Rattitude - Where Rats Rule! » veterinarian

Pet Heaven Trial to be Continued … in October!

Mr.Rattitude — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:52:22 +0000

Another article dealing with this supposed trial can be found here.

This all seems to be stemming from a few grieving pet keepers; and, in my humble opinion, a veterinarian that brought this upon himself, and Pet Heaven, through a lack of clear communication. A Russian translator being used in the courtroom seems more a tactic than a necessity, but I am only reading the details from the articles not attending the proceedings in person.

The trial has now been scheduled to be continued in October! This leads me to believe there is no urgency in the courts to address this matter. I’ll be adding the October 1-2 dates into my calendar to keep up to date with this all the same.

Pet Heaven

Mr.Rattitude — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:05:02 +0000

The front page of one of today’s newspapers managed to grab my attention. Generally I read most of my “news” online, but from time to time I will wander over to a co-workers area and glance through their paper.

Today’s splashy front page shows a woman, a dog and the over-sized type, “DIE AT HOME”. Here is a link to the article, which really should be read through entirely before giving further thought to the sensationalistic headlines pointing to further into the newspaper.

The article describes to some extent the actions of The College of Veterinarians of Ontario to stop this couple from providing services they believe are a benefit to the pet keeping communities.

These services, offered by Pet Heaven, are essentially in-home services being rendered via referral by qualified veterinarians. The controversy seems centered around the euthanizing of pets at home by these referred mobile veterinarians; and, possibly more so, in my opinion, the additional services of Pet Heaven removing and/or transporting the deceased pet afterwards.

I believe Pet Heaven’s offering of this type of referral service is a grand gesture and I am most interested in the outcome of this trial.

How do you feel about mobile vets; and, this type of referral?

TeeTu – Rest in Peace

Mr.Rattitude — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:23:56 +0000

TeeTu, or as he had recently become known as, our Chi-Rat, left us last night. He was an ornery little cuss, and we loved him dearly for that. He was our oldest boy, but that did not slow him down. Nothing did, at least until last night.

After work, Mrs.R and I came home to TeeTu in apparent respiratory distress of some sort. We tried to see if perhaps it was a piece of food lodged in his throat or something similar, but he was not cooperating in any fashion. He was gasping for breathe an becoming more and more agitated as the minutes passed. It was time for a vet visit, hopefully a professional would be able to solve this quickly.

I called our rat vet. I cannot say enough good things about this man. An animal lover of absolutely no doubt, Dr. Aziz of Aquitaine Animal Clinic. He offered us an appointment in an hour, then said I will see you then I am just waiting for you. When I said we could leave immediately, he said in his peculiar accent, “come!” We were there in less than 10 minutes.

TeeTu received a full exam. The doctor, working on his own due to it being late in the day, tended to TeeTu, a rambunctious pup that had suffered a severe allergic reaction, and an individual that brought in their cat to be euthanized. All at the same time. TeeTu after being examined and having his temperature uncomfortably taken, was moved to the procedures area. As Mrs.R held TeeTu, Dr. Aziz administered gas to begin sedating TeeTu to continue an even more thorough examination.

A small lump was found in TeeTu’s throat area; the shaver was used to remove the fur in the area; a fine needle aspiration was made; slides made; stains created; and, microscopic analysis was done. TeeTu had the beginnings of a cancerous type of tumor, and it was inoperable. Fortunately it was also very small and with medication the doctor suggested it may be possible for TeeTu to continue for possible another six months.

We took TeeTu home with instructions for giving him MetaCam for reducing the inflammation he was suffering, that was the apparent cause for his gasping breaths. We were also to give TeeTu an antibiotic as the MetaCam is considered an immunosuppressive medication. An infection in TeeTu’s condition would be very bad. We gave TeeTu his first does of MetaCam, which appeared to help. We tried to help clear his nasal passages as the doctor showed us how to, TeeTu would have nothing to do with that. Our Chi-Rat, ornery little one that he was! TeeTu became extremely agitated shortly after that.

Mrs.R recognized the signs … she picked up TeeTu and held him close.

TeeTu entered into a very short, but severe, bout of convulsions. Then he became very quiet, and subdued. Then he passed as Mrs.R stroked his back and told him how much we loved him.

To The Vet, Or Not To The Vet?

Mr.Rattitude — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:49:19 +0000

That is NOT the question!

Good intentions are one thing, poor judgement is something altogether different.

It is quite a common thing to find on forums, especially pet related forums, backyard vets and other wannabe medical professionals hiding behind the screens of the Internet. Now that is an extreme point of view and fortunately it also seems to be a cyclical event on forums. Also, fortunately there are many rat community members that have many years of experience that they are willing to share in attempts to help another rat keeper bide their time until their next vet appointment.

It also does not help that new, and old alike, rat keepers tend to find themselves weighing the cost of a vet visit versus the welfare of their pet. I’m not singling out rat keepers, it just happens my family has had pet rats for several years and we are familiar with them and some of the online rat communities. Nor am I saying all people that chose rats for pets are this way.

