A friend of mine had a domestic rat dropped off last night from a relative. My friend is a rehabber. Has drugs. Family that owns rat is unwilling to spend any money. Rehabber has rat as long as needed.
Rat has huge abscess under chin, which now involves the underside of his tongue. The swelling is more so to the right side and is not dead center. The abscess was lanced a few times and puss did come out....so it is an abscess as opposed to a tumor.
Apparently this has been going on for quite some time and rehabber feels if she doesn't get this under control within the next 24-36 hours he will die. He's lost weight, and basically cannot eat or drink. She is preparing to tube hydration and critical care.
Rehabber has him on Metacam and Baytril at the moment. What is best for this in a rat? I suggested Clindamycin, since my vet told me rodents should not take Clavamox (I corrected him on this related to squirrels, but I dont know about rats). Rehabber has Clavamox but she does not have Clindamycin and her vet will not prescribe...only Baytril.
Help Rat people!!!!!
She's looking for suggestions.
Rat forums are suggesting warm compresses and even an acne treatment of benzoyl peroxide to help bring abscess to a head???????? And to use amoxicillin or Baytril and Metronidozole.