Stroke or ear infection? *Now w/ pics*

Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:22 am

So I found Darla today trying to walk with her head tilted to the side. Sad

She can eat and awkwardly climb the stairs. The earliest I can get her to the regular clinic is Monday (we have an appointment). Is this serious enough for the emergency hospital? Any tips on keeping her comfortable? She doesn't seem like she's in any pain and doesn't seem to notive it aside from not being able to walk too well.
Sad

Thanks.

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~*Ashli*~
The Harbor Rattery
http://HarborRats.tripod.com

Last edited by HBRgirl on Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:23 am; edited 1 time in total

Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:39 am

Usually when it appears with no other symptoms, it's going to be an ear infection - which is good news. Really, you want to get her onto antibiotics as soon as you can, though, because prompt treatment means that it's most likely that she will recover completely without a permanent head tilt. Leaving the infection untreated can, over time, lead to some nasty complications, including meningitis and encephalitis (infection in and around the brain). It's a shame your vet doesn't run a clinic on Saturdays. It's really a "get seen at the next clinic" type of problem rather than a "get seen in the middle of the night" type problem... but not really a "can wait until the middle of next week" kind of problem - so really it's up to you whether you can get her seen before Monday or not. It would probably help her to get on antibiotics (with or without a shot of steroids to help with inflammation) as soon as is reasonable. As she can still walk around and feed herself, the tilt isn't as bad as it could be - when they're very bad, the rat will roll over and fall over, walk in circles and so on.

Generally, a stroke tends to be more serious - with weakness on one side, paralysis, prostration, possibly fast breathing, seizures, etc. An inner ear infection may be associated with signs of an upper respiratory infection, and perhaps infection of the outer or middle ear (discharge from the ear, visible redness of the ear canal, a swollen ear drum (for the vet to see only), scratching at the affected ear etc. But it can happen without any other visible symptoms. Pituitary tumours can also cause head tilts, but tend to be accompanied by other symptoms - stiff and weak forepaws (that is really the classic symptoms) which can later progress to the hind limbs, difficulty eating and loss of weight, a stiff walking and sitting gait (almost like walking on tip toes, or sitting to wash their tum with their back legs stretched in front of them, but all the time), bumping the head up into your hand when you touch the head etc. Strokes and PTs tend to be more common in older rats and in young rats it's usually an infection - but any of them could technically occur at any age.

If she's having problems getting around, it might be better to move her into a single level or hospital cage so that she doesn't have to move around too much. Offer her some easy to eat food (something with lots of fluid like baby food would help keep her hydrated too) and encourage her to rest up.

Good Vibes

and I hope she feels better soon.

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Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:43 am

Ok thanks so much.

I was worried about the possibility of a PT. I'm moving her into a hospital cage right now and she's bruxing in my arms as I type. lurve

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~*Ashli*~
The Harbor Rattery
http://HarborRats.tripod.com

Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:00 am

Oh Ashley.....not Darla!

I would think an inner ear infection too. But I would definitely recommend trying to get her some antibiotics as soon as possible. Have you tried posted to the local board (RATSPACNW) to see if anyone up there knows of a good e-vet that might help Darla before Monday?

Crossed Fingers

that she will be ok....She's just such a pretty little angel.

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Debbie and the gang of spoiled furries

Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:05 am

Three of my boys had PTs and none of them actually ever had a head tilt - really the symptoms are more likely to be weightloss, posture, weakness for that. If you can hand her a yoggie and she can hold onto it and eat it, without having to rest it on the floor or simply giving up, then a PT isn't very likely to be the first choice of diagnosis. It's not impossible, of course, but it's unlikely. If you want to see some photos of my boy Finny when he first developed his PT, check here: http://www.cyberpawz.com/Coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=951 - check the one of Finny hunched up and standing on top of the cage.

His first symptom was that he attacked and bit Darwin and Ella - completely out of character for him, he was gentle and never vicious to his cagemates ever. It turns out, he was starving hungry, but struggling to eat - on provision of specially prepared bowls of babyfood, he perked up and was less miserable and crochety. Within a day or so, he had the classic stiffness and weakness in his forepaws, and within a couple of days, it has spread to his back end as well. Once we realised that his forepaws were weak and PT was likely, we started the steroids/antibiotics and within a day or two we saw an improvement of his symptoms dramatically. He loosened up, he could hold onto things again, he was sitting more normally and could walk around much easier. He was even able to go back in with his cagemates for a while.

Sadly, after 4 weeks, despite increasing doses of both steroids and antibiotics, his tumour symptoms were no longer responding and he developed pneumonia on top of that (he was already wheezy from the chronic myco problems)... we came to the decision that it was time to help him on, but I'm glad we had another few weeks to love on him and keep him spoiled rotten.

My other two boys also had symptoms consistant with PTs but thankfully, they were comfortable for several months before they passed (from other problems in both cases).

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Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:10 am

Good that doesn't sound anything like D. And thanks Debbie, I do know of a good, close vet, but I just wanted to make sure it was necessary (those E vets are expensive and I've taken 3 boys twice to the regular clinic in the last two months).

_________________
~*Ashli*~
The Harbor Rattery
http://HarborRats.tripod.com

Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:26 am

She still manages to be mischievous by chewing on the camera string. Rolling Eyes

When you're walkin round in circles, smile!

Not such a dramatic angle. She's my pretty girl. lurve

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~*Ashli*~
The Harbor Rattery
http://HarborRats.tripod.com

Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:29 am

It's too bad you can't just call your vet and give them Darla's symptoms. I know our vet would probably go right to Baytril first. But hopefully the e-vet won't ding you too bad. I know that with and inner ear infection, time really is important and acting fast can be the difference of temporary and permanent symptoms.

I have had 2 girls with PT's and 3 that had some form of similar neurological problem (they didn't decline rapidly like with normal PTs)....and none of them ever suffered head tilt with exception of Ellie Belly. I do believe her's was a result of multiple seizures though.

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Debbie and the gang of spoiled furries

Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:55 am

Aye - my vet would normally "validate" over the phone the symptoms and prescribe antibiotics for obvious things like that, in lieu of an appointment in normal hours. Course, I'm a frequent flyer with my vet so that has it's advantages. wink

She's such a cutie. I hope you can get her on antibiotics soon.

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Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Sun Feb 12, 2006 10:59 am

i knew someone who had a rattie like that. it was just an ear infection. this was a year ago, and he's still living. happydance

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Donnie My Baby