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The ratty girls

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Really sorry to hear this - fingers crossed the wound stays closed now & there are no more complications.
 
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I also hope there are no more complications. Antibiotics can be lifesaving and they usually give an injection of antibiotic as standard post surgery. I haven't been aware of antibiotics causing diarrhoea but maybe rats are different. I know after Pickle's surgery, the vet sprayed a kind of invisible plaster over the wound to help keep it clean. If they chew at a wound it's usually because it's painful so I would maybe check the metacam dose with the vet. Infection causes a wound to be much more painful as well. If it's broken down it's highly likely to have got infected. But I guess your vet knows what they're doing. If you have any doubts though, I'd get another opinion,
 
We just saw the vet again. The half of her wound that she didn't reopen is healing well. The other half still has some way to go and may reopen if the glue unsticks but that'll just mean she needs a bit more attention under local anaesthetic. Still looks like she doesn't have an infection.

She is still refusing to eat or drink but is still alert and peeing so she isn't dangerously dehydrated. Hopefully she starts to feel less miserable soon...
 
Glad to hear there are at least some signs of healing - hope she starts to feel better & begins to eat & drink a little soon.
 
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It is really good to hear her wound is starting to heal now and there is no sign of infection. I hope she feels like eating and drinking soon.
 
I made her some porridge with malt paste mixed in this morning and she has had a bit of a lick at it twice today. Going to stop trying to force her to drink because if she's starting to get a bit of an appetite back she's probably best left to start to drink and eat a little by herself rather than be upset by me forcing stuff on her which pretty much all just ends up in her fur anyway...
 
It is great she showed interest in the porridge and malt paste.
 
I've heard her crunching a nugget and using her water bottle already today. I think she's starting to feel a bit better at last. She has been on the maximum dose of metacam since wednesday. I plan to keep her on that until she is reliably eating and drinking enough and then start slowly tapering.
 
Great news - fingers crossed she’ll keep getting better now.
 
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She looks to be enjoying the raisin. Is she drinking now? That's what would worry me most.
 
The higher metacam dose is definitely helping her a lot. She didn't touch any food or drink over night but after some metacam this morning she has had some porridge and is having a good drink out of her bottle right now.
 
I've not heard of tapering a dose of Metacam before. With my vet it was either - they're on it - or stop it. I'm not sure a half dose would do any good. After Pickle had surgery I was told to stop the Metacam after 5 days (that was without complications). Which I did. But thought he looked like was still in pain that first missed dose so I kept him on it for another few days at the full dose and then stopped it. And he was fine then - it was just too soon to stop it. Metacam is the equivalent to Ibuprofen for humans so I'm not sure a half dose would have any effect. It's either a dose that works, or it doesn't.
 
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Maz said:
I've not heard of tapering a dose of Metacam before. With my vet it was either - they're on it - or stop it. I'm not sure a half dose would do any good. After Pickle had surgery I was told to stop the Metacam after 5 days (that was without complications). Which I did. But thought he looked like was still in pain that first missed dose so I kept him on it for another few days at the full dose and then stopped it. And he was fine then - it was just too soon to stop it. Metacam is the equivalent to Ibuprofen for humans so I'm not sure a half dose would have any effect. It's either a dose that works, or it doesn't.
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My vets advice differs on that. I've never heard of an NSAID being so binary in its behaviour. She is currently on the maximum dose, which isn't great for prolonged periods so as soon as she is able to taper down to a more moderate dose the better, though obviously not until her discomfort levels drop.
 
There is definitely leeway within a dose. The dose is worked out on weight and metabolism, but with the leeway, a slightly higher or lower dose will work. Below the lower dose I doubt it would have its effect is what I meant. I don't think the length of time on Metacam is an issue as long as it's not too high a dose. It's only when the dose is too high it can impact their kidneys. So a maximum safe dose is fine. Vets do vary in their opinions it's true. I'm more familiar with the effects of human drugs. I have this disagreement with my OH sometimes. When he says he'll take half a dose of paracetamol so it isn't as bad for him and I say that's pointless as it won't work as pain relief - better to take the full dose or nothing.
 
It is good the maximum dose is helping her and she is drinking. It's clearly helping. I hope she continues to improve.
 
Maz said:
There is definitely leeway within a dose. The dose is worked out on weight and metabolism, but with the leeway, a slightly higher or lower dose will work. Below the lower dose I doubt it would have its effect is what I meant. I don't think the length of time on Metacam is an issue as long as it's not too high a dose. It's only when the dose is too high it can impact their kidneys. So a maximum safe dose is fine. Vets do vary in their opinions it's true. I'm more familiar with the effects of human drugs. I have this disagreement with my OH sometimes. When he says he'll take half a dose of paracetamol so it isn't as bad for him and I say that's pointless as it won't work as pain relief - better to take the full dose or nothing.
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The recommended dose as per the British Small Animal Vet Association for rats is 1-2mg/kg so there is quite a bit of room for adjusting the dose depending on risk vs benefit
 
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