butter flavor, but I know it still must taste terrible... Thank you guys so much for all the help! I'm going to try this!

Yes, that's what the label says and he is a smaller guy. So should I space it out every 12 hours?

I would. give him .04 cc twice a day, as the baytril is the stronger medication in this combo and underdosing that could be the problem here.

the 10% baytril you were given. Is it mixed with other liquid or flavourings? Or does it just smell like alcohol and is clear and thin?

 

[MandaRaeRae]

The baytril is just clear and thin. The other medication has peanut butter flavor, but I know it still must taste terrible... Thank you guys so much for all the help! I'm going to try this!

 

[lilspaz68]

The baytril is just clear and thin. The other medication has peanut butter flavor, but I know it still must taste terrible... Thank you guys so much for all the help! I'm going to try this!

Hmmm...10 % baytril should always be diluted. How do you give it to him?

 

[MandaRaeRae]

The vet told me to administer it with an oral syringe but he never said to dilute it. How should I proceed giving it to him??

 

[lilspaz68]

The vet told me to administer it with an oral syringe but he never said to dilute it. How should I proceed giving it to him??

To make it more pleasant for your boy, go pick up some strawberry Nesquik syrup, and take a little bottle or container, mix up half syrup, and half water (roughly). Then using your syringe, pull up 1 ml/cc of solution to 1 ml/cc of baytril and put it in another bottle. this will give you 50 mg/ml baytril (your 10% is diluted) and your dosage would now be .08 cc twice a day just like the doxy making it easier to remember. Just keep the ratio the same (3 ml's of baytril with 3 ml's of solution).

 

[MandaRaeRae]

Okay! I'm going to try this!!! I've never had an ill rat before, and I even explained that to the vet. I wish he would have informed me about all of this. Thank you for your help!!!!! :nod: