jewellsmommy Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Last Thursday I told dd I would help her rearrange the ratties' cage, move the levels etc. Thursday is cage clean day and is usually done in the morning, but we had some other stuff to do first. About 4ish she heads up to start the cage clean. She tells me that Buttercup is making strange noises. I thought she was "chatting" or something. I go up and notice that she is breathing harder than Pepper and the sound seemed connected to the breathing. I did a quick google and realized we had a serious problem. I rushed her next door to my mom's house because we only have one car, and my mom drove us to the vet. The poor little rattie just sat in my lap, in her towel, the whole way and while we were in the office. :sad: The vet asked, in a gentle and subtle way, basically how much we were willing to spend. We decided to do xrays to get the best idea of what was really going on. Even though she was very subdued she fought the xrays and the only clear thing in the pic was the vet tech's hands :lol: . The vet didn't want to sedate late in the day with the breathing problems, so he gave her antibiotics and said to bring her back Friday morning for proper xrays. He was going to be off, but he was leaving instructions with the other vet. We took her in at 9am the next morning. They sedated and got good images. She came through fine. She got to eat banana a short while after, but they kept her til 4 to be sure she was ok. I went to pick her up and meet with the other vet. Dd is with me. I thought that the news wasn't catastrophic or anything because I had not received any calls about new plans or problems etc. The other vet comes in and tells us that Buttercup has pneumonia, and then reads the report. I would have preferred that he talked to me rather than read the info. It came across cold and technical. That would have been acceptable if it were just me, but dd got upset and most of it was his particular bed-side manner. He is a good vet but not as personable as our main vet. The bottom line is that they never fully get over pneumonia. She will get better, but it is sort of like a chronic condition. He pointed out that the rat is almost a year and a half already, so she only has about a half a year left anyway according to his best guess, and we might be able to keep her alive that long :001_unsure: . It didn't help that he was so nonchalant, like, 'it's only a rat.' Our main vet would have done so much better in delivery. Dd was in tears and the moment he was out of the room, "but mommy they live 2 to 3 years! 3 years, that's another 1.5 yrs! Will she always be sick, will she ever play again...?" and so on. :crying: So $319.64 later... Buttercup seems to be responding to the antibiotics. Her activity level is up. You have to put your ear to her in order to hear the breathing noise. So I am hopeful and I told dd that every time Buttercup relapses that we will get the meds she needs and we will keep her going until she departs of age or until she needs to be humanely released from her pain. We have no idea if that will be 6 months or a year and 6 months or maybe longer, but enjoy whatever time she has. Anyone else ever had a rodent with pneumonia? Please feel free to commiserate and post your own animal woes. Please don't tell me I spent too much money on a rat. Sigh. It has not escaped my attention that we paid a lot to save an animal that other people would pay to have killed or removed. And I realize that perhaps I should have considered NOT taking dd to the meeting the 2nd time, but there really wasn't any stopping her. She is sensitive and 12, but this is her pet. We get very attached to animals here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavandula Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 No experience with rodents, but I understand the spending of money on an animal that is dear to you (or your dd). I have no clue how much we spent on our cat with thyroid problems but it was far more than $300. Vet visit after vet visit, multiple pills multiple times a day. I would feel bad for your dd and try to help her but don't blame yourself for taking her there. My dd would have taken the news badly whether we took her or not and on top of that she would've had to deal with mom thinking she wasn't mature enough to deal with her own pet. I hope Buttercup has a nice life that lasts a while :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 We spent $58 on a hamster to get meds for a bleeding issue, and it was dd's pet so she came to the visit. The meds caused temporary paralysis, and dd had to hand feed and water the rodent several times a day. The little guy lived another 9 months, did regain use of his legs, and never needed meds again. It was not about the money, but more about dd being responsible for another life and doing what was needed to care for it until the little guy died. I totally get where you are coming from. Dd learned a lot about caring for pets and about herself and her commitment to others. I hope your rat friend gets well and stays that way for as long as possible. Next time dd will likely be more matter of fact about care and less emotional despite delivery (many of the best people docs are not the best with delivery either). It takes time to learn how to deal with illness, and this is good practice as she grows up and deals with bigger issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 No experience with rodents, but I understand the spending of money on an animal that is dear to you (or your dd). I have no clue how much we spent on our cat with thyroid problems but it was far more than $300. Vet visit after vet visit, multiple pills multiple times a day. I would feel bad for your dd and try to help her but don't blame yourself for taking her there. My dd would have taken the news badly whether we took her or not and on top of that she would've had to deal with mom thinking she wasn't mature enough to deal with her own pet. I hope Buttercup has a nice life that lasts a while :grouphug: Thank you. And, yeah, vet bills can get outrageous! It could have been much worse. I'm grateful it was not more, but some people don't quite understand the rat part. My sunday school class was gracious about it. Buttercup was actually put on the prayer list this morning. I think some of my angst is knowing that we put it on credit. We were fine with using credit, but many people now are anti-credit (and for excellent reason, I get it). It just ends up coming across like we were being irresponsible and shouldn't have done it since we didn't have the cash to spare, especially for a rodent. But Buttercup isn't just any rodent ;), she is the cutest little ratty. She has a lot of personality. