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.
Question QUESTION: I have a pet female rat, approxiamately 2 years old, not spayed, she has all the signs of head tilt ie. unable to stand, lying on side, rolls over unable to use front paws, one eye bulges more than other. She is still able to eat, not hard food, but porridge oats etc. She cant drink water, but is kept hydrated by cucumber, fruit etc. She is still producing good normal faeces and urinating. Another problem is that she has a dark green hardened vaginal discharge, that i am unable to clean for her, as it would probably need to be soaked, and i do not want to stress her by doing this. I have taken her to the vet (about a fortnight ago) who prescribed Baytril, 0.5 mils for 5 days through syringe orally. This has not helped in any way. He also gave her an injection, forgotten what it was, but when he did that she went downhill almost immediately ( she initially could stand although, walked in circles, since injection, she has been lying on side). The vaginal discharge was also there when i took her to the vet. She still tries to clean herself, yawns, stretches. It appears as though she is quite content. She also has porphyrin around her nose and eyes which i clean away.
I hope ive given you enough information. At present im just wondering if she will come round, or if this is just going to get worse. Also when this began, about 2 months ago, her balance was just off a bit, noticed she was unable to do her normal routine round the living room, ie jumping small gaps between furniture, then her fur looked rough and on end, walking in circles, vaginal discharge was last.
Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
ANSWER: Your little girl is pretty sick but she needs a vet that is going to do the right thing for her. Giving her just 5 days of baytril is ridiculous. If it was going to work she should take it for an month not 5 days.
However, she does indeed have infection. That vaginal discharge that is green is serious infection. Anything that is green that is a discharge from the body means infection is present. Is there an odor?
Please let me know about the odor and the vet. I can find you a vet I just need to know your location!
Please get back to me for a follow up and I will explain to you about her head tilt and loss of balance. There is pressure on her 8th cranial nerve from somewhere, be it from the inner ear or elsewhere (the brain) so I need to go over a few things with you right away. We can make her more comfortable if anything but our goal is to get her better and with a different vet and other meds, it may just be a matter of a few changes.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: The discharge has no odour, though this could be because it has hardened. Im in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Whether or not it could be related my friend recently bought pet mice, although they have not been in direct contact they do share the same space as in surfaces in the living room. They show no signs of illness all though one wheezes and my friend is looking into that. I remembered that the intial injection, was antibiotics of some sort.
p.s thanks for the quick response
Answer Dr. Bairbre O'Malley
Bairbre O'Malley Veterinary Hospital
Ronoc House Kilmantain Place
Bray Co. Wicklow
Phone: 01 2723857
Website: www.veterinary.ie
Unfortunately, this is the only board certified exotic vet in Ireland that is a member of the AEMV. There are no other vets available. It would be worth the drive to see this wonderful vet though because your rat really has a serious problem that needs treated promptly or it could lead to more serious problems that could prove fatal.
