Rat, Tumor? Or other...?

Question

Recently, I noticed a large, hard object growing underneath my female rat's front, left leg. She doesn't seem to mind it, and walks like any other rat, she's approaching her. She's a two year old, female, black & white hooded fancy rat, unspayed. Is this a tumor, or what? Do I need to remove it?

Answer 1

rats are notorious for having tumors, sometimes they are just abcesses but other times they are cancerous. I would find an exotic vet and have your rat checked out

Answer 2

It sounds like a tumor. The other option is that it might be an abscess, but abscesses are very sore and most rats hate being handled when they have one. Abscesses are caused by a small scratch or cut that gets infected. The puss travels inside under the skin instead of forming outside and a large hard ball forms. The vet would have to rupture the infection or you can do it yourself by scraping off the scrape and draining the wound. This is NOT for someone with a weak stomach (Like me, for instance, LOL!). If it's a tumor the vet can usually surgically remove it. They tend to grow back but it is good to have a vet look at it, especially if gangrene is forming. Tumors can grow so large that a sore forms. The sore forms because the tumor is using too much of the rat's blood supply and important organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys, etc are left with little blood to function. There's not enough blood to nourish the skin and the skin died due to a lack of nutrition getting to it. I've found that most rats die of old age before the tumor kills them. Most tumors are okay as long as the rat can move around without the tumor getting in the way. As it grows in size you may want to move her cage arrangement around so she doesn't have to climb quite as much. Females tend to get mammary tumors most often, especially if she's unspayed. Many rats have had many tumors and lived happy healthy lives. As with everything, you will want a vet to take a look in case the tumor is cancerous.

Good luck! Rats are absolute sweethearts!

Answer 3

rats get them and yes this is a tumor. i breed rats and i see these all the time on mine. they get them and there is nothing you can do about it. you can go get it removed but it will cost some money and i don't think you want to spend that kind of money removing it and then she ends up dieing anyways. if she is 2 yrs old already then it all depends how much the tumor has spread in her body and it won't take long for it to do that. just give her all your love and when the time comes you will know because she will not want to eat much and she will not be herself anymore. i am sorry to tell you this but i go through the same thing and i have my blue dumbo right now that has a tumor and i am giving her all the attention so when the time does come i will be ready.

Answer 4

leftygirl is right...rats are notorious for getting tumors. Consult a vet. Usually having them removed is only a temporary solution as they usually grow right back again, so you may opt to just leave it alone so you don't waste your money and put your rat through an useless surgery.