ANTIBIOTICS
What every rat owner should know about antibiotics.
LIFE SAVER
Antibiotics do save lives, BUT they are not always the answer to everything. Antibiotics should only be taken when needed. Sometimes there are other medications that will be more effective.
BACTERIA VS VIRUSES
Antibiotics are for bacteria, not for viruses. Make sure you know what your animal is being treated for. In some cases, when there is an issue caused by viruses, a vet may prescribe antibiotics to combat secondary bacterial infections etc.
EFFECTIVENESS
Not all antibiotics work for all bacteria. Some antibiotics work only on very certain bacteria and some are more board spectrum.
TIME FRAME
Antibiotics do not work instantly. Depending on how long your animals course is and what it is for, it can take from 3 days to a week to start showing improvement. The standard lenght for an antibiotics course is 10-14 days. Some courses can be a lot lenghtier depending on what is being treated.
RESISTANCE
ALWAYS finish the prescribed antibiotics even if your animal seems fine. It is critical to take antibiotics as prescribed to avoid unnecessary resistances and make the medicine less and less affective.
SELF DOSING
If you need antibiotics go to the vet. Do not prescribe antibiotics without knowledge of them. You can cause more long term harm than good. It can be tempting to use those antibiotcs you have left from last time, but this is not a good idea. The shelf life of medicine changes the moment the container is opened. On top of this, the animal needs to be weighed and assessed before an accurate prescription can be given. Consult a vet, not yourself.
HOW TO GIVE ANTIBIOTICS AND OTHER MEDICATIONS
You might be asking yourself, how on earth am i meant to give my rats their medication? They all hate it and wont take what i offer them. Here are some tips and tricks that may come in handy.
BABY FOOD
Mixing liquid or powder medications into small amounts of tasty baby food is a great way to get your rats to take their medicine. Salmon, chicken and apple baby foods tend to work the best.
WET CAT FOOD
Even picky rats have a hard time saying no to fish based cat foods. These are smelly and hide the taste of medicine quite well. Cat foods can a be a good easy to eat boost for very sick rats as well.
MAYO, MELTED VANILLA ICE CREAM, JAM
These are some of the more creative ways to hide medicine. If your rats are being difficult, one of these three options might do the trick!
FORCE
Sometimes we have to just force the animal to take their mediacation. Few seconds of discomfort is worth it to give your rat potentially life saving medication. Place the medicine into a syringe, put the syringe in the rats mouth and aim slightly to the size towards the cheek and squirt the medicine. Even if the animal doesn't get every single drop, you're making progress.
INJECTION
If your rat is weak or impossible to feed medicine to, its worth talking to your vet if they offer an injectable version of the medication and are willing to show you how to administer it. Do NOT inject mediations that are meant for oral use, the concentraton and dilution agents are different.
COMMON ANTIBIOTICS AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM.
Not all antibiotics are used for the same things nor do they have the same spectrum. Here you can learn about the basics of some of the antibiotics your vet might prescribe you.
TIP: If your rats tumy is upset from antibiotics, you can offer them probiotics, banana and/or plain yogurt.
AMIKACIN
Used for severe infections. Can have quite a bit of side effects, not the first go to.
AMOXICILLIN
Good for preventing infections post surgery and post injury. Can cause stomach upset.
NOT effective against mycoplasma.
AZITHROMYCIN
Great for young rats, especially for those that would need a course of Doxycycline, which is not suitabe for young rats.
Effective against mycoplasma
CEFADROXIL
Good for preventing infections post surgery and post inury.
NOT effective against mycoplasma.
CHLORAMPHENICOL PALMITATE
Penetrates tissue many other antibiotics cannot. Has a lot of side effects so should only be used when all else fails. Do not combine with Tylan, Erythromycin or Zithromax.
Effective against mycoplasma
CLAVAMOX
Used alot in USA. Can cause stomach upset.
NOT effective against mycoplasma
DOXYCYCLINE
Most effective when paired with enrofloxacine. Shouldn't not be given to rats under 4 months of age unless nothing else works.
Effective against mycoplasma
ENROFLOXACIN
Most common general antibiotic. Should be paired with Doxycycline for best results against respiratory infections. Should not be given to pregant rats.
Effective against mycoplasma, but results are better when paired with a second medication.
ERYTHROMYCIN
Often causes upset tummies. Do not combine with Chloramphenicol or Lincosamides.
Effective against mycoplasma
SULFAMETHOXAZOLE / TRIMETHOPRIM
Great for Urinary track infections.
Not effective against mycoplasma
SULFATRIM
Often prescribed for very young rats with non myco related respiratory issues. This should be tried with young rats before stronger antibiotics.
NOT effective against mycoplasma
TETRACYCLINE
Good for post surgery and for mild respiratory infections. Do NOT use with dairy products.
Effective against mycoplasma.