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Post by ttfr on Jul 30, 2011 22:05:22 GMT -5
A week ago I noticed My sole breeder rat, recent mother to 12 pups, was gasping for air. I thought she had something stuck in her throat but after a bit of patting and petting she was fine. So I think she has mycoplasma. It would explain the weightloss, and the gasping. Momma Brown still gasps for air and has lost weight. She also is pregnant again...  I know she is a breeder rat and the mycoplasma is fatal and almost all rats have it. But I worry for her next batch and what I could do to help her gain weight. Does anyone know of a Vitamin A rich fresh food and something high in callorie addative I could give her to help her out. I won't be breeding her again if she survives. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2011 9:30:24 GMT -5
Is she drinking? Has she had any soft bowel movements? If she is not drinking enough, use an unflavored electrolyte product like Pedialyte in her water 50/50.
Do you use benebac with her food to improve absorption? Benebac is one item I am never without, malabsorption is detrimental to healing in every animal. The immune system is best improved by healthy gut.
You can use Nutra Cal, or a similar vitamin supplement for nutritional support and energy, and also I have found rats love baby food, you can try some of the meat dinners and see what appeals to her.
I carefully breed blue Dumbo rats, and have a lot of experience recovering rats, hamsters and mice from wasting diseases like this, good luck and my fingers are crossed for Momma Brown and her litter.
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Post by ttfr on Jul 31, 2011 10:13:38 GMT -5
Right now she is on a mix of wheat cereal, Rat Blocks, Dog Food, and Rat hay Pellets. I've also been giving her as much high in calorie foods as possible to boost everything.
I know the horses gain weight on rice bran so maybe I can soak some of that to help her gain weight? It has ALOT of protein and Calories.
As for the benebac, What is it? Where would you find it?
And can it be used in turn with ferrets?
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Post by melcab on Jul 31, 2011 10:52:46 GMT -5
Benebac is a probiotic. You can get it online. I've only just heard of it so no experience with it, but as I'm reading here, I thought I'd post that little bit that I new. I'm hugely in favor of probiotics for humans so I have no doubt it could help with animals.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2011 11:24:12 GMT -5
Benebac CAN be used with ferrets, as well - I've had a lot of success with it with Pixie (tummy issues), and I always use it any time one of them has been on antibiotics. Generally, ferts really love the taste, so no issue getting them to take it  |
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Post by ttfr on Jul 31, 2011 12:47:30 GMT -5
I guess that shall be on the list to get.  Momma has been getting little tastes of ferretone goop to hopefully be a subsitute from the nutrcal stuff untill I can get some. Though..Whats the expentency of a rat with mycoplasma and already having gasping problems? I don't see any loose poops, runny noses, etc. She's been acting fine but losing weight. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2011 14:16:12 GMT -5
Are you sure its not a URI? If its a URI it can be treated with a round of antibiotics.
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Post by ttfr on Jul 31, 2011 14:58:36 GMT -5
Yes and no. I thought orignally that a uti was the reason but I balanced pros and cons and the mycoplasm fits better
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2011 15:18:07 GMT -5
I would treat with antibiotics. URIs and myco have similar symptoms. Whether its myco or a URI antibiotics will help.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2011 17:35:00 GMT -5
You can use a human probiotic capsule with rats, if you cannot find benebac. Just open the caplet and dust the food with the powder, about 1/4 capsule per meal. Keep her stress to a minimum, and her housing very clean. Her pregnancy may be too soon after a litter of 12, and overbreeding will put a momma rat in this state, not necessarily illness. I deal with a large volume of feeder and pet rats, and many times they come in like you have described. Many feeders come from dirty stressful situations, unforutnately Usually with mycoplasm, there is nasal discharge and sneezing, or a wheezing in the chest. She should go to a vet to be diagnosed and proper dosage calculated by weight professionally before administering any antibiotic, else this would possibly kill her. |
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Post by katt on Aug 5, 2011 16:35:28 GMT -5
I agree it could very well be an upper respiratory infection. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2011 22:14:51 GMT -5
I agree with taking her to the vet. Probiotics will only go so far. It sounds like she needs something stronger regardless of what it is. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2011 0:57:12 GMT -5
Hi, I keep Fancy Rats and have kept Fancy Mice. Your girl sounds like she needs a trip to the exotic vet if she is gasping for air. Vitamin A fresh food sources are not going to help. In fact, with Mycoplasma Pulmonis there are really no known natural remedies that can cure it, or even bring much relief (aside from Rescue Remedy, but it's temporary). A vet will likely prescribe Baytril if indeed she does have Myco and possibly Metacam for the pain if the situation is bad, though being she is pregnant is a cause for concern and yet another reason she really should go to the vet. If you opt to have her put down, PLEASE, PLEASE print out this protocol for the veterinarian: The Medical Procedure for Compassionate Euthanasia of Rats: www.joinrats.com/RatHealth/CompassionateEuthanasia/Euthanasia/15231033_FbQKn#1204711468_DLUWMMost veterinarians that I know of are NOT familiar with this protocol. They will inject the rat (or mouse) through the heart with barbiturate with NO anesthetics. I don't know if this rat is a pet or a breeding rat for your ferret's food, which is why I am providing this. If a rat or mouse is being euthanized they absolutely MUST receive a gas anesthesia until a surgical plane is achieved before the cardiac injection. Hope this helps. |
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