Update: Lora passed away this morning

[Dorasmommy]

My littlest rat, Lora, about 2 1/2 months old, has been struggling with a respiratory infection.
It seemed to go away for a while but it;s back now.
She hates taking her medicine, I'm trying to give it to her in a juice that she likes. I still have some antibiotics left from the last time.
The problem is, it seems that somehow her balance is effected.  She sometimes falls over
when she walks. She kind of rolls off to one side. This happened overnight.  Yesterday, she was a little sneezy, but mostly fine.
Shes such a sweet rat, I've never heard of this ballance problem, I really hope it's nothing serious.
She's a really special little girl.
She's sleeping in my bed right now, I'm trying to keep her warm, I think this cold weather may
have had an adverse effect..
She doesn't have head tilt or anything.
Advice?

[mandycoot]

A head tilt may be very subtle at first. I'm dealing with an ear infection and head tilt in one of my boys right now, and I thought I was paranoid for two weeks until all of a sudden he looked awful. That and a problem with balance and coordination is indicative of an ear infection, which will need to be treated with antibiotics and a steroid like prednisone. The only other reason I know for poor balance and coordination is a pituitary tumor.

Poor Lora. Isn't it heartbreaking to see them like this? A vet visit will determine your best course of action.

[Marybelle]

She's a bit young for a pituitary tumor, so I'd go with ear infection.  She needs some strong antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory, like a steroid.  If you can catch it before she actually starts to tilt her head, you stand a much better chance of having her back to normal. 

[Dorasmommy]

yeah, stupid labor day. my boyfriend said he would pay for us to call in our vet tomorrow so that was nice of him, I feel bad messing up their vacation, and it's going to be expensive but she needs something.  I still have the antibiotics that I gave her last time so I will just give her those until we can get her seen. 
She's such a little angel, she just slept on me all day! This isn't like her, usually she's very active and today she was so tired.... 

[wonderrodent]

Poor baby!!! Hope it's nothing serious.
It can be so tricky giving our furkids medicine! You can find a few helpful threads here about giving medicine and ideas in what kind of food you can "hide" them.
How old is the medicine you are giving your rat? I am just asking because my vet told me not to use the antibiotics he gave me for my girl longer than 2 weeks because it's deluded. Just a thought.
GOOD LUCK!!

[Dorasmommy]

the medicine's a month or so old.  I'm just using it until we can get her something else.  I don't want to not give her anything.  What's really difficult is that she seems to avoid anything I put the medicine in.  Poor thing.  I hate to force feed her, but if it's her life at stake...

[phatratt]

   Have you tried mixing it with Karo syrup or honey? Those have been my "go-to" mixers for awhile.
   And I agree with the others. It sounds like an inner ear infection. I had a girl who got one at about 6 months. We went through the antibiotics/prednisone thing but she may have already had permanent nerve damage. She led a full and happy, if somewhat off-balance, life.

[Marybelle]

I find that pancake syrup works really well, too. 

[Dorasmommy]

I tried syrup, its as if the little monsters know that the medicine is in there, then they wont touch it! I've also tried juices, etc.  There is one juice that she likes enough to take at least a little even with the meds, but she never takes the whole dose.
I had to force feed her last night. I felt so bad, she squeaked like I was killing her!!
 

[weeze]

I tried syrup, its as if the little monsters know that the medicine is in there, then they wont touch it! I've also tried juices, etc.  There is one juice that she likes enough to take at least a little even with the meds, but she never takes the whole dose.
I had to force feed her last night. I felt so bad, she squeaked like I was killing her!!
 

Whereas, I don't ever feed my boys peanut butter, they are nuts over peanut butter flavored meds.  Maybe your Vet can compound and flavor a better tasting antibiotic for you.  Mine always puts an expiration date on bottles too.  I get refills without an office visit since he sees my old guy on a regular basis.  Every little bit helps

I worry most about fluid intake.  When they stop drinking, that's a serious problem.  Dehydration can kill before meds can reach a therapeutic level and my Vet's always available to give fluids.

I've found tuna to be irresistible to the sickest rat.

Good luck Give her a kiss from me.

