Rat choking daily

On Sep 12, 12:57 pm, perigrine <perigrine.moni....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
> You do know that cyanide is found in apple seeds and peach pits, I
> hope? I'd be stopping these things in my rats diet asap. Just in
> case.
>
> http://www.idph.state.il.us/Bioterrorism/factsheets/cyanide.htm
>

Another easier to read site - http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/apples.asp
 >> Stay informed about: Rat choking daily 

<Igenlode.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1189564226.077582.175620@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> As of last Friday, one of my rats has started choking almost daily:
> the symptoms seem to be classic stuff, jumping around in frantic
> spasms, drooling, propping herself upright with her head back and her
> jaw gaping, making little squeaky gasps every time her flanks heave.

Could she be having some kind of fit? That's the only thing I can think
of.

Gentle scritches to her.
--
Ratty Hugs & Cavy Kisses

Jackie
Ably Hindered by The Buck House Crew

"Behavioral psychology is the science of pulling habits out of rats."
Dr. Douglas Busch
 >> Stay informed about: Rat choking daily 

<Igenlode.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1189564226.077582.175620@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> As of last Friday, one of my rats has started choking almost daily:
> the symptoms seem to be classic stuff, jumping around in frantic
> spasms, drooling, propping herself upright with her head back and her
> jaw gaping, making little squeaky gasps every time her flanks heave.
> It lasts about 30 minutes after which she is exhausted and sits/lies
> hunched up with her fur all on end, looking as if she is dying. I got
> so worried after the third night running that I took her to the vet,
> where of course she was perky and running around as if she hadn't a
> care in the world: he listened to her lungs, said that her breathing
> sounded absolutely clear and that there was nothing he could suggest.
> Six hours later she was fighting for air again.
>
> What could be causing this if it isn't lung disease? I haven't changed
> anything about their living accomodation or the food I give them
> (mainly dry mix with the occasional apple core, peach stone, etc).
> It's just suddenly started happening every evening; although I suspect
> she's only really active in the evening... But I've never seen a rat
> do this before, and now she's doing it daily.
> --
> Igenlode Wordsmith
>

Three outside possibilities are a throat tumour, a scrape in the throat
or rare in rats megaesophagus , suggested meds for megaesophagus can be
found on this site:
http://www.coverattery.com/articles/medications.htm
 >> Stay informed about: Rat choking daily 

On 12 Sep 2007 perigrine wrote:
> Igenl... DeleteThis @gmail.com wrote:

> > What could be causing this if it isn't lung disease? I haven't changed
> > anything about their living accomodation or the food I give them
> > (mainly dry mix with the occasional apple core, peach stone, etc).

> You do know that cyanide is found in apple seeds and peach pits, I
> hope? I'd be stopping these things in my rats diet asap. Just in
> case.
>
> http://www.idph.state.il.us/Bioterrorism/factsheets/cyanide.htm

If apple pips were poisonous, I'm afraid there would be an awful lot of
little rodentine bodies strewn around the windfalls under our tree :-(

(And a few humans as well, I suppose, since the cores are the setting
agent in blackberry-and-apple and crab-apple jelly...)


I thought it was prussic acid in peach stones? The sinister 'scent of
bitter almonds' that features in more than one Golden Age locked-room
mystery :-)

Not that the rats ever manage to get into them; they just like cleaning
off the flesh and juice that stick to the outside. Funny, as they're
quite good at getting into nuts. Perhaps the ridged surface of the stone
is a defence against the depredations of rats and mice...
--
Igenlode Visit the Ivory Tower http://ivory.150m.com/Tower/

* The old that is strong does not wither *
 >> Stay informed about: Rat choking daily 

On Sep 16, 9:41 am, Igenlode Wordsmith <Use-Author-Supplied-Address-
Header@[127.1]> wrote:
> On 14 Sep 2007 Joanne wrote:
>
> > I'm thinking perhaps her throat is not fully open like the other rats
> > and so she chokes easily. Her sister is doing what comes naturally to
> > a rat, concern, wanting to stop the distress and not knowing what to
> > do. I wouldn't separate them, but I would try to have only soft foods
> > in the cage.
>
> I put her on the bus and took her to our usual vet this morning (who was
> working at a neighbouring practice); he diagnosed a respiratory
> infection and swollen throat, and prescribed twice-daily antibiotics. I
> strongly suspect that this is what the locum vet whom I saw on Tuesday
> should have done :-(
>
> For the moment, I'm giving them both baby rice mixed with plenty of
> water, as the vet recommended; Natalie has had an antibiotic injection
> this morning and a dose of Baytril in jam tonight, and seems a good deal
> better already.
> --
> Igenlode Visit the Ivory Tower http://ivory.150m.com/Tower/
>
> * It takes self-confidence to be able to accept criticism *

It good to hear that you finally received some sound veterinary
advice! I hope your little girl recovers well. How stressful this must
be for her, and yourself.

