Pneumonia - nebulizing with Mucomyst

[KoalaLou2]

My Dribbles was diagnosed with pneumonia last week.  He's on an antibiotic and I have ordered a nebulizer and have a prescription for Mucomyst that I will pick up today (I'm hoping the nebulizer comes in today as well!!!). 

My vet has never nebulized a rat before and just doesn't know much so I wanted to check on here and see what people have had success with.  She is having us give one half of a vial in the morning (for 30-60 minutes) and the other half at night (same amount of time).  I don't know yet how large the vials are or what the concentration is.    I will find that out when I pick them up. 
I had read to possibly add saline to the mix?  I read some had success using the saline, others preferred it straight.  What have you done and how has it worked?

If he shows signs of improvement with the Mucomyst, I plan on also putting him on prednisone to help with any inflammation he may have.  The vet also said he has some indication of heart issues as well.  She is really not helping me much here and I am just so frustrated trying to get her to give me what I want!!!  I think she doesn't think he's worth it. 

Any suggestions on what you have done when nebulizing with Mucomyst would be great!  Also your experiences with pneumonia and treatments would be very helpful.  I've been researching on here, but it also helps to have updates on how things ended up.

[Dearpie]

When My Olivia had pneumonia, for three weeks, she was receiving both baytril and zithro twice a day.  She was also nebulized twice daily (again, for 3 weeks) with 1 ml baytril and 9 mls sterile saline solution.  I've heard of mucomist, but don't have any personal experience.

[Poppyseed]

I am currently nebulizing Bert with Mucomyst and Baytril. It seems to work really well. He was gasping before and I thought I would loose him but he's doing much better now (if still a little sniffly).

He is 420 grams. He receives 7cc saline, .5cc if mycomyst 4cc concentration, and 1cc of baytril .277 per 1cc. My nebulizer is small so I've been breaking it up to half that every day instead of all of that every other day but you may want to do all. You can do half if your cup is small and the other half right after or later in the day. We nebulize until it's gone. Depending on the case you may have to do it everyday. He also receives Baytril orally and a weekly long lasting doxycycline injection (which you have to be careful of because it can cause skin reactions. Bert has not had any though!)

Just be careful with steroids in rats. I know it's rare but one of my rats died from a dexamethasone reaction. I've also had rats on Pred before and that worked fine with no ill effect.... but I fear it may run them down fast if done long term. Sometimes I wonder if those who go down hill after a week or two are going down hill from the meds or the illness...

If you want your vet to call mine I THINK she sometimes does vet consults (she has before with a non exotic vet that I have worked with in the past). It's Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic (317) 879-8633 Fax: (317) 879-0823 email: IndyAEAC@aol.com . There is Dr. Angela Lennox who was the former president of exotic veterinary medicine and Dr. Edgely. Bert is seeing Dr. Edgely (and I prefer her actually as I've dealt with her more often being a weekend vet and all)