I have a fancy rat.... Lately he's developed this hard slightly moveable large bump in the left side pit of his stomach. What is this, and what can I do to help him?
2007-04-13 18:25:45 · 8 answers · asked by Red Lime 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
It could be one of four things:
Subasceous cyst
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebaceous_gland
http://ratguide.com/health/figures/cysts_figure_2.php
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Subasceous+cyst+in+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%3ASearch&p=Subasceous+cyst+in+rats
Abscess
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abscess
http://ratguide.com/health/integumentary_skin/abscess.php
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Abscesses+in+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%3ASearch&p=Abscesses+in+rats
Fatty tumor
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=fatty+lumps+in+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%3ASearch&p=fatty+lumps+in+rats
Is your rat over-weight? Nothing needs to be done about these and they might go away if the rat lost weight.
Tumor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumor
http://ratguide.com/health/neoplasia/tumor.php
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Tumors+in+rats+&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%3ASearch&p=Tumors+in+rats+
Both male and female rats get mammary tumors but in the male these tumors are more likely to be malignant.
You will have to see a vet for a definite diagnosis and conventional medicine, but my group Holistarat, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistarat, will give you many options, both conventional and holistic, on what course to take for your ratty. Personally I have discovered a combination of two homeopathic remedies that has been my miracle. I spray the lump and if it goes away it was an abscess, if it doesn't it's a tumor.
In any case, it can be removed by a vet, but be aware that surgery for rats is very different then it is for dogs and cats. Small animals like rats do not always survive surgery but we can talk about that later if surgery is the only option.
spazrats
"my life has gone to the rats"
2007-04-14 11:26:14 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like a benign tumor. This is common in rats. As long as it is small it doesn't hurt anything, but if it grows very big it can be a problem. You can have the tumor removed by a vet, if you think it is worthwhile. Or, if it isn't bothering the rat, you can ignore it.
2007-04-14 01:54:19 · answer #2 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Hun, I hate to be the one to tell you this...but rats are known to develop tumors. Actually, most rats get tumors if they don't pass of old age. Every rat I've gotten has developed a tumor, and we've had to put them down. Bring it to a vet and have it checked out before you take my word for it, though.
I hope that I'm wrong :(
2007-04-14 01:31:34 · answer #3 · answered by Natalie Rose 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
you need to get the rat to the vet ASAP. God only knows what it is and NO ONE online can diagnose and/or treat it.
If you can't afford the vet, you can't afford the pet, that goes for pocked pets to.
Get the poor thing to a vet or find the poor thing a REAL home where they actually care about him/her
2007-04-16 21:50:38 · answer #4 · answered by Sapphire 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sounds like a cyst or a cancer bump. if you care enough about him you should take him to the vet, otherwise let nature take it's course.
2007-04-14 01:29:43 · answer #5 · answered by Jessica B 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
eeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwww rats!!
i think it is a tumor or cancer my brother has had a couple of rats and they have all died of that
2007-04-14 01:38:15 · answer #6 · answered by carrie 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋
If you can afford it, take it to the vet.
2007-04-14 08:30:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
a tumor
nothing, believe it or not he will behave normally. (usually)
2007-04-14 01:32:56 · answer #8 · answered by D in Montana 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