What Else Can I Do?

[-Kelly-]

Loki has been to the vet, I spent roughly $500.00, made us late on a car payment and made the move that much harder by spending it. I honestly can not afford any more vet visits. But even after 6 times on the bronchalator, and days and days on meds, he still has raspy breathing. It's not as bad as before, but you can still hear it. How long does it take for meds to work, I give them faithfully every am and pm. I'm just stuck, I don't know what else to do for him. I can't afford to do anything else for him. I really can't. He's alone in his hospital cage, do you think putting him back in with the others will lower his stress and help him get better? I'm about to cry. I feel like he is not having a happy life alone in the small hospital cage.

PS: He's been on the meds for over a week now maybe around 2 weeks.

[starsevol]

My 23 month old boy sounds awful too. Hes been on medication since the summer and hes chronic. His brother died of myco at 20.5 months. I think the medication is why hes still here but hes not getting better, his lungs are scarred. Hes had myco half of his life (with tons of vet visits and $90 in meds a month just for him, thats not counting his brother Beau). If its not contagious he might actually do better back with his buds...

[Scubbs]

Sometimes it can take up to a couple of weeks for medications to start working to their full extent.  I know what you're going through, since one of my boys, Gabriel, has raspy breathing that seems to never go away, even when put on Baytril and Amoxicillin.  We're trying some Children's Benadryl twice a day and seeing how that works, and if in a couple weeks it's still as bad, I have a prescription ready for Aminophylline.

If the only problem with Loki is his raspy breathing and it doesn't bother him that much, I don't see why he can't be in with the others.  It could lower his stress level knowing that he's safe with his buddies and in familiar surroundings, instead of in a hospital cage alone.  

[-Kelly-]

Well, the vet said that he had fluids in his lungs, that's why his breathing is bad. I don't think it's contagious. I think I will put him back in with his family. I just can't stand to hear it from the poor boy, but sometimes it seems that it bothers me more than him. I hope his meds kick in soon.

Do you think I should try childrens benadryl? I wouldn't mix it with his current meds, but when they are gone, if it seems like he still needs meds, would it be worth a try?

[Sunilata]

Children's Benadryl really didn't help my wheezy rats at all... not to be a downer.

[Scubbs]

You could try Children's Benadryl, but I don't think it will help anything that a bronchodialator can't.  Call your vet for dosage help, but you get the liquid Children's Benadryl that's alcohol free.

And although it might not help some rat's symptoms, it can alleviate others.  Otherwise, I don't see why it would be recommended by my vet.

When Ferret got older, he had fluid in his lungs, and my vet put him on Lasix.  It helped a lot.

[pigsandrats]

I think the lasix is a good idea. It may help, and there's no harm in giving it a try.
Is he on prednisone at all?

[RNPaulie]

If the other rats are not bothering him because he is sick I would put him back.  Ben has been on/off meds with breathing problems since I got him and he has never been separated from his brothers.  They have not gotten sick and I think he is much happier with their company..

[-Kelly-]

Loki has seemed alot happier since I put him back. I'll keep you all updated.

[elegy]

good luck kelly.  for loki. i hope he sounds better soon.