a few weeks ago my rat developed an issue of protruding penis. The
vet did a procedure to fix that problem. She put a stitch in to
keep it in place, the stitch was self-desolving. She had put an E-
collar on him and when I got him home and settled in I notice his
head was swollen(?). I removed the E-collar and the procedure she
performed is successful. But ever since this his back foot had
swollen. I took him to a different vet because he had also quit
eating any solid food that had to be chewed. He had lost 2 ounces
and was dehydrated even he was taking in fluid. The 2nd vet was
suspicious of trauma being the problem with his foot. He was
supposed to have been sedated during the penis procedure but I am
having serious doubts about that now. The 2nd vet gave him an
injection of dexamthasone on advice of the RatLady. Plus he was
placed on amoxcillin as a precaution against possible infection. A
week later no improvement... went back and they rehydrated him and
gave him and injection of Baytril and more for me to give him orally
at home. Two weeks later still no improvement. He will only eat
macarone and cheese strained baby food with dry oatmeal baby cereal
mixed with it but NOT to the consistency that it needs to be chewed.
He will eat a small piece of the Krafts cheese slices. Less than a
1/2" square piece. Now all his feet look swollen. His elimination
processes seem to be functioning fine. It is NOT bumblefoot. No
respiratory infection. Does anyone have any clue as to what could be
the problem? He goes back to the vet Monday Oct 4,2004. I wanted to
glean any info I could that may help the vet in their prognosis. The
vet is recommending blood test and sedation to use a mouth speculum
to check inside the mouth for problems. I am deeply concerned about
this because he is not in a strong physical state at this time. The
vets feel none of this is age related as he is at half his normal
lifespan for his specie. Help?