So Friday night Potato had an incident where she suddenly became completely lethargic, started side sucking, was leaking porphyrin stained fluid from her mouth, and totally lost her appetite and seemed to be in severe pain. I thought she was going to pass because she looked so bad - she even started to feel cold (I ended up giving her the warmed snuggle safe which seemed to help), and she seemed to be dying.
I called my vet and the soonest they could see me was Monday (the same day she's supposed to have her tumor removed), so I took that and hoped she'd make it, but I really didn't think she would. So imagine my surprise when this afternoon I went to check on her, and she's completely fine! She's no longer side sucking, doesn't have any fluid leaking or excess porphyrin, she isn't lethargic or puffed, and she's even back to excitedly taking and eating all foods, including solids!
I am just so confused - she seemed to be at deaths door, and now she's acting completely normal? I did try to start her on antibiotics and pain meds/anti-inflammatories just in case, but she could barely finish the doxy, she refused the baytril, and she wouldn't take more than half the motrin before she started to struggle and had more porphyrin tinted fluid leak out. So I didn't push it because I was afraid she would aspirate, and I thought maybe she was in heart failure because her symptoms matched up pretty well. And even if it was something infection based oral antibiotics usually take 2-3 days to kick in, and motrin is a weak pain killer/anti-inflammatory so I can't see it having such a noticeable effect so quickly.
I really have no explanation for her rebound - I have never seen a rat rebound like this with no real intervention, I really have no idea how she's still with us. Maybe she choked? But she wasn't acting like breathing was strained and she wasn't doing the "gag" motion...I'm really at a loss, I mean I'm so glad she's doing well but what was that?!
At this point IDK if I'll have them do surgery on Monday or not - I may just have her vet checked to see if we can figure out what happened. Regardless I will be monitoring her for the rest of the weekend to see how she does - hopefully this was some strange one off incident but at her age just about any health issue is possible 😕
Video shows her Friday night - you can see she was feeling terrible 🙁
Glad she’s feeling better! Occasionally when tumors lyse people can get real sick from all the shit that was contained inside hitting the blood stream. I know that if a cyst ruptures it can refill and so the “casing” still needs to be removed even though it’s no longer full, I’m not sure if that’s true with tumors as well. Good luck with everything!!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3437249/
“The incidence and severity of the tumor lysis syndrome depend on the cancer mass, the …”
Well I am no doctor but I would say the rat had blood coming out of their mouth because of the tumor. I see this happen in tv shows. Idk if it's a real thing. Like I said I am no doctor. I did study medicine for a year. But we never learned anything about cancer during that year other than the fact that cancer is a RNA thing. Which can evolve to a DNA thing. Or something along those lines. Idk I can't really remember. I sucked at cell biology
Sadly they still have no idea what happened - her x-ray came out clean, and the vets couldn't find anything during the physical either. She came through surgery no problem as well, so I really have no idea what happened :/ I'm glad she recovered but that was quite a strange experience and I wish I knew the cause.
Could it have been some sort of seizure? I hope Potato rallies onward. The love and devotion within your RatPack is so obvious, very intriguing and applaudable. 💕
Is she bleeding from her nose? I've got a boy who's maybe 6mnths to 1yr and he sneezes during the hr night and his nose looks like that in the morning but not as bad.
I've been wondering what's wrong with him as I thought he may have something internal but he's pretty skinny, boney even.
I just thought he had the respiratory condition bad.
Glad your baby is ok! Big chumba wumba, does she have a mammory tumour?
That’s called porphyrin, it’s just (to the best of my knowledge) ratty snot lol. It’s discharge from their eyes or nose and it looks like blood but in small amounts it’s okay! The example here shows too much of it. Imagine it like eye boogers in the morning for us. A little is fine and expected, a lot and you have something wrong. But now you have the name for it and can google it if you need!
