This came out of nowhere! She is a very happy and seemingly healthy, spoiled Medium Rat. I just pet her two days ago, and today she has a HUGE lump on her left side beside her arm. It doesn't seem to bother her but I'm worried. She's around 2yrs old...can anyone tell me what it is? Should I only be worried if she starts having some sort of reaction. Is this normal in rodents...I've never had a rat before. But I do know that some rabbits get strange lumps....
2006-08-13 14:38:04 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
At the age of 2, a rat is considered old. I strongly advise you take your rat to a vet immediately. If a rat gets a lump, it could be a tumor. I had a pet rat that had a mastectomy because of a tumor... and she lived for quite a while after it was removed. Rats tend to get tumors quite easily (one of the reasons they use them for cancer research). Best bet.... take her to a vet that specializes in rodents and small animals.
2006-08-13 14:46:31 · answer #1 · answered by WenckeBrat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the lump happened in a day or two, Theres a few possible causes. The first possibility is that it's an abscess. I've had this happen to my rats on occasion. Sometimes they'll hurt themselves and a soft mass will form. It will grow in size until either it ruptures or the vet drains it. When it will rupture on its own it exposes a really truly disgusting green cottage cheese-like puss. There will be a deep wound where the puss was. You treat it by rinsing the wound with a saline solution and not stitching it up. The wound will heal on its own. Run some antibiotic liquid over it once in a while to help combat infection. Often an abscess is caused by a scratch or puncture that doesn't drain and gets infected because the puncture invited bacteria inside. It often hurts (though not always) and the rat may not want to be handled in the abscess area.
Another option is that it's a type of bruise. Place a cold compress over it. If the swelling goes down, that's the likely problem. I can't remember the medical name for it, but it's a broken blood vessel that bleeds due to an injury. It's a hemo-something. As a result of an injury the blood pools rapidly and you get a large swelling. It doesn't hurt too much but the swelling can become huge, sometimes as big as an inch. It takes several days to go away and can look quite alarming. Cold compresses helps control the problem. If the swelling doesn't stop take your guy to the vet as it means something more serious is involved.
The other possibility is that you have a fast growing tumor. Considering your rat's age, this is a good possibility. Rats often get tumors. Most are not cancerous, but they can grow to huge proportions. One of my first rats was like this - she had a lump hanging off her almost as big as she was. Unfortunately due to the size of the tumor and my rat's old age, she died on the operating table. Tumors are often in the stomach and leg areas. Some are pituitary and others may be related to the lymph nodes.
When in doubt, take your girl to the vet. They might have other reasons for her lump that I not have listed. Rats are rambunctious and nosy. My guys will get into trouble with each other and sometimes things and they get weird swellings because of an argumant or accident. By far the most disgusting is the abscess, which can be treated at home. It's super duper gross, through. I could never treat it at home and cart my boogers to the vet instead :) .
Good luck! Hopefully what ever is wrong is easily treatable!
2006-08-14 05:11:30 · answer #2 · answered by white_ravens_white_crows 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the person just above me, rats do get tumors especailly girl rats and most of these tumors are beign (not cancerous) but considering that that lump is recent I think it is probably an abcess that should be looked at by a vet who is experinced in rat care to make sure it isn't cancer but remember, 2 is very old for a rat so the outcome may not be good, I recently had a rattie die on the table during removal of a huge tumor. Good luck and best wishes
2006-08-14 14:26:25 · answer #3 · answered by Chicky_S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just went through this with my daughter's pet mouse. I guess 2 is about how long they live (I'm really sorry to say that). And I guess the tumors are common. Sometimes they are cancer, sometimes not. If you touch it, you are supposed to be able to tell if it's going to be a big problem by whether or not it's hard or squishy or attached or moveable. But I really don't think there's much you could do either way. One thing we were told though, (since I noticed you said she was spoiled) is that certain things in their diet can lead to the fatty tumors. I think I may have contributed to this in ours by giving him way too many sunflower seeds and too much cheese. But, he really liked those things, and he had a happy little life, so I don't regret it. I'm sure your rat has had a happy life, and maybe will be able to live a good bit longer if this is just a fatty tumor. If you are like us and couldn't really afford to take a mouse or rat for a vet's visit like you would a dog or cat, then the only thing you can really do is continue to love her and spoil her. If she acts like she is in pain or stops eating, then you may want to consider if you will let nature take its own course or if you would like to pay a vet to put her to sleep so she doesn't suffer.
2006-08-13 21:52:10 · answer #4 · answered by Rvn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey there! I worked at a vet clinic for 3 years (although I am not a vet) and we did see rats there. I think that you should get your rat checked by a vet because tumours are very common in rats. And unfortunately, rats do not have a long life span...2 years is common. I hope everything turns out well for you!
2006-08-13 21:56:13 · answer #5 · answered by prairiefire_14 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rats are full of mammary tumors also known as adenomas. She is the age that they start to show up. I had several girl rats who had this and had surgery for them. It saved them for a time but the tumors reappeared and I had to put my luvs down. Female rats have mammary tissue from neck to bottom and are prone to these type of tumors. Though the tumors are benign they can interfere with mobility as they get larger. They can also ulcerate and cause a nasty sore on your rat. Take your sweetie to the vet for an exam and they will advise you as what course of action to take. It will not get better only bigger. Sorry.
2006-08-13 23:05:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only a vet can tell for sure if it is dangerious or not. they can get fatty tumors that come up quickly and are nonleathal. any animal can get them . I have a lot of them and most of them just seemed to pop out of know ware.
2006-08-13 21:50:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
At her age, it sounds like either a mammary tumor or an abcess.
Here is a great site for rat information
http://www.ratguide.com/
Zoo
http://www.thezootribe.com/
2006-08-15 10:20:43 · answer #8 · answered by Zoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like a fast-moving cancer. Get her to the vet ASAP. If the cancer is only in that tumor, the vet may be able to save her. If not, well, sorry for your loss. :(
2006-08-13 21:54:27 · answer #9 · answered by PuttPutt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a tumor and a rapidly growing one. These are quite common in rats due to inbreeding, and are usually cancer. I am sorry.
2006-08-13 21:46:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