Apollo is in the hospital - Paw Talk

mtmaughan · #1 06-29-2009, 05:34 AM

I rushed Apollo to the emergency vet last night when he couldn't walk and was squeaking painfully. He had just been to examine one of his legs which he has not been using well. I'm so glad I didn't wait until this morning because the vets found that he had blood in his urine. So they kept him overnight and are working on flushing his system and doing tests to find out what's causing it. They gave me an estimate of over $700 for everything. Aaaaahhhhh! Not happy about it, but it's got to be done.

I'm supposed to leave on Thursday to go on vacation for 5 days. My mom will be taking care of the rats while I'm gone. I really hope that he's back and stable by then because my brother paid for my plane ticket as a gift and I'd feel terrible if I had to cancel. Life is so crazy right now!

Please send your good thoughts to Apollo. I should be getting an update today on how he's doing.

lilspaz68 · #2 06-29-2009, 06:21 AM

They should probably have started with expressing a little urine from his bladder and looking for blood. It sounds like Apollo has a UTI (urinary tract infection)...they hurt and often cause a rat to limp around and some males even become "paralysed" in the back.

Get him on good meds and hopefully he should be fine in a few days, UTI's usually respond fast.

mtmaughan · #3 06-29-2009, 10:34 AM

They worked on expressing his bladder all night. There is a lot of blood in his urine. He has a severe blockage and cannot urinate on his own. He had several tests done and it is not an infection.

X-rays revealed a mass on the base of his spine which is probably the cause of his limping, stool issues (he cannot control his rectum anymore) and urine issues. The options they offered me were to attempt to remove one of his kidneys and "see if that helps", or to just let him go since that probably wouldn't work and he might die in the process anyway.

bokuza · #4 06-29-2009, 12:48 PM

Oh wow! I hope the little guy is ok. :C
Keep us updated on whats going on and the outcome!!!!
Me and Bishop will sit here and send happy thoughts his way.

RenishaS · #5 06-29-2009, 03:42 PM

I'm so sorry your little guy is going through that. You're both in our thoughts, keep us updated.

lilspaz68 · #6 06-29-2009, 07:06 PM

Oh dear, the poor little guy! I am so sorry

I guess you will have to let him go? Its a terrible surgery and not a common one

((hugs))

mtmaughan · #7 06-29-2009, 07:46 PM

I decided to have my little man put down today. I spoke to the vet while I was at work and they kept him comfortable until I got off and I went to say goodbye to him. It was a hard day but it's for the best. He was obviously drugged up when I saw him, but he still started bruxing and licking me while I was spending my last few minutes with him.

RIP Apollo

ShannonMarie · #8 06-29-2009, 08:34 PM

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that.

Poor little guy! At least you got to say your good byes to him, and he was happy in his last moments.

RIP Apollo

clairebee1 · #9 06-29-2009, 09:42 PM

Oh, Im so sorry hun!
Rip man.!

bokuza · #10 06-29-2009, 11:38 PM

Im so sorry...I know how hard it is to let them go.
Im glad his last minutes were full of love and seeing you though~

:C

RenishaS · #11 06-30-2009, 07:05 PM

I'm so sorry. You did the right thing though. He shouldn't have to live in pain. He's in a better place now and I'm sure he's waiting for you.

Rip Apollo

Brighteyed · #12 07-01-2009, 02:23 PM

its always hard to when a pet passes on. im glad he had happy last moments.