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Herbal Medications, I use and I believe work;

 

When rats get sick (and they ALL will) here are a few things I tend to turn to, to help me hopefully fight whatever they may have. My the common breathing troubles I always start with vix vapor rub on the shower wall, and a hot steam. They I let the rat play in the bathroom (toilet lid down) and run this steamy shower for a good 20 mins. With any sneezes I offer grapefruit seed extract to water right away. I always try and tackle breathing troubles first holistically, but with rats its so very hard as most of the time being a prey animal they will live life like nothing is wrong until the rat is too ill to hide it. Always, always consult your veterinarian. 

 

 

Nosode I offer this to all my rats like a vaccine 2 times per year once in the autumn and again in spring. This is to fight against any mycoplasma flares as they will always be there so long as my rats are not only Laboratory bred.  This shouldnt be given unless you know the exact amount to give to your rats weight as it can be dangerous.

Grapefruit Seed Extract: If I start to hear a sneeze or two in the rattery I give them some grapefruit seed extract in waterbottles. I do about 10 drops per bottle for a few days this almost always fixed the sneezes. 

Respiratory/ Mycoplasmosis:

This is the most common we rat owner face often. This can also take them out quickly if a secondary infection may occur. 

At the first sign of something more then a few sneezes or unwell for any reason offer Aconite, can be offered ever 1-3 hours or 1x per day as needed.  Offer Thymulin 1dose once per week for a month then offer once a month for the next 5 months ( I often forget after the third) Arsenic Album can be used for sneezing and heavy breathing. This can settle a rats panicked breathing and restlessness. Antinomic Tart can be used for gasping for air or rattling of mucus in the chest, elevate the head and steam in shower. Antinomic can be offered every 30 mins as well.

Dosing;

While I do offer my rats several supplements at once time. Its best to only pick and use one at a time. I smash the hard white ball like pills in a spoon and then place in 1cc (1/2 tsp) of water I then draw it into the syringe. So long as your pet is still eating you can place this into a food to consume

Natural approach:

Apple Cider Vinagar: 

Honey (real honey):

Liquid Garlic Extract:

Cinnamon: 

7mushroom blend:

Broccoli/Applesauce/canned pumpkin(my fav)

Take one tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar, mix it with 2 teaspoons Honey, and 10 drops of the liquid Garlic. Mix in 1/4 teaspoon of the 7 mushroom blend. I add just a pinch on cinnamon to this. Mix this and refridge. up to 10 days@.

Mix about a 1/2 teaspoon of applesauce/broccoli to 3-10 drops of the above mix. Offer this 2-3 times a day. 

Unfortunately it will come on that a rat isn't just sneezing but down right sick and has mycoplasosis. All rats carry Mycoplasmosis and they all have "myco flares" upper respiratory infection. Here is what I do to help my guys. It can also take a LOT longer to rid then the general 14-15 days antibiotic normally given by a vet. I reccomend a rat be on its antibiotic for 6-8 weeks.

Minor infection:​ I use both Doxycycline AND Enrofloxin/Baytril. Steam shower 10-20 mins with vaporub on the shower wall 2-3x a day.

Advanced infection: Do the above treatment for the rat and include both prednisone and nebulizer treatment. Nebulizers can be purchased from many medical stores, but you will need a prescription for the soulution unless you make your own. I do an antibiotic (baytril) and steroid (prednisone) mix in mine.

In some cases another anitibiotic may need to be added such as Amoxicillian, if the doxy is not working well. 

 

Aging Rat supplements:

I use this blend for my older girls (18 months plus) 3x a week or offer to a rat that may have already a tumor every day. I have crushed all these pill form stuff together and offer 1/4 tsp of the powder in 1tsp soy yogurt (soy is only for retired non breeders) with 1/2 tsp Flaxseed Oil, Squash baby food and apple baby food with some soaked mushed goji berries. Sometimes I include some chocolate soy protein powder as they love chocolate-who doesn't? Geriatric rats should be offered a low in carbohydrate higher in protein diet to prevent tumors. Most of this can be found in my Senior Supplement.

