Amanda Jvv Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 (edited) Hi our 18month old female rat has a lump in her armpit. It's about the size of a hazelnut. It doesnt appear sore to touch and she is still acting normal and climbing about. We've only just noticed it as she is the rat that prefers not to be picked up and has been like that all her little life. Husband says the lump is somewhat soft. I say its hard. Its in the lose skin and doesn't appear to be connected to her body. Having a look on the internet everything suggests it could be a mammary tumor, usually benign. However what should we do? Monitor it for a week and see if it grows? We're away on Monday for 5 days. Will she be ok for 5 days? It wont suddenly take over her body in that time. (Am getting paranoid now). Take her to the vet straight away? I just worry the stress of the vet, having never been, would be too much stress for her before we leave her for 5 days. Any advice would be appreciated? Thank you! Amanda Edited September 17, 2009 by Amanda Jvv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sproggie14 Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 In a rat of her age with a lump in that location I would usually opt to have the lump removed (unless the vet recommends otherwise for some reason). Yes most mammary lumps in rats are benign but they can grow very quickly. Although a benign lump wouldn't spread and cause organ damage like a malignant lump, they can grow to the point where they cause so much discomfort and so many issues with mobility that the rat needs to be euthanased. So, better to remove the lump while the rat is as young as possible and the lump is as small as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amanda Jvv Posted September 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 In a rat of her age with a lump in that location I would usually opt to have the lump removed (unless the vet recommends otherwise for some reason). Yes most mammary lumps in rats are benign but they can grow very quickly. Although a benign lump wouldn't spread and cause organ damage like a malignant lump, they can grow to the point where they cause so much discomfort and so many issues with mobility that the rat needs to be euthanased. So, better to remove the lump while the rat is as young as possible and the lump is as small as possible. Thank you! I had a good chat with my vet who said to bring her in next weekend and see exactly what we're dealing with. That she should be ok for the week and that this particular vet has done numerous surgeries on rats. The quote was £175!!! (less £65 if we dont want the lump tested). I would never begrudge my animals the chance of comfort and a longer more quality filled life. I do just worry if the other 2 also get lumps... Fingers crossed that little Fudge and her sisters will all be ok. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sproggie14 Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Yes it's unlikely that a week will make any major difference. I personally don't usually get the lumps tested. In all honesty it doesn't usually make any difference to the treatment. If a lump is removable I have it removed, if it isn't I don't, regardless of whether or not it is cancerous. Sadly there is no chemo or similar available for rats. But £110 for a lump removal is rather expensive - in fact it's double what I usually pay near enough. Are you still in Dartford? If so you could get to my vet in half hour which you might think is worth it for a very experienced vet at half the cost. Or there's http://www.trinityvetcentre.co.uk/ who is an excellent vet and an exotic specialist although I'm not sure how much he charges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amanda Jvv Posted September 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Yes it's unlikely that a week will make any major difference. I personally don't usually get the lumps tested. In all honesty it doesn't usually make any difference to the treatment. If a lump is removable I have it removed, if it isn't I don't, regardless of whether or not it is cancerous. Sadly there is no chemo or similar available for rats. But £110 for a lump removal is rather expensive - in fact it's double what I usually pay near enough. Are you still in Dartford? If so you could get to my vet in half hour which you might think is worth it for a very experienced vet at half the cost. Or there's http://www.trinityvetcentre.co.uk/ who is an excellent vet and an exotic specialist although I'm not sure how much he charges. Thanks for the information! We're in Gravesend now so the Maidstone one isnt too far. Where is the other. We have had more updates now though. We were initially told its a fatty lump but that afternoon a second lump on other side came up. Were given antibiotics and took her in on Saturday. They havent really got much bigger. One is hazelnut sixe and the other is size of cherry tomatoe. Vet said its likely to be cancerous given there is two and the fact they came up so quickly. She recommends best course is just to just let her live now for however long she has left rather than putting her through a pointless op. We have decided to just love her until she gets uncomfortable or sick. So far she is normal and running and eating as normal but its heartbreaking and I never knew I could love a rat like that. I hope we are doing the right thing. Do you think its worth getting a second opinion? Or just leave her in peace until its time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Sorry to hear about your little rat (Fudge?) Amanda - hope she is with you for a long while yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sproggie14 Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 I suspect you're doing the right thing. Two popping up and growing that quick does indeed suggest that they are cancerous Hopefully she'll be around for a while yet though. I had a girl diagnosed with lymphoma and was told to take her home and make her comfy for her last couple of weeks. She lasted another 7 months! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amanda Jvv Posted September 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 I suspect you're doing the right thing. Two popping up and growing that quick does indeed suggest that they are cancerous Hopefully she'll be around for a while yet though. I had a girl diagnosed with lymphoma and was told to take her home and make her comfy for her last couple of weeks. She lasted another 7 months! Thank you. I hope for a (lot of!) few months left because she is still quite young and really such a lovely sweet rat. My worry is that the lump will grow too big before it actually affects her otherwise. Its under her front arm so if it gets to big she may be unable to walk properly. Can rats manage on 3 legs? They are my first rats so this is all new. But we handle her everyday and check on them regularly so we can see if she is eating/ playing and just being normal. I wasn't really prepared to fall so hard for these lovely girls. Thanks for your advice and thoughts Sproggie and Ange! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sproggie14 Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 They do fine on three legs but usually I find that the decision needs to be made more because the lump is dragging on the ground than because the leg itself is affected. It is amazing what they can cope with - in fact here is the above mentioned Lily with her big lump. As you can see she charged about and refused to let it hold her back. It was once it began dragging on the floor (which can then lead to wounds and infection and, obviously, pain) that we made the decision to let her go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasta Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 My sympathies, I know how it is to have lumpy rats. I have had a couple with lumps, one, went downhill very quickly, but the other lasted about 6 months, towards the end her lump ulcerated, but as it wasn't dragging on the ground or giving her pain (the vet was happy with that) she had a daily dose of baytril until I could see the light in her eyes was going. Hope your girl has a long, if lumpy time, with you yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasta Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 Sigh.. I've just found a lump on Coco..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amanda Jvv Posted October 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Sigh.. I've just found a lump on Coco..... Oh no! Hope everything is ok. I'm going to take a pic of the lump this weekend. Its not got bigger these last few days and the one on the other side hasn't grown at all. Fudge is still her usual self so will just keep an eye on her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 i've only ever paid £40-£45 for a lump removal, unfortunatly rats can be prone, but most live on quite happily after removal, my eldest was ali she was 5 when she had her op and lived another year after that nothing serious vibes to fudge and coco, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amanda Jvv Posted November 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 Hello everyone! Well Fudge is still going strong. Her lumps have got quite big. The inital big one is much bigger but doesnt effect her walking or anything yet. She can still climb and run about without it dragging on the floor. Given the time since the lump developed (two months) and the fact that Fudge shows no other signs, she is active, eating, healthy and hasnt lost any weight - we think we need to get a second opinion and it might be worth giving the lump removal a go. I called Trinity vets but they aren't open Sundays which makes it difficult. Sproggie whats the other vets you said you used, half an hour from Dartford? Chasta - how is Coco doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sproggie14 Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 The Village Animal Hospital in Caterham. 01883 348483. But make sure you see Emily, she's the best for rodents. They are open Sunday's but how long you'll have to wait to find Emily working a Sunday surgery I'm not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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