I have a female rat that developed an abscess under her mouth. She Is very shy and I am ashamed to say I didn't catch it till it became very large. I got my husband to hold her so I could soak and drain it. While attempting to drain it I noticed puss coming out of her mouth. I gentle opened her mouth to find that the absses was draining from inside her mouth. Her bottom tooth was pushed to the side from the swelling.
I was so worried that I called the only exotic vet me have. The vet checked her over and said she would need surgery. I was in tears because I know that my baby may not servive that but I wanted to give her a fighting chance. Pammy (thats my rats name) came threw the surgery fine. The vet had to cut under her chin and her left cheek. The vet gave us some strong antibiotics and to days worth of painkillers. She told me to keep her away from her sisters, soak the absess (she wanted it to drain so she left the cuts open), and administer her antibiotics twice a day. When I asked what I should feed her because she couldn't eat her regular food she had no answers for me. When my husband asked if she clipped her teeth she said no.
This made me very uneasy. I'm scared that I took my ratty girl to a vet that didn't know what she was doing. Shouldn't the vet be able to answer such simple questions? Have I put my baby in jeopardy because I trusted the wrong person with her care?
I had to feed her something so I picked up some organic multi-grain baby cereal and some different baby foods. I also have been hot compressing her woulds twice a day when I give her her antibiotic. I was scared to put saline in her chin because it opens in her mouth.
I also placed her in a hospital cage (a crittertrail fresh air one level cage) with soft fabric blanket cut to size. She has a water bottle filled with fresh water and since she refuses to eat unless mommy or daddy feed her from a spoon we've been feeding her a little at a time every 2 hours. We also clean the cage ever 4 or 5 hours with Lysol wipes and change the blankets.
Am I doing the right things? Is their more I should be doing? How many times should I be hot compressing her wounds? Should I put saline in the wound or not? Is what I'm feeding her ok ? I am sorry that this is so much but I am very concerned for her. Please help me.
I was so worried that I called the only exotic vet me have. The vet checked her over and said she would need surgery. I was in tears because I know that my baby may not servive that but I wanted to give her a fighting chance. Pammy (thats my rats name) came threw the surgery fine. The vet had to cut under her chin and her left cheek. The vet gave us some strong antibiotics and to days worth of painkillers. She told me to keep her away from her sisters, soak the absess (she wanted it to drain so she left the cuts open), and administer her antibiotics twice a day. When I asked what I should feed her because she couldn't eat her regular food she had no answers for me. When my husband asked if she clipped her teeth she said no.
This made me very uneasy. I'm scared that I took my ratty girl to a vet that didn't know what she was doing. Shouldn't the vet be able to answer such simple questions? Have I put my baby in jeopardy because I trusted the wrong person with her care?
I had to feed her something so I picked up some organic multi-grain baby cereal and some different baby foods. I also have been hot compressing her woulds twice a day when I give her her antibiotic. I was scared to put saline in her chin because it opens in her mouth.
I also placed her in a hospital cage (a crittertrail fresh air one level cage) with soft fabric blanket cut to size. She has a water bottle filled with fresh water and since she refuses to eat unless mommy or daddy feed her from a spoon we've been feeding her a little at a time every 2 hours. We also clean the cage ever 4 or 5 hours with Lysol wipes and change the blankets.
Am I doing the right things? Is their more I should be doing? How many times should I be hot compressing her wounds? Should I put saline in the wound or not? Is what I'm feeding her ok ? I am sorry that this is so much but I am very concerned for her. Please help me.
