r/RATS • u/Ok-Homework-7565 • 11h ago

EMERGENCY Medication help!

Hi all,

My rat has had chronic respiratory issues for his entire life, he was seen today and he has fluid in his heart which he was prescribed medicine for today, and took his first dose of not too long ago. He also takes prednisolone which I need to give him his dose of soon. The problem is he's really agitated. The vets ​gave him a sedative but I think it's wearing off. I just lost his brother yesterday and I am just really stressed out! ​​​​Does anyone have any advice on what to do? Any advice in general or just around how to give him the medicine is appreciated. He doesn't have an appetite. Do I just man-handle him and give him the meds as quick as I can? I'm worried if I do that, he'll get agitated again and have trouble breathing. I've been to two different vets today and they gave me the thumbs up to bring him home, but I'm just paranoid he's going to die a horrible death. ​​​​​I know that he shows no improvement on the medicines he's on, I'm going to euthanise him, but I'm hoping he'll pull through.

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u/Elliotteatsrocks 11h ago

Agitated how? Like aggressive or clearly just stressed? I can never get my rats to sit still for meds I HAVE to burrito them very tight. Have you tried that method yet? Even if he's agitated he needs his meds so just burrito him and feed him the medicine how you put a cat.

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u/Ok-Homework-7565 11h ago

Like stressed agitated. I'll try the burrito method and see how it goes. I'm just worried he won't be able to calm down after being given the medicine. I'm hoping the medicine to tackle the fluid will make him feel better soon and less agitated. Thanks for the advice :) 

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u/Ok-Homework-7565 9h ago

The rat burrito didn't work, he only got more agitated and started thrashing about when I let him go back to his space. He took the majority of it licking it off the spoon, but now it's time for his furosemide and he's only getting more agitated. He won't take it in food anymore. I'm at a loss and so overwhelmed.

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u/Elliotteatsrocks 9h ago

Can you possibly mix it or put it on top of a treat he REALLY likes? Or do you have a friend you can help hold him in the burrito? I've delt with a similar rat before and I had to get my husband to help hold him down in the burrito so I could give my rat the medicine.

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u/Ok-Homework-7565 6h ago

He was unfortunately getting very agitated so I rushed him to the emergency vet. He was on oxygen for a while but he made no improvements. I made the decision to euthanise him. I'm honestly devastated. I'm taking all of my rats to the vets tomorrow. He's with his brother who passed yesterday now 🕊️ 

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u/Elliotteatsrocks 5h ago

I'm so very sorry to hear that, you did the right thing though. He's at peace now. I recently had 2 older rats unexpectedly pass away together yesterday as well. Your a good owner ❤️

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u/Ok-Homework-7565 5h ago

Sending lots of hugs to you. Thank you for all the advice you gave, you're absolutely amazing and I'm sure your two older rats were very loved ❤️