[Dorasmommy]

Thanks, weeze!
I will kiss her tons

Update:
I took her to the vet who thinks she either had a bout of an ear infection or possibly meningitis.
Her balance has gotten progressively worse but her energy is good.
She's walking around in circles.
They gave her an injectable antibiotic and she took it like a champ,
minus some death squeaks..
and I have a new bottle of sulfatrim to give her.

The difficult part is letting her play.. she falls over so much, even a level difference of one inch is
enough to make her just collapse.  She has to be supervised every second she is out,
and she;s fortunately sticking to the first level of her cage.

[Dorasmommy]

Ok MAJOR FREAK OUT!!!!!!!
I came home from work today to find blood spattered all over Lora's cage,
all over the walls and even up to about a foot or so away from the cage!!??
I can't believe something that small bled like that.  and she seems to be
somewhat energetic.
Lora is about the same as yesterday.
I am worried about the blood loss but I'm trying to keep her fluids up.
Lost balance, still on antibiotics, the vet is not certain about
a diagnosis.
Perhaps a cyst ruptured, or her eardrum ruptured.
There is no blood on her, nor any type of lesion.
the only blood on her is dried on the inside of her ears.
It doesn't appear to be a bite.  Her sister is acting extremely protective of her.
They are not agressive towards each other.
Has this happened to anyone?
What does this mean, I want so badly for her to live......!!

[Dearpie]

It sounds like her eardrum ruptured.  If that's the case, I TRULY hope she's on some pain meds.  Prednisone is definitely needed to help reduce swelling.  You can NOT give metacam with prednisone.  I'd talk to the vet about a baytril/clavamox or zithro/doxy combination, along with pred.  And you'll need to give these meds for a good LONG MONTH.  Ear infections are one of the hardest things to get rid of. You can't miss any of the doses.   

[Dorasmommy]

Little Lora passed away this morning.  I was holding her when it happened.  She was sleeping on my hand, and I was cuddling her. She started shaking, I think she might have been having a seizure.  Blood started pouring out of her nose and ears.  I've never seen anything like that before.

It seems the horrible mess must have been from her nose... she was sneezing which must have been what caused the spray.

It was an awful way to die, I felt terrible about it, her sister Dora seems really out of sorts, I think she is very aware of what's happening.  She'd been really protective and caring with Lora with her illness.
I am glad though, that at least I got to be there with her and she did not die alone. 

I think I am going to call the pet store and just let them know that their breeder is giving them sick rats.
I've gotten all of my rats from there, and most of them had been sick.  I am pretty sure that Lora was only  two and a half months old.  They might not care but I feel obligated to at least let them know.

Now figuring out what to do with Dora...

[ajzq]

  I'm very sorry for your loss, she was very young.  I'm sure it meant a lot to her that she got to spend the little time she had with a loving mommy.

[mandycoot]

I'm so sorry.

[LuvRats2]

*hugs* what a hard thing to go through, I am so sorry! She had a wonderful mommy though and got to go in the
best way - in the arms of someone she loves. Best wishes for you and Dora. 

[Leonakitty]

I'm so sorry for your loss.  I wish you and Lora didn't have to through all that.

  for Dora.  Give her some smootches for me.
Play hard, Lora. 

Melissa

[weeze]

best way - in the arms of someone she loves. Best wishes for you and Dora. 

absolutely   

Cado sends a chirp, a snuggle, and a big ole ratty slurp to Dora and her Mommy

[Dorasmommy]

Thank you guys, for your support.

Lora was a really teriffic rat. 
She loved cuddling, eating yogurt,
wrestling with my hand and with her sister,
sneaking out of her cage
to go in the corner by my bed and eat treats.
My mom thinks she was a blessed creature,
a little angel.
I think mom was right.

In the movie, Michael, he smelled like cookies
and that is exactly what Lora smelled like!
I'll miss the little girl.

In the adoptions thread I have posted about finding a new cagemate for Dora.
My other rats aren't very nice to her.
She's taken up permanent residence on my shoulder.
I spent some time talking with my father who has practiced
emergency human medicine for thirty years.
I still have yet to inform her vet of her death.
I didn't have the heart to call today.
He believes it was a stroke or an aneurysm that killed Lora
and not something contagious, although she did
have an infection of some type which she was receiving antibiotics for.

I of course will do a proper quarantine when I adopt. 
let me know..