Rat with hind leg paralysis

pug_in_a_bed

Hello all,
Looking for some advice - I only seem to post on here with bad news so apologies!

I have one old chap left, Bertie, who is almost three. Bertie's brothers have both been pts in the last few months/weeks with tumours.

In the past week or so Bertie has really slowed down, stopped climbing and occasionally dragging his back legs. Unfortunately hind leg paralysis is something ratties can suffer from in old age.

I've rearranged the cage etc to help him out, but now he can't seem to balance enough to hold his food in one paw whilst he eats, or to lean in properly to his food bowl. He also can't seem to balance to reach up and have a drink. Over the weekend I've resorted to tipping food out and giving a saucer of water for drinks. He has also gone stone deaf, or may just be ignoring me lol

This isn't going to get any better is it? He's sleeping all the time and struggling to get around. I'm going to the vets today and am anticpating just having him pts

krlyr

Quality over quantity, especially in the case of our illness-prone ratties. Can you honestly say you'd want to prolong his life, as it is, or even with a small amount of improving?
I believe that hind leg degeneration can often be related to/a symptom of kidney problems in rats, especially older males, too, so worth bearing that in mind.

This article may be worth a read but to be honest I think all the advice would apply to earlier stages of HLD
http://www.manarats.co.uk/INFO/Paralysis.html

Fosterdog

Pug I'm so sorry about your boy ((((hugs))))

There are three possibilities with his symptoms, first is he's had a stroke and the second is a pituitary tumour, third is an ear infection (hind leg paralysis would most likely be down to his ageing kidneys if it's this). Whichever it is the treatment and prognosis is the same, steroids could help to lessen the effects and antibiotics to help fight off any nasties, it would give him a bit more time but his quality of life at his age will be almost non existent.

I am really very sorry, this is why when my current two are gone I won't be getting anymore for a few years they just don't live long enough and it breaks my heart when I lose each and every one.

pug_in_a_bed

thank you, their little lives are just so accelerated which is why I think its hard to make the decision at the right time. My main concern is that he is unabe to feed and to drink properly by himself, so I suppose thats the deciding factor.
Big sad face

pug_in_a_bed

I think if i do get any more it will be some youngsters, as my boys were 18 month old rescues when I got them, so I have more time to enjoy them. They're brilliant pets, but I know Bertie has been lonely since his last brother died and now I hardly see him as he sleeps all the time

krlyr

pug_in_a_bed wrote: »

I think if i do get any more it will be some youngsters, as my boys were 18 month old rescues when I got them, so I have more time to enjoy them. They're brilliant pets, but I know Bertie has been lonely since his last brother died and now I hardly see him as he sleeps all the time

If this is the case then do you feel any treatment would do him much good? I know it's hard to let them go but sometimes euthanasia is a gift we can give our sick pets when there's no chance of improvement. Ultimately, if he's in good health other than the hind leg paralysis, a natural passing could be a long way off and he's suffering physically in the meantime.
Sorry to be blunt but having owned lots of ratties, his prognosis doesn't really look good to me. I think a vet should have the final say, with your input, but I wouldn't hang on to finding a fix that would make his quality of life high enough to keep him going, IMO.

pug_in_a_bed

I absolutely agree with you, my vet said to me last time when I was unsure that it was better too soon than too late. I do feel he is suffering at the moment so will see what happens with the vet.

Fosterdog

The mail list I've always used for rats is:

Can they get around the cage alone?
Can they eat unaided?
Can they drink without help?
Can they keep themselves clean?
Are they happy?
Are they in pain?

Just wondering, if Bertie is struggling to get around and needs help with eating and drinking is he keeping himself clean?

The worst case I ever saw was when collecting a rat that was no longer wanted because he was "boring". Turns out he had hind leg paralysis and they thought he was being boring curled up in his house all the time, when I picked him up his tail was through to the bone in some areas because of urine burns where he couldn't move to toilet or clean himself. The poor thing must've been in so much pain and his back end was crawling with maggots, I took him straight to the vet to be PTS.

pug_in_a_bed

yes seems to be keeping clean but is not able to trim/nibble his nails which have gotten really long.

Going from your list I think I can tick everything barr cleaning, he can get around but it seems a struggle

pug_in_a_bed

Bertie has been pts, at the vets he got a bit worse breathing wise so I think I did the right thing and timed it right. Always kind replies on here and I really thank you all.

Person_one

I'm so sorry about Bertie, I'm sure you did the right thing for him though and that he had a cracking life. Nearly three is an impressive innings!