Could it be a yeast infection maybe?Our rat Peaches, who is very overweight, smells a bit 'fishy' down below. I took her to the vets about 3 weeks ago, and the vet tested her urine and said she had a mild infection. He prescribed a week of antibiotics. Clavaseptin. I'm wondering if she has the same problem again, or if it's just difficult to keep herself clean because of her fat belly. We plan to put her on a diet after our old, lumpy rat Bailey passes away. At the moment we don't want to limit the food in the cage, as Bailey is underweight apart from having 3 big lumps. Tbh Peaches isn't eating much atm anyway, so I am a bit worried. Yesterday she was chewing at cables and the carpet, which she doesn't usually do. I checked her teeth and they look OK, I think, not overgrown. We've been bathing her daily (just warm water on her lower regions only, not completely submerged). Any advice please? We have 3 rats altogether, there's another one called Treasure.
Urinary infection?
Our rat Peaches, who is very overweight, smells a bit 'fishy' down below. I took her to the vets about 3 weeks ago, and the vet tested her urine and said she had a mild infection. He prescribed a week of antibiotics. Clavaseptin. I'm wondering if she has the same problem again, or if it's just difficult to keep herself clean because of her fat belly. We plan to put her on a diet after our old, lumpy rat Bailey passes away. At the moment we don't want to limit the food in the cage, as Bailey is underweight apart from having 3 big lumps. Tbh Peaches isn't eating much atm anyway, so I am a bit worried. Yesterday she was chewing at cables and the carpet, which she doesn't usually do. I checked her teeth and they look OK, I think, not overgrown. We've been bathing her daily (just warm water on her lower regions only, not completely submerged). Any advice please? We have 3 rats altogether, there's another one called Treasure.
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Could it be a yeast infection maybe?
We had to have Bailey pts this morning, so Peaches is now on a diet.Could it be a yeast infection maybe?
Hi.
I don't have any advice to add about Peaches, but wanted to say sorry 😔 about losing Bailey.🌹
I don't have any advice to add about Peaches, but wanted to say sorry 😔 about losing Bailey.🌹
Thank you. X
Peaches has seen the vet and been prescribed Baytril liquid. I'd have preferred tablets but the vet said it doesn't come in pill form. Not true, I've seen them online and we've had them before. It's easier to give them crushed pills mixed with food. I guess if she won't take it I'll have to go back.
Anyone know if the Baytril should work better for a urinary infection than Clavaseptin (penicillin?)
I've had a rat that was prescribed Baytril for UTI before, and it did the trick.
To give it orally, I've squirted it on a tiny (and I mean tiny) jam sandwich. I've smeared peanut butter on a tiny piece of bread and squirted the Baytril on. I've mixed it with a half teaspoon of Weetbix and milk (not sure what they're called in UK?) And hidden it in a dollop of flavoured yoghurt. Melted ice cream might be another one to try.
All the best! If only they knew how much good the meds would do them!
To give it orally, I've squirted it on a tiny (and I mean tiny) jam sandwich. I've smeared peanut butter on a tiny piece of bread and squirted the Baytril on. I've mixed it with a half teaspoon of Weetbix and milk (not sure what they're called in UK?) And hidden it in a dollop of flavoured yoghurt. Melted ice cream might be another one to try.
All the best! If only they knew how much good the meds would do them!
Thanks so much! I've added fresh orange juice to their water and I'll see how she takes tomorrow's dose. If she won't take it squirted into her gob, I'll try the sandwich idea. She took the first dose. Might have to give Treasure a sandwich too to be fair 😉 Weetabix is called the same in the UK. X
Oh haha so they have Weetabix in the UK.
Yes, give Treasure a sandwich too so she doesn't snatch the medicated one off her friend. We used to do that - everybody got one to avoid squabbles.😆
Yes, give Treasure a sandwich too so she doesn't snatch the medicated one off her friend. We used to do that - everybody got one to avoid squabbles.😆
Well we found Treasure dead in the cage 8 May. She was exactly 18 months old. I think she may have had a fit, as her tongue was kind of twisted. We got Peaches a new sister Wednesday, Laurel, an agouti about the same age, as we are planning to get a Gambian Pouched Rat next. Peaches & Laurel are getting on well (I took Peaches to collect Laurel and put her straight in the carrier so they could bond on the journey). Within 24 hours they were happily living together. Peaches is much better, the urinary infection seems to have cleared up. She didn't like the liquid Baytril, so if she has to have it again I'll ask for tablets.
BTW the vet weighed Peaches and she hadn't lost a single gram!
Sorry to hear about Treasure passing. That must have been a shock for you.
Congratulations on your new girl, Laurel. 🐭
Congratulations on your new girl, Laurel. 🐭
Thank you!
Sorry, I need help again. Peaches is breathing really fast. Not sucking, so I think it is her heart rather than respiratory problems. I'm taking her to the vet tomorrow first thing. Unfortunately I'm just on my way to the dentist. I was wondering what kind of heart meds would help. She's very overweight, 1kg, and we're trying to get her to slim down. We really don't want to lose her, we just got Laurel, a new rat for her companion.
PS Vet phoned, wants to see a video of Peaches. I'll send as soon as I get home. Then they'll determine if they need to see her today.
PS Vet phoned, wants to see a video of Peaches. I'll send as soon as I get home. Then they'll determine if they need to see her today.
With her being so overweight, is there a chance some of that is actually fluid? With some types of heart disease they can get ascites which is fluid buildup around the abdomen. The vet should be able to tell anyway.
All the best with Peaches' appointment.
All the best with Peaches' appointment.
Thank you. She's gradually put on weight over the last several months and we have rather spoilt her, so it's definitely just being overweight. The vets are referring her to an exotic as they refuse to just treat her with heart meds to test if it works, without a diagnosis. Even though online, loads of experts suggest this course of action without scans or xrays, as these require an anaesthetic, which is obviously dangerous to a rat with a heart condition. Unfortunately I'll have quite a trip as there's only a couple of exotics in London, rather surprisingly, and we don't drive.
I tried treating Peaches with my own enalapril meds for 4 days but unfortunately she started gasping this morning and had to be pts. The vet said when he put her to sleep she started bleeding a lot from her nose and mouth. He thought, though couldn't be certain, that it meant she had a tumour pressing on her lungs. As it is highly unusual. I certainly never had that with one of my rats before. Getting a new sister for Laurel tomorrow. Poor Peaches, such a sweetie, loved to cuddle up and lick and groom me with her little grabbies on my face.
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