Pneumonia in rats, baytril and getting animals to take medication?

Jellicat

K, so I have a little rattie who has severe pneumonia. I cannot get her to take her Baytril, and the vet wont do injections. She is a rescue rat and she has never trusted or liked people. I've tried putting it in tasty food and drinks, doesnt work. Currently I'm just holding her and putting the syringe as far back in her mouth as I can, but it seems like she just doesnt swallow and it runs out her mouth. I try and squeeze the plunger as slow as possible but she just wont swallow Can anyone help with ideas on how to get it into her? I would put it in the water bottle but I think she'd just stop drinking.

The vet has told me her pneumonia is really bad and if she doesnt get better in a week she advises putting her to sleep. I know I have to think about how she is suffering, but its hard because she's bright eyed and active, she doesnt look like she wants to die . Is pneumonia curable in rats if I can get her to take the medication, and is there anything other than Baytril she can be given?

ETA: I HAVE spoken with the vet about how hard I'm finding it to give her medication, she says all I can really do is give it another go. So I'm not really after medical advise, just practical!

lowis

i'm sorry i have no practical advice, i do the same as you when administering liquid medicines to my pets - a syringe in the side of the mouth. i just wanted to say i hope your rattie pulls through.

xxx

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Rather than putting the syringe right into the mouth, maybe try putting it just at the side and hopefully the rat will lick the medicine?

Did the vet say why he wouldn't give injections? It would be so much easier on the rat if the vet either administered the medicine or gave an injection.

Why not look on websites dedicated to rats and their health care? Worth a try.

I really hope your rat improves

UKTigerlily

Try Fancy Rats website it's great. Have you tried squirting abit into baby food? Most Rats love baby food & it's sweet so should disguise the taste? (Just abit at a time)

Norma_Desmond

Good suggestions; I lost a little ratty to pneumonia a couple of years ago and the vet advised putting the cage in a steamy bathroom too to help with his breathing......sadly to no avail.
Good luck XXXX

marshallka

Jellicat wrote: »

K, so I have a little rattie who has severe pneumonia. I cannot get her to take her Baytril, and the vet wont do injections. She is a rescue rat and she has never trusted or liked people. I've tried putting it in tasty food and drinks, doesnt work. Currently I'm just holding her and putting the syringe as far back in her mouth as I can, but it seems like she just doesnt swallow and it runs out her mouth. I try and squeeze the plunger as slow as possible but she just wont swallow Can anyone help with ideas on how to get it into her? I would put it in the water bottle but I think she'd just stop drinking.

The vet has told me her pneumonia is really bad and if she doesnt get better in a week she advises putting her to sleep. I know I have to think about how she is suffering, but its hard because she's bright eyed and active, she doesnt look like she wants to die . Is pneumonia curable in rats if I can get her to take the medication, and is there anything other than Baytril she can be given?

ETA: I HAVE spoken with the vet about how hard I'm finding it to give her medication, she says all I can really do is give it another go. So I'm not really after medical advise, just practical!

You have to be VERY careful not to flood the lungs doing that. I tried with our hammy last month as she was dying and we were told there was a 95% chance of her dying by the end of the day but I still got some meds and tried. I just put some in syringe and then held a tissue under her as it did run out but I watched the vet do it and the same happened with him. You do, like I say, have to be careful. As its only a very small amount you give to him/her you should be ok. I was doing water too.

Hope all goes well. I would also put some in the water too. Just a small amount and the baby food thing is what is advised too.