Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I needed some new blood so asked my dh to pick me up a new female from the petstore.She is very pretty and curious.But she keeps her head cocked and when she relaxes her head goes down on that one side first.She looks healthy and has been moving about sniffing out her cage.
Any ideas?
I can think of two things. Ear infection or she is blind in one eye or perhaps some neurological problem.Anyone know the symptoms of an ear infection?
She doesnt sneeze or wheeze at all, which is hard to find these days.
-----

pretty much what you are thinking.
Does she run in circles? If she is eating and acting otherwise okay I would suspect she will work for you. If she is running in circles I doubt she will last long.
-----
Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

Sometimes they get over it, sometimes they don't.
If she's young and is tame even though she's tilting her head she'll prolly be ok. I had female like this kill the male in her cage because she was in heat and she didn't want him messing with her while she was sick.
Older ones don't seem to get over it as well.

Sounds like a middle ear infection or the starts of repiratory disease. If she was mine I would cull her.

-----
Shannon in Reno
1.0 savannah monitor (Pombe-means "beer" in Swahili)
2.3 dogs
1.0 cat
8.36 rats
Bunch O mice
5.50 chickens
0.1 black rat snake
~500 hissers
1 giant millipede
0.1 Chissel tooth kangaroo rat
1.1 rabbits
0.1 Rosy Boa
1.0 Amazing Boyfriend

she most likely has an inner ear infection. She won't die from it, but she does need a vet visit and antibiotics.
Head tilt clinical symptoms

I raised 1000's of rats back in the 70's, we never saw this.
It's common now. But if not treated FAST it will permanently damage the inner ear.

Other rats usually will not associate with them, as thy instinctively know it has issues and instinct says to survice with the best mate possible.

I use terramycin from farm stores, online they call it oxy tetracycline too. 250 m/g per 8 oz. Maybe more the first week.

Also anti biotics are disappearing from aquarium use. New replacements are suppose to come out? But the old TC capcules are not available now.

If I was into breeding again, I would hoard up what I can find.

Good luck.

-----
Thanks for reading.
Big Tom

www.HerpZillA.com
www.HerpHelp.com

You can get tetracycline easily at feed stores, sold as "Terramycin Soluble Powder", about $6 for a good sized bag.

http://www.rmca.org/Articles/dchart.htm

This link has an excellent rat specific drug chart with dosages and sources of various medications.

That its a ear infect..We are iced up here right now.Just got my electricity back..My dh will look for the antibiotics tomorrow, we have a big farmstore nearby.
-----