|
Post by Jeannine on Sept 4, 2012 19:00:56 GMT
awww, cuteness!
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Sept 7, 2012 14:09:16 GMT
Ha ha, I have had cats in the past who did this.
Hugs
JO xx
|
|
|
Post by weesilvie on Sept 14, 2012 14:23:46 GMT
Hi Lonestar - how's Sophie doing? And the rest of the crew?! Yep, torties are a little bit different! My mum has one called Taz - named with good reason! So pretty though
|
|
|
Post by lonestarpiggies on Feb 23, 2013 14:02:24 GMT
Okay rattie people, need advice!! One of my girls, Mocha, has pneumonia. Went to the vet yesterday and she's on baytril. I'm syringe feeding her water and Gatorade and trying to get her to lick some baby food from a spoon or finger every two hours or so. Poor girl has zero energy. If she can pull through today, then I think she'll be okay, but she seems so bad right now. I know a steamy shower will help open her airways and I will get some Pedialyte because that might be better than Gatorade. Any other ideas?
|
|
|
Post by margaret6 on Feb 23, 2013 20:15:36 GMT
Pneumonia is just so bad, make sure she is not too hot because she probably has a temperature . You are doing so well keeping the fluids going. Try adding an eighth of an adults vit C tablet to a glass of water and give her some of that in a syringe. Fluids are the important thing but vit C adds a bit sugar which is important for electrolytes. Steam is good for a cold but probably not for pneumonia as its in the lungs not her tubes so to speak. Hope she gets well x
|
|
|
Post by lonestarpiggies on Feb 23, 2013 23:50:05 GMT
Thanks for the reply, margaret6. I read mixed things about the steam - some sites say yes, some say no and some say it just depends on the rat - frustrating!
She's not better but she's not worse, either, so for now I guess that's the best I can hope for. Ugh, I feel so bad for her. I've had pneumonia and it's no fun. If there's no improvement by Monday, I'll take her back to the vet.
|
|
|
Post by margaret6 on Feb 24, 2013 22:16:00 GMT
Hope she gets better soon, it's a wait and see game. Isn't strange how little creatures get these illnesses but lets hope she turns a corner next week x
|
|
|
Post by anaira on Feb 25, 2013 10:12:46 GMT
Honey and echinacea in her water is good for giving a boost.
I am really tired right now. Rather than risk giving wrong info, I'll come back tomorrow and look at things hopefully clearly. But usually a combo of abs is good, although baytril on its own can do it. Baytril mixed with doxy, and maybe a steroid if she's really sick.
I'd say steam might actually just add water in her lungs which might be unhelpful. However, dark chocolate helps clear...things. It's good, anyway. Keep her off dairy though, as calcium prevents Abs working. I will be back when my head is working normally. Good luck!
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 25, 2013 14:31:25 GMT
I hope she is better soon love and I am sorry to hear that you have been so poorly too.
Comforts on their way to you both.
Hugs
JO xx
|
|
|
Post by lonestarpiggies on Feb 25, 2013 21:36:12 GMT
Took Mocha to the vet again and the pneumonia's going away, so there must be some type of neurological issue. She can barely move and isn't eating/drinking on her own and has been this way since Thursday night. The vet said I'm doing a good job of keeping her alive and we're going to try to add pred to the baytril to see if it will reduce any possible swelling in her brain. More than likely it won't help, but I want to try everything I can, as long as she's not in pain. The vet said it was nice of me to try to so hard, which kind of made me mad, because that's what you should do when you have a pet. You don't just put it down without trying. Just a bit frustrated and upset right now
|
|
|
Post by anaira on Feb 25, 2013 23:02:44 GMT
How are her paws? Are they curled over, or can she use them ok? How does he know the pneumonia's going away? Are her paws and ears a normal colour? Not blue-ish at all?
|
|
|
Post by lonestarpiggies on Feb 26, 2013 0:00:06 GMT
Her body temp and coloring are all fine, the vet said she's not blue anywhere. She listened to Mocha's lungs and heart and said lungs sounded pretty clear and she has a good heart beat. Her paws are curled over and she's not using them. When I give her things with the syringe, I have her wrapped up and hold her belly up so I can get to her mouth. Every so often she will move her arms to wipe her face, but it's not her paws. Anaira, she doesn't move at all. She might slightly lurch to another spot in the cage, but that's it, no attempt to eat by herself and keeps her eyes closed - maybe peeks out of one every so often. If I wasn't syringe feeding her, she would certainly die.
|
|
|
Post by anaira on Feb 26, 2013 2:09:08 GMT
Yeah, sounds neurological if she isn't using her hands. There are some useful articles here: Here is pheumonia, Congestive Heart Failure, and stroke. I know how hard it is. It is so hard to know when you've done all you can, too. *hugs* Don't give up hope, depending what is wrong she might recover. Get avocados, the flesh is good for sick rats as it is high in calories, and not too hard for her to eat. Plus they seem to think it tastes nice. Pred can help, just check dosages are all correct; Here is a handy drug chart.
|
|
|
Post by lonestarpiggies on Feb 26, 2013 4:18:25 GMT
Thanks for the links! Getting ready for bed, will check out all tomorrow. Just went to give her her last round of fluids for the night and she had managed to get into her house, which is the most I've seen out of her in 4 days. I couldn't find her at first, thought I was losing my mind. I should mention, too, that when I hold her on her back, she has the strength in her back legs to push off me (usually she's propped against my arm or body. Oh, she can straighten her hands out, but just keeps them curled. Anyway, will check out the info, thanks again.
Edit: forgot to say that I do have an avacado for her, but there is absolutely no way she could eat that right now. It's a chore to try to get her to actually swallow baby food. Can I mix it with something when I mash it up to make it liquidy?
|
|
|
Post by margaret6 on Feb 26, 2013 14:02:44 GMT
You poor sole, it is just so hard, just Keep syringing the baby food and fluids. I have found that a 1ml (insulin style) syring works best. Unfortunately all the syring feeding in the world doesn't replace them chewing. Hope she starts pooing lots as that's the sign she'll make it. Thinking of you x
|
|
|
Post by anaira on Feb 26, 2013 21:09:29 GMT
Sure, I guess you could mix it with anything, really. Soy milk, baby food, complan, so forth. Hope she continues fighting!
|
|
|
Post by lonestarpiggies on Feb 26, 2013 21:23:52 GMT
Thanks to both of you!
|
|
|
Post by Teebers on Feb 27, 2013 9:25:53 GMT
It can be quite difficult to differentiate muscular weakness versus neuro signs, particularly in a critically ill girl like yours. It does sound like she at least has some control of her limbs which is good. How is she going today, Regan?
|
|
|
Post by margaret6 on Feb 27, 2013 13:08:17 GMT
How is our poorly piggie today my friend?
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 27, 2013 15:10:58 GMT
This is a really sad post love and I wish there was something I could do to help. We are all here for you ad hope there is some good news coming.
Hugs
Jo xxx
|
|