Willow-URI

[Melissa's ZOO]

Willow has an upper respiratory infection that has been going on for 8 days now. I took here to the vet last Tuesday, noisy breathing and she developed a lump under her ear. The vet thought it was an inflammed lymphnode he gave me Clavamox and Syntocic(sp? topical anti-inflammatory). No improvement and the lump got bigger.

Took her back on Monday, the lump is a lympnode tumor, they did an aspiration and the cells suggest tumor not an infection. The vet gave me Amikacin(10ml) .05cc and Dexamethasone(100ml) .02cc mixed with 1cc sterile water to be nebulized once every 24 hours. Willow weighs 10 oz. exactley.

Tuesday was fine I put her in a shoe box and nebulized her for a few minutes. Last night same thing but this time I left her in there until the mist was gone, took her out and tried to put her back in her cage. She flipped out, breathing heavy, sunk in sides, and paniky she did not want to go back in the cage and the only way she would stay still is if I put her in my hands and held her tightly (I did this for about 20 minutes until my hands started to hurt) and then I wrapped her in a blanket and held her for about an hour. Rapid breathing and wide/wild eyes. I really thought it was the end. Finally, I put her back in her cage and she took a carrot from me but she was still breathing really fast and her sides were sunk in I also noticed that the veins on her back legs were large and really blue but her finger tips and the rest of her color seemed normal. (Willow is hairless).

I don't know what to do. This morning her breathing was still noisy and rapid. No more sunk in sides and she ate just fine.

I am going to call the vet today. Do you think the meds are to much for her. Maybe they got the bottles mixed up and I am giving her to much Dex and not enough of the other. I am frustrated and broke. 1st trip was $127.00 2nd trip was $199.75 and $45.00 for the nebulizer.

 

[jorats]

In my experience, very sick rats can't take the nebulizer. It could have been the extra time in there that made her feel worse, like having no air. Another thing, if the mist gets hot, this too can affect her in a very bad way.
How's the lump? Is it still growing? I wonder if it could be a Zymbal Gland's tumor. If it is, not a good outcome.

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

My vet suggested holding her and nebulizing her. Which I just did she fought me the whole time so I doubt this way of medicating is going to work for her. I have amoxicillian and doxycycline here at the house and Debbie D's website says this is very a effective combo of meds. If Willow's breathing is not better by morning then I am going to give the amoxi/doxy a try.

The lump is still there and seems to grow at a steady pace. it has doubled in size since her first visit last week. I always give everyone a look over in the morning before I leave for work and when I get home and I swear the lump was not there Tuesday morning and when I got home that evening it was the size of a pea. the lump is what prompted me to take her to the vet. The URI was there before the lump but we were giving baytril a try to see if I did not need to take her to the vet. But the lump scared me to death so I rushed her in. The vet told me the lump more than likely has a grim outlook and he was not as pushy as usual to remove it like he had been with my other girls he has seen. I am going to read the page about Zymbal's Gland now.

If I cannot get the URI to go away then I guess I will do what I have to so Willow does not suffer. I noticed tonight she seems lighter and she is already a slim girl to begin with so any weight she looses is not a good sign.

 

[jorats]

With a URI, she probably shouldn't be going under anyways. Make her comfortable with lots of love.

 

[mamarat]

Sending good thoughts for your sweetie. :hugs: