The ratty girls

[Maz]

I am sorry to hear this. Did the vet give a post op sheet? I had one of those when a hamster has surgery. It may be slightly different with rats. The main thing was to keep them warm, especially the first two days. If they hadn’t peed or done any poo within a day they had to go back and if they weren’t eating or drinking by next day they had to go back. Any sign of wound leakage and they had to go back. Also they were on Metacam until the post op check.

I guess those were signs of post op complications like a blockage or infection.

It’s good you’ve spoken to the vet - I would be concerned if she’s not drinking normally. Assume she’s on Metacam?

 

[Banned Member 1]

I am sorry to hear this. Did the vet give a post op sheet? I had one of those when a hamster has surgery. It may be slightly different with rats. The main thing was to keep them warm, especially the first two days. If they hadn’t peed or done any poo within a day they had to go back and if they weren’t eating or drinking by next day they had to go back. Any sign of wound leakage and they had to go back. Also they were on Metacam until the post op check.

I guess those were signs of post op complications like a blockage or infection.

It’s good you’ve spoken to the vet - I would be concerned if she’s not drinking normally. Assume she’s on Metacam?

Yeah, she is on Metacam. I wasn't given a post-op sheet but I was told to check she is peeing as the surgery was quite close to her private parts. She has been peeing ok but haven't seen any poos yet. She has a check-up on Monday.

The vet had me check the wound in the e-mail exchange today and it seems fine.

It isn't unusual for rats to not want to eat or drink just from being separated from their cagemates. I struggled to get food and water into Miku for two weeks when she had her surgery. As soon as I put a friend with her she'd regain some enthusiasm... Problem is that that comes with its own risks so is better avoided unless absolutely necessary...

 

[Maz]

Poor thing - I hope she feels more like drinking soon. It’s good she is having a check up on Monday. I don’t know much about rats. How long can they go without drinking? With hamsters it’s only about 2 days maximum.

 

[Banned Member 1]

Poor thing - I hope she feels more like drinking soon. It’s good she is having a check up on Monday. I don’t know much about rats. How long can they go without drinking? With hamsters it’s only about 2 days maximum.

Last time I tried to look that up I couldn't find any consistant opinion. I kept Miku going for about two weeks with very frequent small doses of water with a syringe. Hoping Harley's recovery isn't so drawn out though...

 

[Maz]

Maybe the vet will know?

 

[Maz]

A few places on Google say they can go up to four days without water. So syringing it a bit might be an idea.

 

[Maz]

It sounds like fluid might need draining if it’s fluid - but that can come back. I wonder if they will put a drain in.

 

[elusive]

You obviously know far more about rats than I do but just wondered if a little malt paste might tempt her?

 

[Banned Member 1]

You obviously know far more about rats than I do AJ but just wondered if a little malt paste might tempt her?

Ooh, do you mean the Beaphar Malt Paste? If so that's a super great idea, rats can rarely resist that stuff!

 

[elusive]

Yes that’s the one I was thinking of, it’s worked with very sick hams for me.

 

[Banned Member 1]

Yes that’s the one I was thinking of, it’s worked with very sick hams for me.

ooh, great to know it is safe for hamsters! She did just nibble a couple of dry oats by herself, which is a good sign.

 

[elusive]

A little nibble is a start, hope she keeps that up.
I wouldn’t normally give it to hams but for sick or really old ones it’s fine.

 

[Maz]

I think the liquids sound fairly urgent as well. I read something about offering sugar water with a dropper every 10 minutes. I suppose the metacam will be some liquid but probably not enough.

 

[Banned Member 1]

I think the liquids sound fairly urgent as well. I read something about offering sugar water with a dropper every 10 minutes. I suppose the metacam will be some liquid but probably not enough.

She managed to wriggle out of her bandages so I have been letting her have some time out of them with me watching her constantly and stopping her every time she tries to pick at herself. She drank a little bit of sweetened water out of a bowl and has been mostly napping for the past hour.

 

[Maz]

That's good she's drinking a bit. The Metacam is supposed to stop them wanting to bite at their wounds apparently so it suggests she might be still getting some discomfort from it if she's been doing something in that area. My vet said the metacam works very well to stop them feeling the wound. However I could tell when it was starting to wear off around the time the next dose was due and had considered splitting the dose to twice a day - but didn't in the end as things improved quickly.

 

[Banned Member 1]

A little nibble is a start, hope she keeps that up.
I wouldn’t normally give it to hams but for sick or really old ones it’s fine.

She was very enthused about the malt paste

I normally give them all a little bit once a week but will give Harley a small bit every day until she is eating reliably.

 

[Banned Member 1]

Spoiler: Skip over this post if you're squeamish...

She showed no interest in picking at her wound last night so I let her have a night without the bandage because I thought that might make her more inclined to eat and drink something. She was fine first thing this morning. Then she decided it'd be super fun times to open up half her incision so I had to rush her back to the vets. We managed to glue her back together (with a local anaesthetic) which will hopefully hold. If it comes apart again the vet will attempt to put some stitches in under local... She's booked in for another check-up on thursday and hopefully she'll be fine till then. No freedom from her bandage prison now unfortunately...

 

[Maz]

I’m sorry to hear that. I hope she is on antibiotics is it sounds like the wound might have been breaking down and that is often caused by infection. And a high risk of it becoming infected now if it’s been open.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Oh no! The glue is a good idea and I really hope this keeps everything in place.

 

[Banned Member 1]

I’m sorry to hear that. I hope she is on antibiotics is it sounds like the wound might have been breaking down and that is often caused by infection. And a high risk of it becoming infected now if it’s been open.

There are no signs of infection. Pretty sure it opened solely because of her chewing at it. The problem with antibiotics is they often cause diarrhea which would mean she couldnt have the metacam and would worsen her dehydration. Also diarrhea near her wound would be bad.

The vet doesn't want to start antibiotics till there are signs it is actually necessary.