 

Ingredients:

  • 2x Shark cartilage 750mg 

  • 2x Coriolus Versicolor Super Strength, 600 mg. (expensive)

  • 4x Power Mushrooms

  • 1tsp Turmeric

  • 2x Q10 500mg

  • 1/2x De Arco 545mg

  • 2x Milk Thistle 500mg

  • 2x Grapefruit seed

  • 2x Echinacea 400mg

  • 3x Astragalus Extract 100mg

  • 1x Glucosamine 200mg

  • 2x Sheeps Sorrel

  • 2x Wormwood

Crush in a morter, sealed into baggy.

 

 

Shark cartilage is marketed under a variety of brand names, including Carticin, Cartilade, or BeneFin, and is often explicitly or implicitly marketed as a treatment or preventive for various illnesses including cancer.

 

Coriolus have been found to support and enhance Natural Killer cell function, to stimulate depressed lymphocyte proliferation, and to support the healthy growth of white blood cells. Also, the research shows these constituents to be effective in supporting normal cell growth, improving cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and increasing interleukin-2 production and T-cell proliferation.*

 

Power Mushrooms used to treat cancer and immune deficiency. May slow growth of tumors extremely non toxic makes it very safe.

 

Turmeric, the bright yellow of the spice rainbow, is a powerful medicine that has long been used in the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of conditions, including flatulence, jaundice, menstrual difficulties, bloody urine, hemorrhage, toothache, bruises, chest pain, and colic.

 

CoQ10 Many claims are made about CoQ10. It is said to help heart failure, as well as cancer, muscular dystrophy, and periodontal disease. It is also said to boost energy and speed recovery from exercise. Some people take it to help reduce the effects certain medicines can have on the heart, muscles, and other organs.

 

Pau d’arco is also used for cancer. Interest in this use was intensified by extensive research in the 1960s that focused on the possible anti-cancer activity of lapachol, one of the chemicals in pau d’arco. However, research studies were stopped because, at the amounts needed to be effective against cancer, pau d’arco might well be poisonous. Among other things, it can cause severe internal bleeding.

 

Milk thistle used for fatty liver disease and an antioxidant. Great for liver health through out life.

 

Grapefruit Seed is a wonderful antioxidant 

 

Astragalus is the source of a popular medicine called huang qi available in any drugstore in China for use against colds, flus and other respiratory infections.

 

Glucosamine is a natural chemical compound found in the body. As a supplement, glucosamine is most often used to try to ease the  joint pain caused by  arthritis.

 

Sheep's sorrel Used in herbal remedies, such as Essiac, sheep's sorrel both cleanses tissues and helps aid in their regeneration. In fact, some research has even shown that it helps tissues and cells regain their normal attributes after being damaged by cancer. Helpful in fighting cancer.

 

Wormwood An ancient Chines herb, wormwood has often been proven to perform better than some malaria medications on the market. Due to its strong anti-yeast and anti-microbial properties, it can be an effective component of an anti-candida diet. Some cancer treatments -- for example, those that are used to treat leukemia -- can result in an excess of yeast, while some doctors feel that excess yeast can even be a cause of cancer. Wormwood has properties that are directly anti-cancerous.

 

My go-to extract is Osha Root, I use this if someone has the sniffles, if I want to boost a medication they may be taking. It is a blood purifier, immune stimulant and expectorant. Every rat or pet owner must have some of this in their cabinet. Dose is 1drop extract diluted in 1/2 tsp of water then mixed into a yummy treat.

 

Echinacea I often use that the first sign of a lil'sniffle or slow down in any of my rats (or my self even) If using extract its one drop extract 2x to 3x a day mixed into a tiny amount of wet food treat. Two weeks on and two weeks off. Best not to use with antibiotics.

 

Oregon Grape Root can treat infection and inflammations of the mucus membrane as well as in the urinary tract. It fights bacterial, virus and fungal! Should be offered as 10 days on and 10 days off, 1 drop 2x daily.

