AboutSandra Conti-Todd Expertise NOTE:
I am sorry for any long delays in responses. I have been going through some personal issues with my life but things are looking up for me and I am getting my life back on track again and will promise to be here for all rat lovers to help guide you on proper care. Love to all of you!
To request a telephone consultation, please email sandyscrittercity@yahoo.com. in order to schedule a date and time that is feasible for both you and I. There is no time limit on weekends or after 99pm M-F or if your cell phone carrier is Verizon Wireless. There is no charge for a telephone consultation. I offer my advice free of charge since my goal is to simply keep your rats happy and healthy for as long as possible. My reward is knowing that people learning as much as they can on rat care in order to provide the best care possible. Thats all I need to know. You cant put a price tag on love:)
As one of the top experts here at allexperts for 2008, I am happy to be able to help advise others on the proper care of pet rats.
I am a rat care specialist/advisor for area vets and have 20 plus years experience working with rodents.
I can advise you on the most current treatments available to your rat for common and also complicated ailments that seem to affect domestic rats during their life time. I do telephone consults and have even had some wonderful Vets call me to compare notes/stories. I also have training in animal behavior with the main focus being the study of rodent behavior.
I also have experience with wild rats, raising one myself .
Experience My expertise
Includes the following:
1. Education on prevention of tumors, lung and heart disease and disease of the kidneys too.
2. Up to date treatments for tumors in rats,both benign or malignant tumors.
3. The most current treatments used successfully to treat lung and heart disease
4. Prevention and treatment of the mycoplasma organism that our rats are plagued with since the day they are born, among other common ailments that attack our rats, just to name a few.
My job as a rodent consultant is to educate the owner on proper care of the animal but in no way does my advice take the place of seeking professional treatment by a qualified Veterinarian.
However, I will contribute to this site by answering your questions about raising pet rats and any problems that may arise regarding their health, diet, husbandry and over all well being of the rat to **the best of my ability.**
Organizations I maintain my website, Critter City and update it often to keep up with current treatments concerning pet rat health care. Please click the link above to take you there!
Publications My own website of course, and also I have brochures on rat care that are found in various animal clinics in my area.
Education/Credentials
Mentored by highly noted exotic specialists in my area. I am a member of the ASPCA.
Awards and Honors Was honored by being chosen to be one of the top 50 experts of 2008
Past/Present Clients My past clients have been through various animal clinics and I also am mentor to new rat owners that reach me through here and my website too.
I have 7 girl rats whom I adore. One of them, Willow has just had 2 surgeries. She had a lump on her face that was getting bigger. At the vet they did x-rays and surgery and found that it was most likely an abcess that had started to invade bone and sinuses. As much as possible was removed and they put in a calcium hydroxide implant, which they have had success with on rabbits.She has been on Baytril also since the surgery. She seemed okay after the surgery. 2 weeks later, she had the stitches and implant taken out. The night after surgery she was okay(she has an open wound now so it can drain). However, during the next day she started to have a bit of a problem breathing, and had her mouth open and looked like she was struggling a bit. She wouldnt eatand her breathing sounded very "fluidy". I took her back to the vet the next day and they said her lungs seemed a bit crackly, but it seemed more upper respitory. She has now also been put on once a day .1ml of Metronidazol.I have also been giving her twice a day steam inhalation for about 5 minutes. She started to improve straight away and has been eating better too.
She is still lethargic but seems content to lay with her sisters. I noticed today that her sides where heaving a bit more than usual so she had another steam inhalation. She doesnt seem in distress (although it is hard to tell because the darling little things never complain). I am worried that she will start to get worse and have severe breathing problems which will really frighten me to see her be so frighted fighting for breath.
Is there any further thing you could suggest. I am wondering if the sinus problem from the abcess could leak to her lungs and cause more severe problems?
She is 2 years and 3 months old and has been through so much in the last few weeks. I just want her to be comfortable and not to suffer.
Many thanks in advance for your help
kind regards
Shane
Answer Hi Shane
Yes this infection could spread easily depending on the medications she is on and the bacteria that is in her body.
I would like to see her stay at the hospital for a few nights and kept on oxygen during that time. Also, she would benefit from nebulizing gentocin or amakacin along with albuterol to open her airways. She should get the strong antibiotics for at least three days via the nebulizer. This will help knock out anything that is causing this because it sounds like it is pneumonia and not upper respiratory.
