My rat just developed a kinda large lump right behind her arm (its about the size of a ping pong ball i'd say) is there any possibility that its anything OTHER than cancer? Has anything like this every happened to your pets? What do you think her chances might be?
2006-07-19 07:35:24 · 12 answers · asked by vanilla_chinchilla36 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Well, it sure sounds like a tumor, but it is not necessarily cancorus--it could be benign. My rat had two of those. When they got too big I had her put to sleep, but if I would have had the money I could have had them removed. Go to your vet immediately and have him check her out--it's possible it is removeable and not cancerous. Good luck!
2006-07-19 08:44:16 · answer #1 · answered by lovelife!! 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is very very common in rats, it is just about 100% cancer and 100% fatal, sorry. As long as the rat is acting fine you should just play with the rat normally, but the rat may only live a few days but it is possible for a rat to live a couple months. I've known of at least 2 rats this has happened to, usually female rats that have not been fixed, but spending $100 on a $10 rat can be hard to justify, but this is one common side effect of not fixing your animals.
2006-07-19 08:03:20 · answer #2 · answered by Lady 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is probably a mammary tumor. Even males get them. It is not necessary cancerous (malignant). It could be benign (not cancerous). If it is cancer, it will keep getting bigger and may cause pain and weakness/supressed immune system. If it is just attached to the skin, and is not attached to organs, it is probably not causing too much pain. If it is cancer, it may or may not spread to other parts of the body...unfortunatly the vet may be able to prolong his life with drugs and surgury, but decisions need to be made as to how much you can financially put into him, knowing that he may only have a few months left.
Hopefully it is benign and can either be slowed down with drugs, or removed surgically. If nothing is done, it will keep getting bigger and bigger until your pet cannot eat or drink or groom herself properly, and at that will be the time to consider euthanasia. It is also possible that it is a cyst or abscess. If it started out as a cut, this is likely. The vet will prescribe antibiotics and it will go away!
2006-07-19 08:41:25 · answer #3 · answered by Emily 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an adenoma..mammary tumor. It is operable but it could return in a different place because on either side of a female rat is mammary tissue from bottom to top of the underside. Sometimes males get them but I have only seen them on emale ratties..I have had seven like this and five were operated on. It is not malignant but it will impair movement and can get as large as she is...you have a choice...get it operated on or have her/her put down. You say it is ping pong ball size..that is big! I had rats with these and I had surgery on several of them only to have the tumor return again on her/his body. The surgery prolonged her life for awhile though. She/He was more comfortable. My rat was worth the surgery even though she only cost me $15 from a breeder.
2006-07-19 14:17:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah rats get tumors very easily and thats almost definitely what it is. contact a vet but that sounds pretty serious in fact my rat had the same thing in the same place and it ruined the end of her life. you'll wanna probably put it to sleep
2006-07-19 19:31:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take him too the vet right away he could have cancer its very commen in rats my rat had one i took him too the vet and they removed it and he was just fine if you wait longer the less chance it has to live.
2006-07-19 08:17:37 · answer #6 · answered by Plank 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is that size, I'm guessing this has been growing for awhile. Get your rat to the vet where you can find out for sure what the problem is.
2006-07-19 08:16:09 · answer #7 · answered by star_momma 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i know a rodent breeder...yes there is such a thing....depends on the age but most older rats do get benign cysts...just an age thing....they don't have a very long life span....so at 3 or 4 they're starting to be "old people"
2006-07-19 07:40:54 · answer #8 · answered by krnsspott 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately it is probably Cancer. Rats are very inbred and are prone to Cancer. I'm sorry. They only true way is to have you vet confirm it.
2006-07-19 07:39:23 · answer #9 · answered by eva diane 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no... it's most likely a tumor. things of the size of a PING PONG BALL is very serious....
2006-07-19 07:38:58 · answer #10 · answered by kev 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