It is also a sad fact of life that people will try to find the easiest way to do something, which includes the care of their pets. Easy may mean less expensive; maybe not having to leave the house; or, simply not having to bother with the issue at all and hoping that if ignored it will go away. Sometimes easy is just another word for excuses.

Instead of getting a professional opinion from a qualified veterinarian many people simply ask randomly on forums or other venues their questions and then quite simply most will then follow the strongest reply, or the most well written answer, or judge the merit of the person’s suggestion by how many thousands of posts they have made on that particular site.

Good intentions are one thing, poor judgement is something altogether different.

If your rat is not well, or you believe your pet is feeling ill, then all the research you do as a lay person is most likely just going to allow you to either ask a more intelligent question of your veterinarian, or allow your veterinarian to use more succinct wording with their explanations.

BUT, with emphasis on this point, the key here is take your rat to your vet if it is not well; or, even if it is doing just fine and you want your vet to have a benchmark for future reference. All the suggestions in the world from well meaning forums members, and yes even the harsh and rude ones, will not replace a proper exam by a qualified professional.

At www.RatChatter.com we strive to have our members share first-hand experience about their rats, especially when it comes to their welfare, but we also recognize that the diagnosis from a qualified veterinarian is one of the most important things when treating a sick pet.

RatChatter Forums Are Two Today

Pain Medication Guide for Pet Rats et al.

Mr.Rattitude — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:29:11 +0000

Recommendations for Analgesia in Rats and Mice

Oral:

Drug name*	Species	Dose	Frequency	Controlled substance?
Aspirin	Rodents	100-400 mg/kg	1-2X per day	No
Meloxicam	Rats	1.0 mg/kg	Daily	No
Buphrenorphine	Rodents	0.01-0.02 mg/ml drinking water	Daily	Yes
Buphrenorphine	Rodents	0.5 mg/kg in jello	Daily	Yes
Carprofen	Rodents	5-10 mg/kg in water or jello	Daily or once post-operatively	No
Ibuprofen	Mice	30 mg/kg—4.7 ml Children’s Motrin in 500 ml water	Daily	No
Ibuprofen	Rats	15 mg/kg—2.35 ml Children’s Motrin in 500 ml water	Daily	No
Ketoprofen	Rodents	5 mg/kg	Daily	No

*Because of its potential for abuse, use of Buphrenorphine in water would need to be approved by the Office of Regulatory Affairs and done in accordance with all rules regarding controlled substances

Injectable analgesic options:

Drug*	Species	Dose	Route	Frequency	Controlled?
Buphrenorphine	Rodents	0.05-0.1 mg/kg	IM, SC, IP	Daily	Yes
Butorphanol	Rodents	1-2 mg/kg	SC	Every 4 hours	Yes
Flunixin meglumine (Banamine)	Rodents	2.5 mg/kg	SC	1-2X per day	No
Ketoprofen	Rodent	5 mg/kg	SQ	Daily	No
Morphine	Rodents	5 mg/kg	SQ	Every 2-4 hours	Yes
Carprofen	Rodents	5-10 mg/kg	SQ	Daily	No
Meloxicam	Rats	1.0 mg/kg	SQ	Daily	No

* Ketoprofen and Buphrenophine are used as injectable drugs with good pain relieving capacities. Please consult an RAR veterinarian with any questions.

Standard analgesic drug selection

Ibuprofen has been recommended for use as a pain reliever with a wide ranging dose of 7.5 to 30 mg/kg (Jenkins, 1987, “Pharmacological Aspects of Analgesic Drugs in Animals: An Overview”, JAVMA 191 (10) pp. 1231; Liles, JH and Flecknell, P, 1992 “Use of NSAID for Relief of Pain in Rodents and Rabbits” Lab Animal 26: p. 241-255). Accordingly, RAR will begin using this drug more routinely as an additive to water to treat mild to moderately painful conditions such as skin lesions, fight wounds and eye abscesses. Carprofen will also be available for use in water as an alternative. Other drugs should be used when severe pain is anticipated. A neophobic response has been documented when adding drugs to water of rats which can cause weight loss but is usually temporary. (“Regarding the Inadvisability of administering postoperative analgesics in the drinking water of rats (Rattus norvegicus)” Speth, Robert C., Smith, Susan, Brogan, Rebecca S. Contemporary Topics In Laboratory Animal Science, 40 (6), 15., Nov. 2001).

Additional characteristics of chosen analgesic drugs

Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and an anti-pyretic (fever) activity. Ibuprofen is a non-specific COX inhibitor resulting in decreased prostaglandin formation. It is well absorbed orally and the majority is excreted in the urine within 24 hours with a small amount also excreted through the stool. Excretion is virtually 100% within 24 hours of the last dose. Possible side effects include gi ulceration, blood thinning effects (avoid use with blood thinning drugs), decrease in efficacy of blood pressure lowering drugs, and an interference with secretion of lithium and aminoglycosides that can result in increased blood levels of those drugs. At higher doses, some renal effects may be seen as well. No studies of effects in pregnancy have been completed (pregnant humans only use it on advice from their doctors) and it is excreted in small amounts into milk.

