I posted here a few weeks back about a mite problem with my girls, Spohie and Tallulah.  Well, I've gotten rid of the mites, as far as I can tell but tonight I noticed bloody discharge coming from Sophie's vagina.  She's not even a year old yet!  I know it's something that they need to get to a vet for, but there aren't any vets in my area...I bought the girls when I was in college, and there's a vet down there, but it's a three hour drive, and I've got no way of getting down there.  No vets within a 2 hour radius of my house will even SEE my girls, and I don't know what to do.  I'm freaking out, and don't want to lose her.

HELP?!?!?

EDIT:  I called a vet school today, but couldnt get ahold of anyone.  I left several messages, with a few different people, and hopefully someone will call me back.

What should I do in the meantime for my girl?  She hasn't been bleeding today, Or at least not nearly as much, as I havent seen any on her bedding, or the fresh fleese hammoks I put in, whereas last night there were spots of blood on the hammocs.  She's been acting normal, exept both her and her sister were really sleepy all day, and slept on me for nearly two hours this afternoon.  That's out of character for Tallulah, (not the bleeding rat), and I'm not sure if it's because she knows her sister isnt doing well, or what.  Should I be feeding them anything special for now, to keep they're energy up?


EDIT AGAIN:  I found a vet, that's still over an hour away, but also found a way to get over to the vet.  The only problem is the only open spot was on thursday.  Will sophie be alright until then?  What should I do in the meantime, besides feed her iron-rich foods?  ANd today, theres no sign of ANY blood.  Both yesterday and today, she had spots by her vagina on her fur that were bloody, today there is NOTHING.  Could she have scratched herself, or something like that?  She's acting more like herself today too.  If I bring her over, and they give her a clean bill of health, I know my mom will be furious for driving me over, and never bring me again if I DO need it...If she still isn't bleeding anymore by thursday, should I still keep the appointment?

UPDATE 06-06
I got Sophie into the vet today, and she perscribed Baytril.  (She even flavoured it with cherry flavour!   ) I gave sophie the first dose earlier today, and shes's been REALLY sleepy all day...does Baytril usually do that to rats?  Also, she's still been spotting blood, I know the medicine won't work instantaneouslly, but It still makes me worried that shes still bleeding...I'm gonna call back to the vet tomorrow, and see what she says about the spotting.  I also got a tube of Revolution while I was there, 'cause I needed some more.

Thank you to EVERYONE here who offered advise, and helped me figure this whole thing out.

Get out the phone book or go online and start calling up vets. Try to find an e-vet. If you find one who doesn't care for rats, ask them if they know of one who does and explain that this is an emergency and any help would be appreciated. Sometimes the vets might know of someone who does treat rats, even if they don't. Otherwise, maybe you could catch a bus to the vet you know? Offer your friends gas money to drive you down there?

Maybe you could call the vet who saw them before and explain the situation. That vet might be able to refer you to someone in your area or at least give you some advice on what to do until you can find a vet in your area. There -has- to be some vet near you who will care for them.

I wish you and Sophie luck!

You're right - she needs to be seen by a vet.  I'd call tomorrow morning and beg every local vet to have sympathy, as per other people's recommendations.

A friend of mine who refused to take her rat to the vet just had a girl with the same problem.  I had antibiotics on-hand, so they were administered to the girl, and she has not bled since.  This was a fortunate situation - but without having her looked at by a vet, there's no way of knowing if she has tumors which were causing the problem.  The bleeding could very well come back, if this is causing the problem.

If you can't find anyone to see her, and you are comfortable with buying antibiotics for farm animals, calculating dosage correctly, accurately measuring/mixing the meds, and understand how to correctly administer antibiotics (and why this is important), this is an option.  I would only do this if you are absolutely desperate and cannot find someone to see her, and you are comfortable and confident in your ability to do all of the above,   You will absolutely still need to find a rat vet and have her seen, but this will buy you a little time if it is due to an infection and she is doing poorly.  Note that doing this yourself is risky, and not advisable.

I don't think she's going to die overnight!!  My girl Scruffy was gushing blood for a little while... one incident... just blood... under a year old.  The vet wanted her immediately spayed.  No bleeding since, but her insides looked normal.

Bleeding could be from an infection, tumors, hematomas, etc.  Does her belly feel normal (feel your other girl for comparison)?  Does she seem to be in any pain?  Is it a lot of blood?  Sorry for all the questions... just trying to help!

It wouldn't hurt to ask the college!  I know my friend in NJ had to take his girl to a vet school during an emergency!

She doesnt seem to be in any pain, and her belly feels normal..

And questions are fine, I just wanna make sure she's not going o die overnight.


And should I seperate her form her sister?  Like, if it is a UTI, could ie be contagous?  And seperating them will be hard, since I've only got the one gage, but I could figure something up if I absolutely had too.  I know that would stress her and her sister WAYWAYWAY out though, and I don't really wanna add any stress

you dont need to seperate...just watch her.

I have had two rats that did a few years back. It will usually stop up on it's own. It could be an infection. I had one that did it once and never did it again. Hoefully it is not serious but i would get it checked out.

This is what they say about bleeding from the vaginal area.

Vaginal bleeding can be a symptom of a uterine tumor, genital mycoplasmosis, a urinary tract infection, a miscarriage, or the beginning of labor. Hope she will be okay.

UPDATE:  I called the vet school today, and couldn't get ahold of ANYONE. I also left messages with the Program Director to call me back ASAP, and emailed someone else and haven't gotten any responce yet.  ><

What should I do, until I CAN get ahold of someone?

And BTW, I'm in Upstate NY if anyone knows of a small animal vet in the area...

Here are some recommended vets on a rabbit site but if they see rabbits I don't know why they wouldn't see rats

http://www.therabbitresource.org/recommendedvets.html

I'd suggest giving her iron rich foods to help cope with the blood loss.

No one's ever heard of my town, as we have a total of 1,000 people.  The closest "big" town, is Potsdam, which is home to SUNY Potsdam, and Clarkson University.

I checked with the only bus that comes this far north, and they said no pets, even in cages. DX

You couldn't pay your mother(or someone else) off to drive you to a bigger city?