 

Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) This herb is a powerful stimulant of the immune system. It also makes the cleanup process of the white blood cells even more streamlined. In addition to helping to minimize the effects from chemotherapy and radiation, this herb has been shown to reduce the size of cancerous tumors, particularly when skin cancer is involved. 

 

Feverfew A study from the Rochester University in New York put the spotlight squarely on this herb. Researchers were shocked to discover that feverfew was better at killing leukemia cells than cytarabine. Parthenolide, the active ingredient in feverfew, has been fast-tracked by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Used as an anti-inflammatory in pets.

 

Wheatgrass So powerful that one of the most esteemed private hospitals in southeast Asia sings the praises of freshly juiced wheatgrass, this herb offers a plethora of health benefits. These include enough chlorophyll to equal 12 kilograms of broccoli. It also acts as a kidney- and liver-cleansing agent as well as a purifier of the blood. After only two weeks of ingesting wheatgrass on a daily basis, circulation throughout the body improved, as did the oxygen levels of both the blood and tissues. I adore growing this for my rats to pick through and include it in their fodder sprout mix.

 

Brewers Yeast Rich in Omega fatty acids, B vitamins and antioxidants, brewers yeast enhances health, aids with flea/mite control and improves the immune system.

I get most of my meds from https://jedds.com/collections/rat and also  http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/

 

Dose Charts:

 

25mg Baytril   or-

Mix 1 - 25mg capsule into 1ml syrup, gives a concentration of 25mg/ml

 

Enrofloxacin 250mg

Mix 1 - 250mg to 10mg liquid crushed. 

 

Rat Wt        Dose

100g        .06

150g        .09

200g        .12

250g        .15

300g        .18

350g        .21

400g        .24

450g        .27   

500g        .30

550g        .33

600g        .36

650g        .39

700g        .42

750g        .45

800g        .48
 

Give BID, for 14 days. - discard after 16 days

http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/product_baytril.php

 

 

DOXYCYCLINE CAPSULES 100 MG

 

DOXYCYCLINE POWDER PACKET 100 MG

Mix the Doxy by placing the powder in a mortar and grind it very fine. . Mix the Powder with 2ml warm water until dissolved. Add 3 ml flavored syrup.

 

DISCARD ANY REMAINDER 3 WEEKS AFTER MIXING, AND MIX A FRESH BATCH.

The following dose schedule is calculated for doxy 10 mg/kg. Give twice a day. I recommend that doxycycline to be used with Baytril for rat respiratory disease. The two drugs are more powerful together than either one is alone, against Mycoplasma.

 

RAT WEIGHT   DOSE IN ML

1000 grams      0.5 ml

950 grams        0.47 ml

900 grams        0.45 ml

850 grams        0.42 ml

800 grams        0.4 ml

750 grams        0.37 ml

700 grams        0.35 ml

650 grams        0.33 ml

600 grams        0.3 ml

550 grams        0.27 ml

500 grams        0.25 ml

450 grams        0.23 ml

400 grams        0.2 ml

350 grams        0.17 ml

300 grams        0.15 ml

250 grams        0.13 ml

200 grams        0.1 ml

 

http://www.revivalanimal.com/product/bird-biotic

 

Amoxicillian 

 

Mixing: Mix 1 - 250 mg tab w/5mL = 50mg/mL. Refrigerate after mixing, stir well - Throw away after 14 days and Mix a fresh batch

It is recommended you give a probiotic when your rat is on Amoxi.. Bene-Bac for small animals or even a human capsule opened and sprinkled onto soft foods. If your rat develops a loose or soft stool from the Amoxi, you can feed him/her a tsp of PURE canned pumpkin a few times a day to firm the stool up.

Dosing:

(Give the following dose BID/twice daily, based on 30 mg/kg)

 

Rat Weight       Dosage

(grams)           (cc/ml)

 

600                 .36

550                 .33

500                 .3

450                 .27

400                 .24

350                 .21

300                 .18

250                 .15

200                 .12

150                 .09

100                 .06

50                   .03

36                   .02

 

Tetracycline Capsule

Bacteriostatic, broad-spectrum antibiotic. Good for treating mild respiratory infections and to prevent infection after surgery or injury. Active against mycoplasma. No milk products with this drug. 

