it's probably projection on my part...

[ratcreature]

...but I think my rat Kieran is self-medicating his diarrhea with saw dust. I mean, I've just seen him systematically eat the absorbent wood pulp pellets from their rodent toilets. Normally he may gnaw a little on them (rats gnaw on everything), but he doesn't eat them like this. Unfortunately he liked wood pulp pellets better than mashed potato with medicine, which says more about his dislike for the meds than his enthusiasm for wood pulp though.

I did give him the morning dose, because he didn't seem to have worsened over night, though I am now waiting for the vet office to call me back. (When I called forty-five minutes ago the vet couldn't come to the phone and the assistant didn't want to give medical advice, but I really hope they'll call back soon. If I had this much room in my schedule today, I'd just have dropped by their office with Kieran. I mean, I realize this is extra service and Monday mornings are busy but still. These are the rare moments I regret not having a cell phone. ETA: Finally got the call and the advice from the vet was to stop the antibiotic early instead of giving the last doses, and I'm going to bring him in tomorrow afternoon.)

Comments

[bluemeridian]

That he's eating sawdust seems logical to me, but then the pups are often noshing on grass for stomach issues, so there's that. (Sawdust is also a frequent inclusion in animal feed - especially dogs and cats - as "roughage", at least here.) Not that any of this makes it a good sign, or helps that he's preferring for it over more nutritious/medicinal options.

[ratcreature]

Well, whatever he's been doing it does seem to have had a positive effect. I just came home and checked the poop situation (the things we endure for our animal companions...) and it's less liquid than it was overnight, even though he still had the morning dose. And I don't have to give anything this evening, just put the salve on his feet.