Updated med chart?

[JesB]

Is there anything out there more up to date than the rmca's chart (which, hasn't been updated since 2000 as far as I can see)

[lilspaz68]

Is there anything out there more up to date than the rmca's chart (which, hasn't been updated since 2000 as far as I can see)

A consolidated chart?  Not that I know, but the information is still accurate I believe.  Now if you want to know about particular abs/meds its best to go through www.ratguide.com, that is being constantly updated.

[TANSY]

Umm... I'm not seeing the name of the meds our vet put my three babies on... 

[smesyna]

what are they and what are they for?  I"ll try looking.

[TANSY]

The first one is listed as "Baytril Solution with Lixotinic and H2O/#2".  It is being used to treat a suspected URI in one rat, some kind of eye infection in another rat, and to help with a abscess/tumor blow out in a third rat.

The other medicine, I'm not sure what the name is... the prescription bottle they put it in doesn't list a name for the medicine.  This is everything that is written on the front of the actual ointment tube though:
"Neomycin and
Polymyxin B
Ophthalmic
Ointment USP

apexa"

Not sure if any of that is what the medicine is called...  It is an ointment to be used on the eyes of the rat with the eye infection.

[TANSY]

Well, Baytril is on there (though not the whole name of the kind they gave me)...

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading "NOTE: Baytril shouldn't be used in rats under 3 months of age" when the one who is being treated for a URI using it was maybe 6 weeks old on January 5th, when I got him, which would make him about 10 weeks old today... 

[lilspaz68]

google what you cannot find in ratguide, it might be under a different name there. 

I am using Baytril on 5-6 week old babies with URI's...I am not worried.

You might've missed this...

The use of fluoroquinolones has not been recommended for initial treatment in pregnant and nursing does, or rats under 4 months due to the risks of cartilage abnormalities (Egerbacher et al., 2000), however, in cases where other antibiotics are not helping, or if the infection is deemed severe, the benefit of using fluoroquinolones (alone or in combination with other compatible antimicrobials) may in fact outweigh the risks.

Studys reported by Bayer, in their insert for enrofloxacin, reveal no evidence of carcinogenic or teratogenic effects in rats at higher doses of up to 50mg/kg.

[TANSY]

Well, the thing is with the little guy, the vet said he isn't even convinced it is a URI.  That is what I originally thought it was because of the sound of his breathing.  But the vet said that things sounded fine and that he thought that it might be an allergy based on what he was hearing from the rat, and the fact that there has been no nasal or eye discharge and that none of the others are sneezing or having discharge.  He said we'd put him on the Baytril solution to see if it was an allergy, or to see if it cleared it up.  To be honest, two days ago it sounded worse than when it started.  He was actually clicking when awake as opposed to the just noisy breathing he had before.  He's been on the meds since Feb 1st.  Today I haven't heard the clicking from him though.

[smesyna]

Well, I found this:
Treatment
The treatment of a corneal abrasion is primarily directed at promoting healing and relieving pain.
Use of anti-infective agents will depend upon extent of injury.

Topical ophthalmic agents (e.g. Bacitracin/Polymyxin B, or a fluoroquinolone, or Gentocin, or tobramycin) may be prescribed by the veterinarian.

The application of topical anesthetics, for corneal abrasions, are not recommended as they can retard epithelial healing and inhibit natural blinking reflex.

*Note: ophthalmic corticosteroids are also not recommended as they have a tendency to promote fungal growth.
Sorry I couldn't find an article on the specific drug you have

[TANSY]

It's okay...

And yeah, it doesn't appear to be working.  Her eyes still look like crap.

[lilspaz68]

TANSY, tell us about her eyes?  Is she a nakie, rex or a standard coat rat?  What tells you its an infection?

[TANSY]

She is hairless.  I am not sure what exactly is going on with her eyes.  It started out that her left eye had white in it.  I thought it was a cataract and basically just kept an eye on it.  The white went away and that eye was then bigger than the other.  Then slowly, her other eye seemed to disappear until one day, it looked like she has scratch it out or something.  She has had a scabby looking eye on her right side for a little while.  The other eye has stayed bulgy the whole time.

She is fully blind.  I know that.  She never looks you in the face.  She throws her head around alot.  And when she's in her cage, she drags her nose along the bars to feel where in the cage she is at.

To be honest, I know they need to be removed.  They don't look even an ounce better after 8 days of oral and ointment treatment.  I'll see if I can get a picture or two today to post so you can see.