500mg of powder from capsules mixed into 1 litre of water

Treat for 14 to 30 days

*When tetracycline capsules are emptied into water bottle, be sure to cover the bottle as the drug is light sensitive. You can keep the mixture in the refrigerator for 3 days, changing the water bottles on the cages daily. Place once ounce per rat in the water bottle daily. Prescription/non-prescription available. Inexpensive, but treating in the water is not desired. Remove moist foods from diet while treating with medication in the water to encourage drinking.

 

 

Benadryl Liquid

-One dose twice a day for 3 days

-Then One dose once a day for 2 days

-Then stop.

 

Do not give longer than the recommended 5 days without a break. If you need to repeat the treatment wait at least a week between treatment regimens.

 

Rat Weight       ML per dose

800 grams          0.3 ml

700 grams          0.28 ml

600 grams          0.24 ml

500 grams          0.2 ml

400 grams          0.16 ml

300 grams          0.12 ml

200 grams          0.08 ml

 

 

Children's Liquid (Motrin) Ibuprofen 

Can be given every 4, 6, 8 or 12 hrs as needed.Give with food to avoid gastric distress.

 

Rat Weight in Grams           Dose in ML

100                                   0.15ml

150                                   0.22ml

200                                   0.3 ml

250                                   0.37ml

300                                   0.45ml

350                                   0.52ml

400                                   0.60ml

450                                   0.67ml

500                                   0.75ml

550                                   0.82ml

600                                   0.89ml

650                                   0.96ml

700                                   1.05ml

750                                   1.12ml

800                                   1.20ml

850                                   1.27ml

900                                   1.35ml

 

 

1 ml Ivermectin injectable

( 1% Cattle Wormer) in 9 ml flavored syrup

DO not attempt on your own better to go to a Vet for treatment. wrong dose can lead to death and or wobble brain injury.

 

Give by mouth once a week for 3 weeks

 

Rat Weight Dose

 

(Bigger than 800 gm, just use the 0.15 ml, no more than that.)

Rat Weight in grams          Dosage

800 gm                             0.15 ml

700 gm                             0.14 ml

600 gm                             0.12 ml

500 gm                             0.1 ml

400 gm                             0.08 ml

300 gm                             0.06 ml

200 gm                             0.04 m     

100 gm                             0.02 ml

 

 

PREDNISONE 20 MG TABLET

 

20 mg prednisone tablet crushed, add to 5 ml syrup. Mix well.

This makes a suspension of 4 mg/ml

 

The dose schedule below is calculated for pred at 1 mg/lb. Give twice daily and follow instructions for each clinical case regarding reduction and stopping. NEVER suddenly stop prednisone. It must be reduced gradually.

 

STANDARD REDUCTION SCHEDULE

*Give one dose twice a day for three days

*Then Give one dose once a day for three days

*Then Give one dose once every other day, for three treatments.

*Then stop.

 

Pred can also be given in different reduction schedules, according to advice from your vet, depending on the clinical case. Pred can be “pulsed” long term for specific conditions as well, according to your veterinary advice:

 

There are all kinds of schedules that can be successful. Rats tolerate pred very well.

 

Rat weight: Dose of 4 mg/ml prednisone at 1 mg/lb

250 grams (8 oz.) 0.12 ml

300 grams (10 oz.) 0.15 ml

350 grams (12 oz.) 0.17 ml

400 grams (14 oz.) 0.2 ml

450 grams (15 oz.) 0.22 ml

500 grams (16 oz.) 0.25 ml

550 grams (18 oz.) 0.27 ml

600 grams (20 oz.) 0.3 ml

650 grams (21 oz.) 0.32 ml

700 grams (22 oz.) 0.35 ml

 

NOTE: It is important to keep the schedule as outlined. Also, continue to give Baytril and doxycycline as directed, along with the prednisone.