I think my rats got brain damage...would it be better to put him down?

[charliecat]

The vet has sort of confirmed it.
Ive to ring in a week to give him a report of how hes doing.
Would he be better off asleep?
Hes eating weeing and pooing but is dazed a lot of the time and prefers to stay sitting in the one spot, the other rats are wandering round, curious, eager to try new things, smell everything.
This little one, seems to think to do something and walks backwards instead
Would he better off asleep?

dp says.... he does not know

vet will do asessment and advise which path to take - poor you charlie - does he seem content

yes

He doesnt seem miserable, hes sleeping a lot, I just want to cry every time I look at him though He looks confused sometimes but OK the next.

Charliecat - How did he get brain damage? Or is it a baby rat that you've just noticed acts differently?

Its a little rat, not sure how old that my big old bull of a rat bit the other night So frigging hard this has happened

So you think he's been brain damaged by being bitten??? Bear with me... I'm confused!

If he's been bitten... it sounds more like he has an infection or is in pain. My rat had a horrendous infection that suddenly made stuff leak from his nose and eyes and he could hardly move.... but he still ate and drank.

He definelty has something, he got bit round the back of his ear, massive swelling to side of head, on antibiotics.
Hes doing what elephants do that are in zoos, the swinging head from side to side, not all the time, a couple of times ive saw him do it, and the vet said that sounds like a brain injury

He lost a lot of blood and the rat that bit him is 5 x his size

CC - When did he go on the AB's? Let them work and see afterwards.

My vet told me to give my rat calpol (tiny amount in water). It works to bring down a fever and help pain relief just like humans. Try that and see if he perks up. Then you'll know its the discomfort making him act like that.

BUT if it is brain damage... then definitely better to get him put to sleep.

erm..hes had 3 nights worth of antibs, have no calpol, been meaning to get some for ages.
He had a painkiller from the vets the other night and there was no massive improvement.
The only thing im holding hope for is becasue its near his ear, balance...swaying, etc?
And I noticed the other rat looking at my stripy throwover and going a bit unsteady on his feet so they must see things differently to us.
If the swelling goes down and hes still the same I will be gutted

Some sort of good news going on here...the anti -ss ran out and within 48 hours a HUGE absess had erupted, took to vets they popped it-what a stench and now ive got to continue flushing it out with pethidine etc.
The swaying is due to him being a white rat with red eyes apparently, they do it to focus Good job I didnt get him put down in a hurry:0

Charliecat - yay for your rattie. I had a red-eyed rat and she had to sway to keep things in focus. She looked drunk all the time. And a rat with one red eye that used to look at you with her head on one side.

I MISS MY RATTIES

Get another couple Cant tell you much how much I love my lot. I have 5...