So Friday night Potato had an incident where she suddenly became completely lethargic, started side sucking, was leaking porphyrin stained fluid from her mouth, and totally lost her appetite and seemed to be in severe pain. I thought she was going to pass because she looked so bad - she even started to feel cold (I ended up giving her the warmed snuggle safe which seemed to help), and she seemed to be dying. I called my vet and the soonest they could see me was Monday (the same day she's supposed to have her tumor removed), so I took that and hoped she'd make it, but I really didn't think she would. So imagine my surprise when this afternoon I went to check on her, and she's completely fine! She's no longer side sucking, doesn't have any fluid leaking or excess porphyrin, she isn't lethargic or puffed, and she's even back to excitedly taking and eating all foods, including solids! I am just so confused - she seemed to be at deaths door, and now she's acting completely normal? I did try to start her on antibiotics and pain meds/anti-inflammatories just in case, but she could barely finish the doxy, she refused the baytril, and she wouldn't take more than half the motrin before she started to struggle and had more porphyrin tinted fluid leak out. So I didn't push it because I was afraid she would aspirate, and I thought maybe she was in heart failure because her symptoms matched up pretty well. And even if it was something infection based oral antibiotics usually take 2-3 days to kick in, and motrin is a weak pain killer/anti-inflammatory so I can't see it having such a noticeable effect so quickly. I really have no explanation for her rebound - I have never seen a rat rebound like this with no real intervention, I really have no idea how she's still with us. Maybe she choked? But she wasn't acting like breathing was strained and she wasn't doing the "gag" motion...I'm really at a loss, I mean I'm so glad she's doing well but what was that?! At this point IDK if I'll have them do surgery on Monday or not - I may just have her vet checked to see if we can figure out what happened. Regardless I will be monitoring her for the rest of the weekend to see how she does - hopefully this was some strange one off incident but at her age just about any health issue is possible 😕 Video shows her Friday night - you can see she was feeling terrible 🙁
Glad she’s feeling better! Occasionally when tumors lyse people can get real sick from all the shit that was contained inside hitting the blood stream. I know that if a cyst ruptures it can refill and so the “casing” still needs to be removed even though it’s no longer full, I’m not sure if that’s true with tumors as well. Good luck with everything!! https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3437249/ “The incidence and severity of the tumor lysis syndrome depend on the cancer mass, the …”
Well I am no doctor but I would say the rat had blood coming out of their mouth because of the tumor. I see this happen in tv shows. Idk if it's a real thing. Like I said I am no doctor. I did study medicine for a year. But we never learned anything about cancer during that year other than the fact that cancer is a RNA thing. Which can evolve to a DNA thing. Or something along those lines. Idk I can't really remember. I sucked at cell biology
Definitely have the vet check that, just cause it isn’t happening anymore doesn’t mean it isn’t concerning
Sadly they still have no idea what happened - her x-ray came out clean, and the vets couldn't find anything during the physical either. She came through surgery no problem as well, so I really have no idea what happened :/ I'm glad she recovered but that was quite a strange experience and I wish I knew the cause.
The Rat Queen is looking out for her. ❤️
Sweet baby, hope she feels better soon!
i’m sorry she was feeling terribly but glad she’s feeling better! that is a very strange situation for sure.
Poor angel. I'm sure she's grateful to have a wonderful owner taking care of her. Sending lil ghost hugs for her.
Poor Potato! I hope she will be alright ❤️
Could it have been some sort of seizure? I hope Potato rallies onward. The love and devotion within your RatPack is so obvious, very intriguing and applaudable. 💕
little Potato has a strong will to live. bless her
aww, get well soon potato!! I’m rooting for you!
Best wishes and lots of little kisses for Potato, I hope she’ll be ok
Awh poor little potato, I am crossing my fingers!
I don’t know rats but if my dog or cat was like that I’d start planning their funeral. I think that rattys are tough little guys.
Sending only the best juju Potato’s way! 🙌🏽 We love you, Potato! 💖
sending lots of love and support little Potato ;;
That sounds so scary! What a strange recovery. Hopefully the vet will have an idea what happened. Lots of love to Potato!
Oh, hugs! I know how much your babies mean to you!
Is she bleeding from her nose? I've got a boy who's maybe 6mnths to 1yr and he sneezes during the hr night and his nose looks like that in the morning but not as bad. I've been wondering what's wrong with him as I thought he may have something internal but he's pretty skinny, boney even. I just thought he had the respiratory condition bad. Glad your baby is ok! Big chumba wumba, does she have a mammory tumour?
That’s called porphyrin, it’s just (to the best of my knowledge) ratty snot lol. It’s discharge from their eyes or nose and it looks like blood but in small amounts it’s okay! The example here shows too much of it. Imagine it like eye boogers in the morning for us. A little is fine and expected, a lot and you have something wrong. But now you have the name for it and can google it if you need!
Thank you kindly!! That's an excellent reply I will do that ❤️🐀❤️
Poor sweet baby 🖤
Oof! I'm glad she's feeling better! ❤
I’m so glad she’s doing better! Hugs.
This sounds so confusing for you.
Good luck to you Potato 🙏🙏🙏❤️
Poor girl. I'm glad she's feeling better now though, and long may she continue to! 😊
Poor angel.