More rat problems :-(

[juliet]

Eep. Nutmeg was developing a slight head tilt, so Pete took her to the vet this afternoon. By the time he went to put her in the hospital/travelling cage, she'd deteriorated significantly & was just spinning on her side. He's just phoned me up to discuss whether we go for 2 big injections (antibiotics & steroids), or just have her put to sleep immediately. We've decided to give her the chance of the antibiotics/steroids, with a follow-up appt booked for tomorrow morning (in case they don't work; and to get more meds if they do). Meep. Very worried now :-( I've also asked Pete to ask the vet if they can give her some sort of sedative, as well, to keep her calm - apparently she seems pretty panicky (unsurprisingly, poor love).

Thumbs crossed for her...

Comments

[catsgomiaow.livejournal.com]

poor wee thing! :( kisses to Nutmeg...

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

Oh no! Poor nutmeg. Magic kitten heaing thoughts coming from here.

[arkady.livejournal.com]

Poor thing. I can think of three things it could be; ear infection, stroke or pituitary tumour (which is more common in does than bucks). Fingers crossed it's the ear infection, because prognosis is pretty poor in the other two cases.

In all three cases initial treatment is large doses of antibiotic and steroid. The AB must be Baytril; if it's a stroke or tumour, prednisolone is the best steroid to use. It won't cure a tumour, but it can inhibit it for a while.

If it's a stroke or ear infection, she will start to respond very quickly though she may well be left with a permanent head tilt. If it's a tumour, unfortunately the best you can hope for is to stabilise her - she will be likely to deteriorate fast and putting her to sleep will be kindest.

Fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

Awwwww no. Fingers xed on my part as well.

[elleblue.livejournal.com]

Aw.. good luck little ratty!

[willjsm.livejournal.com]

Small rat-strokes for Nutmeg, poor confused rat-thing.

[hieroglyphe.livejournal.com]

Best wishes to you and your ratty. xxx

[ottah.livejournal.com]

*hugs* for you and the rats

[juliet]

Unfortunately, she didn't respond, so we concluded that it was the tumour :-( In any case - she wasn't recovering, and was clearly in distress, so we had her put to sleep this morning, as the kindest option :-(

Thank you for your good wishes, anyway! At least Luthien appears to be recovering well from her tumour op (nice clean wound, almost invisible now save for the small scar lumps at either end that you always get when rat wounds are sewn up, & no sign as yet, thumbs crossed, of further tumours).