Rat with ear infection?

[wolfy-hound]

She's tilting her head some, and today was tipping over some. Reading up online(and good advice on here from a BP.net member) told me that it could be a tumor, or inner ear infection. The inner ear infection can be treated with the doxy/baytril combo and maybe steroids? I have the doxy, don't have the baytril and don't have steroids.

I'm giving her some ensure soaked lab block and I'll move her to a solitary 10g if she looks worse, but I worry that isolating her from her buds will stress her? She is able to hold her food and ate it with gusto, and she loved the doxy(raspberry flavored?)right out of the syringe.

Any advice? Should I put her by herself? Warmer?

It's kind of silly, since she is supposed to be a breeder, but she's my 'special' rattie. She always wants out to be carried around and plays with my fingers, so she's basically a pet that produces feeders. Unless she looks TOTALLY better on Tuesday, I'll be taking her into the vet. Of COURSE she would get ill on the day of the weekend!! If she looks worse, I'll take her on monday and hope the right vet is in or can be reached.

[Rhasputin]

At best it's just an ear infection, worst it could be a brain tumor, or stroke.

The best thing is to treat her with anti-biotics until you can see a vet. If it is an infection, the tilt may be permanent, even after the infection clears up.

[wolfy-hound]

Thank you!

I'm giving her the doxy and also the orbaflaxicin(sp?) that I gave rats for RI. I don't have Baytril to add to the doxy.

I've given her water and Ensure from a syringe, which she drank fine, but her tilt has now gone to some rolling too. I'm not as hopeful, but she has a fleece padded bed and doesn't seem too distressed except when she tries to come out and walk around.

[wolfy-hound]

Well, nevermind. She just died in my lap.

[RichsBallPythons]

I have a female double rex that started this about 3 months ago. And shes very calm girl, still breeders consistent.

Not sure if it was Ear or over heat since double rexs body temps are higher than normal rats.

Either way shes doing fine.

I have had ones that were so bad they couldnt get up and fell over, which i put down.

[RichsBallPythons]

Baytril is a good med to give if its for Ear infections. But that woudl require vet to run test and not really worth it if its a breeder and not pet

[wolfy-hound]

If I had known the slight head tilt was a severe ear infection, I could have started her on meds earlier, but she never showed any "dog" symptoms of ear issues. No discharge, redness, head shaking, scratching... so I didn't know, and my ignorance cost her life.

Steep learning curves are painful when it comes to live creatures. I'll know better. If it had been ANY rat other than Deedee, I would have simply put it down and fed it off to a snake or lizard.

[Rhasputin]

If she died that suddenly, i seriously doubt it was an infection. I would definitely think brain tumor.

I'm very sorry to hear that she didn't make it, but it's one of those things with rats. I love my pet rats, but after this batch dies off, I vow not to get more, because they ALWAYS die from some horrible horrible thing. Old age is never what kills them. It's heartbreaking.

Very sorry for your loss.

[Mike41793]

If she died that suddenly, i seriously doubt it was an infection. I would definitely think brain tumor.

I'm very sorry to hear that she didn't make it, but it's one of those things with rats. I love my pet rats, but after this batch dies off, I vow not to get more, because they ALWAYS die from some horrible horrible thing. Old age is never what kills them. It's heartbreaking.

Very sorry for your loss.

Just curious, what else do you breed besides rats? Your knowledge of rodents always seems to be pretty accurate

[wolfy-hound]

I'm already looking for the next "pet" rat, but so far, haven't found any that strike my fancy that seem to want to interact much.

I did just discover that I've had TWO males in with two females. Kind of wondered why production was always slightly lower in that bin. Don't ask me how I missed the giant testicles... I guess I just assumed whichever male I held was the only male and never checked to see that the other three were all females. No telling. They haven't been fighting at all, but I pulled the one anyway.

I appreciate all the advice and help, you really are so willing to advise on rodent stuff. And you're right, the ones I've really loved always seem to die before old age can get to them.