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Hugs. We just spent about the same on DD's rat. X-rays plus antibiotics. Oy. The first antibiotic didn't work, then we got a stronger one, and it did work. The rat is better now. Today DD told me that the other rat is wheezing...sigh... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 Hugs. We just spent about the same on DD's rat. X-rays plus antibiotics. Oy. The first antibiotic didn't work, then we got a stronger one, and it did work. The rat is better now. Today DD told me that the other rat is wheezing...sigh... So were you pretty much told the same thing...this is a chronic type thing? Did your rat bounce back completely or did you see a difference in activity or stamina or relationship to cagemate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiMi 4under3 Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 My dc rescued 2 baby ducks from our pool. They must have been only a few days old. One of them had a condition similar to splay-leg; both of her tendons kept slipping off the ankle and she couldn't walk. So after several hundred dollars, a specialist pinned the tendons to the bones. Both legs were in a cast, so this duck had to be fed, washed, and bathroomed by hand over a dozen times per day! One of the legs healed, one never did. We hand raised these two ducks (they slept on my bedroom floor on a towel, and cried when we'd leave the room) for weeks. It was adorable having them follow us around the house. Eventually, they both flew away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiMi 4under3 Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I've also taken DS's frog to an amphibian specialist when DS was convinced to tears that the frog was swollen and "water-logged." :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 My dc rescued 2 baby ducks from our pool. They must have been only a few days old. One of them had a condition similar to splay-leg; both of her tendons kept slipping off the ankle and she couldn't walk. So after several hundred dollars, a specialist pinned the tendons to the bones. Both legs were in a cast, so this duck had to be fed, washed, and bathroomed by hand over a dozen times per day! One of the legs healed, one never did. We hand raised these two ducks (they slept on my bedroom floor on a towel, and cried when we'd leave the room) for weeks. It was adorable having them follow us around the house. Eventually, they both flew away... awwwwe...I'm glad you were able to care for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiMi 4under3 Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Oh, also, my Persian cat had $3,000+ eye surgery. This was before kids - she was my baby at the time, but I'd do it again today if I had to. We're huge animal lovers here... right now we are trying to save a day old sparrow... did I mention it eats every half hour? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I hope Buttercup is OK, Tammy! That vet was way out of line to act like "it's only a rat." IMO, that is someone who never should have become a vet! I would be sure to mention the attitude and the comments the next time you talk to your regular vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 I've also taken DS's frog to an amphibian specialist when DS was convinced to tears that the frog was swollen and "water-logged." :lol: That is so funny. Dd can be a bit melodramatic with a tinge of hypochondria mixed in. :lol: That's why I wasn't too concerned when dd first said that Buttercup was making strange noises. :blushing: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 No experience with rodents, but I understand the spending of money on an animal that is dear to you (or your dd). Ditto. I mentioned on another thread that my daughter's favorite guinea pig apparently once poked herself in one eye on a piece of hay and developed an infection. When we realized she had an issue, we took her to the 24-hour emergency vet, where they basically gave her some antibiotics and sent us home. The next day, we took her to the vet we had used when we had cats, who -- after two days of trying various things -- finally said surgery to remove the eye was our only option AND admitted that he wasn't sure the odds were good that our poor piggie would come through. At that point, I finally thought to ask about a vet who had more experience with "exotics." We took our piggie there. They seemed confident that our little one had a really good shot at recovering and adjusting quite well (and didn't treat us like we were crazy for being willing to spend that much money on "just a guinea pig"). So, we opted for the surgery. Coconut did, indeed, come through the surgery beautifully and lived another couple of years without seeming to miss the eye. It was worth every penny (and I'm not going to tell you how many pennies it required). I'll keep Buttercup and your daughter in my thoughts and hope your rat friend is feeling better very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 As someone suffering from pneumonia right now, I assure you Buttercup is grateful for antibiotics. Should you choose at some point not to continue medicating, please give her a peaceful way out. This choking to breathe stuff is horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 I hope Buttercup is OK, Tammy! That vet was way out of line to act like "it's only a rat." IMO, that is someone who never should have become a vet! I would be sure to mention the attitude and the comments the next time you talk to your regular vet. My mom sees the main vet (the 1st one) on Wed. He is great. She said that she was going to bring it up gently, as a tool for him, since it affects his business too. They are very close since my mom is with schipperke rescue and sees him a lot with various dogs. I wasn't going to mention it, but she was adamant. So I said that it would be fine then. The main vet has a heart for the pocket pets and it really showed in how he handled Buttercup and dd. I think he will not be pleased in how the second vet handled the situation. I don't want to cause problems, but it did ruffle me a little because of dd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Please don't tell me I spent too much money on a rat. Sigh. It has not escaped my attention that we paid a lot to save an animal that other people would pay to have killed or removed. And I realize that perhaps I should have considered NOT taking dd to the meeting the 2nd time, but there really wasn't any stopping her. She is sensitive and 12, but this is her pet. We get very attached to animals here. Please do NOT let yourself