Carprofen

Carprofen (Rimadyl) is a relatively new drug which has been used in water but has not been scientifically proven to be effective in this route.. (It has, however, been shown to be effective when delivered in jello – Flexnell, 1999 “Comparison of the Effects of Oral or Subcutaneous Carprofen or Ketoprofen in Rats Undergoing Laparotomy” Veterinary Record 144(3): 65-7). Carprofen is a NSAID and has a much more selective effect than Ibuprofen (inhibits COX 2 while allowing COX 1 activity) which protects the GI system while still being effective in lowering pain. In normal dogs, doses up to 10X the recommended dose resulted in little adversity. Animals with chronic disease appear to be most at risk for developing toxicity with this drug. Effects such as gi problems, hepatocellular damage, renal disease, blood thinning effects on platelets activity, and hypoalbuminemia have been reported. Recommended dose is 5-10 mg/kg orally (Plumb Veterinary Drug Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2002).

Meloxicam

Another new NSAID that is available for oral use is Meloxicam. It is expensive and thus may not be practical for every day use but it also shows a more selective inhibition of COX 2. A dose of 1.0 mg/kg orally or subcutaneously once a day for rats has been given.

Jello formulation and use

Jello is used as a way to get an effective dose in all at once for pain relief. Since rats and mice are neophobic, they must be introduced to it for several days before it is needed. Once they try it, they like it. The jello is prepared according to the package directions for Jigglers (with the appropriate amount of drug mixed into the water added) and can be poured into ice cube trays to solidify.

Jello recipes:

Drug name	Species	Amount of drug	Amount of water	Dose per animal
Carprofen	Rat	100 mg crushed	500 cc	Yields 0.2 mg Carprofen /ml–at 5 mg dose give 7.5 ml (1.5 tsp) jello cube, at 10 mg dose give 15 ml (1 Tbsp) jello cube
Buphrenorphine*	Mouse	0.3 mg (one ml vial)	15 ml water	Give 1 cubic ml BID
Buphrenorphine*	Rat	0.3 mg (one ml vial)	3 ml water	Give 4 cubic ml cube BID

*Buphrenorphine is a controlled narcotic drug. Because of its potential for abuse, use of Buphrenorphine in jello would need to be approved by the Office of Regulatory Affairs and done in accordance with all rules regarding controlled substances.

Other resources:

National Institute of Health, Office of Animal Care and Use: “Guidelines on Use of Analgesic Drugs”
Huerkamp, Michael J., “The Use of Analgesic in Rodents and Rabbits” Emory University, website, updated 2/16/2000.
Flecknell P.A. 1996. Anaesthesia and analgesia for rodents and rabbits. In: Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine, Laber-Laird K, Swindle MM and Flecknell PA, eds., Pergammon Press, Butterworth-Heineman, Newton, MA, pp. 219-37.

with thanks, from: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/rar/AcetaminophenUpdate.doc

No related posts.

Good Bye Sweet Pea!

Mr.Rattitude — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:41:02 +0000

Our little girl passed today. It’s been a long few weeks as we helped her valiantly fight a very difficult and aggressive bacterial infection. Our vet did all he could, we did all we could … Sweet Pea did all she could to fight and stay with us.

She spent most of the day in my arms sleeping; when she woke she would take some water and some food by dropper. She tried so hard to drink and eat, making us proud of her efforts. Her last breaths were with Mrs.R, nestled in the crook of her arm, as she appeared to be waiting to say good bye to her “mommy”

She will be deeply missed. She is survived by her brothers, Dash and Bruiser, and her father Inky.

Mrs.R made this video: In Memory of Sweet Pea!

A Fortunate Find

Mr.Rattitude — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:09:31 +0000

The best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can’t ask his patients what is the matter-he’s got to just know.
~~ Will Rogers (1879 – 1935)

I believe Will Rogers would have had Dr. Alaa Aziz of Aquitaine Animal Hospital in mind if he was able to say this today.

We discovered Dr. Aziz quite by accident. We were not looking for a new vet per se, but we were keeping an eye out for a veterinarian that was more comfortable with rats than our long time cat vet. We were actually running an unrelated errand when we noticed the new clinic. We stopped in and chatted with Dr. Aziz and his family/staff. They are all quite nice and the doctor himself is very forthcoming and quite knowledgeable with regards to rats.

Dr. Aziz has treated three of our rats so far. A bit of unfortunate luck on our part, and quite good fortune for our rats that we found such a caring and understanding vet that is more than happy to take care of our little friends.

TeeTu – Rest in Peace