Ear infection, Tumour, Stroke or.....? Update at bottom

[the4debs]

We've had a very hard time with our dearly beloved rat, Emily, lately. She's had respiratory issues for a long time and is 22 months old. We were 2 weeks in giving her Baytril/doxy meds when she acted very scared right after we gave her her last dose more than 24 hours ago. I thought perhaps that I hurt her mouth when I syringed the meds in but couldn't see any bleeding. I put her in her cage and overnight she didn't touch her food. She slept most of the day away and this was a worry- but what was really odd was that she was very weak and wobbly whenever she ventured out of her box (only to pee). She has a definite lean to one side. I had to hand feed her and give her water periodically throughout- she ate and drank some of what I gave her but it seemed to exert an enormous effort to do so. Whenever she attempted to groom she just about would fall over.
Now it is day two and she seems  better in energy, interest and appetite. However the lean to the right side is definitely there, and she is so unsteady on her feet that she almost goes round in circles and falls over when she grooms. Her right eye is less open than left and her head also hangs to the right.
Also about two weeks ago we found a tumour/cyst?? just under her skin on her abdomen near her hind leg and the vet (inexperienced with rats) didn't seem that concerned about it.
Now my question is: If it is an ear infection why would she have got it while in the middle of the Baytril/doxy course?
Or is there another explanation eg stroke, concussion of PT? What fits the best?
Yes, I am planning to take her to the vets however I need to arm myself with information for discussion and options.
I appreciate your input.

[WS]

Poor sweet little Emily!

Stroke symptoms, unlike PT, can sometimes cause weakness or paralysis along one side of the body.  Drooping eye, leaning to one side, some incoordination are all consistent with strokes and usually there is a sudden kind of onset.

Ear and/or sinus infection is also possible -even if treated with antibiotics and also could be causing head-tilting and one eye to be a little less open than the other.   I have had rats with really severe respiratory infections worsen really rapidly to the degree that it's hard for them to eat and can be weakened quite suddenly to the point where they can't walk normally, fall over, disoriented.    Stroke symptoms are often intractable or unchangeable whereas weakness from dehydration, infection, etc. can improve just as quickly with fluids, medication and food.

Let us know what the vet says.  scritches to little Emily

[the4debs]

Thanks so much for replying, I hate feeling helpless when something like this happens. Emily was such a vital, strong, energetic rat that when this happened it was so, so sad to watch. She so wants to go bounding and exploring and climbing but can't do any of those things due to her lack of balance and in-coordination. She doesn't seem to be suffering and seems interested in doing stuff and is eating/drinking normally. I'll take her to the vets today and see what she says.

[the4debs]

Hi, I've just been to the vets. She thinks Emily may have a PT. She thinks it is unlikely that she may have an ear infection primarily because she was already on antibiotics at the time. Anyway Emily seems bright and alert, eating and drinking happily but is more snuggly than usual. Her head tilt is still there plus general navigation system is off (running round in circles) but it is all stable at the moment.