feel guilty about spending money on your dd's pet. Waaaay too many things come into a decision like this, and it is different for all families. Because I believe that it is such an individual decision, my opinion on your situation is irrelevant, but I think it's an expected and reasonable expense to care for a sick animal. (I probably have a lower limit than many other people too.) I hope Buttercup continues to improve and live a long, healthy, and happy life! :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeteranMom Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Well...I will commiserate with you. Pets are precious. I once spent over $500 on a sick guinea pig, so I "get it". I believe that pets teach kids to love and they aren't to be disposed of if one can prevent it. I hope your dd's rat feels better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 As someone suffering from pneumonia right now, I assure you Buttercup is grateful for antibiotics. Should you choose at some point not to continue medicating, please give her a peaceful way out. This choking to breathe stuff is horrible. :grouphug: I watched a video about respiratory infections in rats. It showed a rat that was opening its mouth in order to try to get more oxygen. You heard a clicking sound as it tried to breathe in hard. I had to stop the video. It was horrible. :crying: I would never let Buttercup experience that! If the antibiotics ever not work then we will choose euthanasia. As long as she can continue to improve, we'll keep doing our part. And as a plus, she is much easier to medicate than a cat! Dh found the perfect method. He puts the med (.1ml) on a piece of banana and it's gone in half a second. :lol: I hope you feel better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 Wow! Thank you all sooo much. You guys make me feel much better! I almost didn't post, but I am glad i did. I can tell dd that there are many people pulling for Buttercup's recovery. Thank you for 'getting it.' I will try to post her pic shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 (((Hugs))) I get it. In the past several months we have spent about fifteen hundred dollars on our cat that we adopted from the shelter less than a year ago. It was that, let her due a slow and painful death, or have her put down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Best wishes for Buttercup's recovery. I've been there, too. Before getting married, I spent a lot of time and money caring for my 9 year old, diabetic ferret. Small animals carry a piece of our hearts, too. May Buttercup recover as best she can, and live a full, happy life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sisyphus Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Ah, I'm sorry! As someone who spent five times what the rats cost to euthanize them both at age 3 ( one was very ill and both very old, and I didn't want to leave one alone) I get it. You do what you can, no judgement either way from me. I haven't got experience with pneumonia, but I hope buttercup pulls through! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 :grouphug: I've had rats in the past with respiratory infections, and they never seemed to have any permanent problems after the antibiotics worked. Some rats seem to be more susceptible to lung issues than others, but I've never had a vet tell me that rats get permanent pneumonia or anything like that. My very first rat when I was a kid had a horrible lung infection once, and after antibiotics was fine and lived to be quite old (and huge!) for a rat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 At about your DD's age, I called multiple vet offices to find one that would see a sick gerbil (the one who did was actually a farm vet who mostly did large animals and herding dogs!)-I get it. Wishing buttercup a long, healthy life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 Here is one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 my ratkin had pneumonia which was treated successfully. She lived another 18 months with no issues. No one mentioned that it might be recurring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Buttercup is absolutely adorable! I admire you for taking such good care of her and don't find it strange at all. Our animals are part of our family and I'm sure yours are, too. Hoping and praying that she continues to feel better and better! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 :grouphug: I've had rats in the past with respiratory infections, and they never seemed to have any permanent problems after the antibiotics worked. Some rats seem to be more susceptible to lung issues than others, but I've never had a vet tell me that rats get permanent pneumonia or anything like that. My very first rat when I was a kid had a horrible lung infection once, and after antibiotics was fine and lived to be quite old (and huge!) for a rat. my ratkin had pneumonia which was treated successfully. She lived another 18 months with no issues. No one mentioned that it might be recurring. Thank you! I told my dd about your experiences and that made her (us both actually) more confident and hopeful. Buttercup seems better and better. Today she ran an obstacle course that dd set up for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Aw, glad to hear that Buttercup seems to be improving! I :001_wub: animals & animal-lovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 Buttercup is absolutely adorable! I admire you for taking such good care of her and don't find it strange at all. Our animals are part of our family and I'm sure yours are, too. Hoping and praying that she continues to feel better and better! :001_smile: Thank you. That's my dh with her. I told him he is most handsome when wearing animals. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavandula Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Oh, she's so cute! I've never actually seen a rat that color. Maybe I could get over my issue with the tails if I saw one that adorable. We still have cats that like to hunt though :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 What a beautiful rattie! May she have a full and uneventful recovery. When my college roommate's grass snake got sick, we had a bake sale in the student center. We raised so much we were able to pay Sullivan's vet bills with quite a lot left over to donate to the animal shelter. So you're not alone in thinking all pets are important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heatherwith4 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Awwww - she's so cute! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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