Dewi
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On 14 Sep 2007 Joanne wrote:

> I'm thinking perhaps her throat is not fully open like the other rats
> and so she chokes easily. Her sister is doing what comes naturally to
> a rat, concern, wanting to stop the distress and not knowing what to
> do. I wouldn't separate them, but I would try to have only soft foods
> in the cage.

I put her on the bus and took her to our usual vet this morning (who was
working at a neighbouring practice); he diagnosed a respiratory
infection and swollen throat, and prescribed twice-daily antibiotics. I
strongly suspect that this is what the locum vet whom I saw on Tuesday
should have done :-(

For the moment, I'm giving them both baby rice mixed with plenty of
water, as the vet recommended; Natalie has had an antibiotic injection
this morning and a dose of Baytril in jam tonight, and seems a good deal
better already.
--
Igenlode Visit the Ivory Tower http://ivory.150m.com/Tower/

* It takes self-confidence to be able to accept criticism *
 >> Stay informed about: Rat choking daily 

"Igenlode Wordsmith" <Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]> wrote in
message news:20070916011858.A34A763887@remailer-debian.panta-rhei.eu.org...
> On 14 Sep 2007 Joanne wrote:
>
>> I'm thinking perhaps her throat is not fully open like the other rats
>> and so she chokes easily. Her sister is doing what comes naturally to
>> a rat, concern, wanting to stop the distress and not knowing what to
>> do. I wouldn't separate them, but I would try to have only soft foods
>> in the cage.
>
> I put her on the bus and took her to our usual vet this morning (who was
> working at a neighbouring practice); he diagnosed a respiratory
> infection and swollen throat, and prescribed twice-daily antibiotics. I
> strongly suspect that this is what the locum vet whom I saw on Tuesday
> should have done :-(
>
> For the moment, I'm giving them both baby rice mixed with plenty of
> water, as the vet recommended; Natalie has had an antibiotic injection
> this morning and a dose of Baytril in jam tonight, and seems a good deal
> better already.
> --
> Igenlode Visit the Ivory Tower http://ivory.150m.com/Tower/
>
> * It takes self-confidence to be able to accept criticism *
>

It must be such a relief to find out the cause. I wish her a speedy
recovery.
 >> Stay informed about: Rat choking daily 

On 19 Sep 2007 Mandie @k@ Zepherous wrote:

> "Igenlode Wordsmith" <Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]> wrote in
> message news:20070916011858.A34A763887@remailer-debian.panta-rhei.eu.org...

[snip]

> > I put her on the bus and took her to our usual vet this morning (who was
> > working at a neighbouring practice); he diagnosed a respiratory
> > infection and swollen throat, and prescribed twice-daily antibiotics. I
> > strongly suspect that this is what the locum vet whom I saw on Tuesday
> > should have done :-(
> >
> > For the moment, I'm giving them both baby rice mixed with plenty of
> > water, as the vet recommended; Natalie has had an antibiotic injection
> > this morning and a dose of Baytril in jam tonight, and seems a good deal
> > better already.

[snip]

> It must be such a relief to find out the cause. I wish her a speedy
> recovery.
>
Sadly, I don't think she's going to recover; after a week she was still
wheezy, and the vet said he'd give it another ten days. But she hasn't
improved during the last seven, and I think she's probably going
gradually downhill. Her rib-cage appears constantly enlarged (probably
due to the hard work she has to do to breathe), her breathing is noisy
and and she seems to tire easily, often breaking off in the middle of
eating a treat or taking her medicine (mixed with jam or honey). When
sitting up on her hind legs she sways visibly from the effort of
respiration. She's not distressed by the choking any more, but I suspect
that's because she has basically given up trying to eat anything but the
pre-pureed baby food. Her fur is standing on end more than normal,
although that could be a result of the current cold snap -- I've
switched into winter clothes myself!

I doubt Natalie is going to get any better; whatever lung damage was
done is probably permanent. The question is whether she is going to
decline and die, and frankly she doesn't look likely to survive the
winter in any case :-( She is only about eighteen months old, but she
is acting more like an elderly animal.

The good news is that she seems happy enough; she crawled under my
waistcoat and ate holes in my favourite shirt on Tuesday, in a quest to
force her way down under a tight waistband ;-)


l,,,,.ii <==Natalie's typing :-)
--
Igenlode Visit the Ivory Tower http://ivory.150m.com/Tower/

-I never shot anybody before... -This is one hell of a time to tell me!
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