Missy's symptoms worsened again. Back on all meds.

[valleykat]

I've been trying to wean my 4 month old rat Missy off of all the meds she's been on.  She's taken Baytril and a Panmycin(Tetracyline)/Dexamethasone combo since February.  I was hoping to get her on the Tetra alone.  Some of you suggested that it may just be allergies when she started sneezing a lot once I started weaning her off, but last night she began showing more symptoms.  She had a hunched posture, was reluctant to eat or socialize and was having bad sneezing and or coughing spells.  At one point, I was watching her sleep when she was woke up by one.  I find myself watching her all the time now.  Well, I dosed her up with all the meds above, and she is a different rat this morning, climbing all over the sides of the cage, anxious to come out and play.  She couldn't wait for her morning meds.  One symptom was really strange and I'll be taking her to the vet this afternoon to see what he thinks.  I was cleaning out the dirty paper towels in her igloo when I accidentally dropped the igloo near her, startling her.  She did a nervous pee thing, and it was red.  She peed in one of her empty medicine cups the other day and it was perfectly normal.  She spotted on me later and it was clear.  I don't know what to make of it.  Could my poor myco baby have a bladder infection or tumor as well?    

[Suebee]

 

Though I'm not a vet, there is a possibity that her myco infection has moved to her uterus... I would take her to the vet and get her looked at.

[em]

Sorry to hear about Missy's illness, but glad she has got better lately! I don't know a whole lot about what blood in urine means, just that it's inevitably a bad sign   I hope someone can say something more useful!

[Ali]

valleykat

sorry to hear of all your problems. My old doe Lupin was showing slight signs of myco and later also appeared to have what looked like blood in her urine. My then-vet didn't pick up on it but in retrospect I think it was probably uterine/genital myco. I would recommend that you take her back to your vet - I guess the antibiotics are the same, but wouldn't be sure. I'm sure other folks here will have more advice and info. Having said that, you said that it was clear later on so it could be something different.

As regards 'weaning' off meds - one of my 3 rats came off his baytril after a vet check tonight (the other two are still on it). I asked if I should 'wean' him off, or just stop it immediately. He said weaning off was the worst thing you could do. I didn't ask why, but think this is something you (or one of us) should check out before you just try to cut down - or if you get a chance, ask your vet.

We're thinking of Missy very hard and wish you luck with her treatment.

Ali

[jp]

Are you still going to your original vet?  If you really may want to try checking out the other names on the list I had given you if you haven't already.  It just sounds like your rat may need a more experienced rat vet.  I hope she is feeling better soon!

[valleykat]

When I referred to weaning her off the meds, I was talking about the dexamethasone which my vet advised should not be quit cold turkey.  I took her directly off the Baytril.  I took her in to see him this morning even though she had responded to the antibiotics because of the blood thing.  He too was not sure, as it seems to have stopped.  I have seen no other signs of blood.  As I said in another post, she pees on paper towels in her igloo, and there has been no sign of red urine, just yellow.  In any case, he said the antibiotics should cover any type of infection, and to get back to him if I notice any more.  He said it could have even been a ruptured blood vessel caused by a sneezing attack.

jp- Yes, this is my original vet.  You may recall I was not at all impressed with the small animal vet I took her to who is supposed to have the most experience in the area with rats.  Hence, I am reluctant to try again, but I realize that, though his intentions are good, my vet is pretty rat ignorant.  I will start checking into it.  He does accept and read the literature I bring him and we get into lengthy conversations.

I have done a lot of my own on-line research.  I think I have come to the conclusion that Missy's myco is to the point that she will need to rely on antibiotics to keep her comfortable.  From what I have read, few rats completely recover from the depths that she was at in February.  It seems that her lungs are probably very damaged for her to have suffered such severe respiratory distress.  If anyone has had there rat on the brink of death gasping for air (this happened on several occasions before we got her on Baytril) whose rat had gone on to live a healthy life without antibiotics, please respond.  I would like to know if there is a chance for her to live a longer life.  

[jp]

I had a rat with myco.  For the most part she was okay.  We did have the gasping episodes though.  Very scary for her and me.  I do think your vet is doing what he can, but at this point if you can find someone more experienced with rats, and someone you feel comfortable with it would help you and Missy.  It's not easy to find that.  

Tetracycline is not very strong.  I don't know about dexamethasone.  Baytril and Doxycyline combo is usually what's given.  You may want to add a humidfier near her cage.  Not right up on it but close enough to add moisture to the air.  When she is having trouble breathing you can try sitting in a steamy bathroom with her.  That may help break up some of the congestion.  I used a nebulizer on my rat with a nasal saline solution that also help.  Nebulizers are expensive though.  My sister had one she didn't use anymore so I got mine free.  If you need the name and number of my vet just let me know.  I don't know how much she can help you over the phone, but maybe she can help one of the vets.