Should i put my rat to sleep?

Question

fluffy before  

after   Hello I have 2 or 3 year old rat and she's been having a lot of health issues lately but these past few works have probably been the worst I took her to the vet because half her face was swollon and bleeding and I couldn't see her eye. He told me that it was a bad abcess and he would have to do surgery to flush it out and I was devastated but happy that that is wasn't worse. But Friday after her surgery he came in and said the was disappointed with the surgery cause her face was still swollon and he said he thinks it's a tumor. We have to go back in a week to show him the  abcess or tumor. I'm scared I don't know what to do I love her so much and I don't want her in any pain should I put her down? Shes eating and still drinking but she's sleeping a lot more and she feels a little bit more skinny. She can't see out of the one eye so she's off balance and takes her awhile to get down from her top level. But other than that she acts her self and i dont care what she looks like as long as she feels okay im okay. What do you think I should do? Thank you so much!

Answer
Hi Kathleen,

I am no vet. However, when I see this and your description, I think of a zymbal's tumor. These are not that common, but are often very bad news. I recommend you print this out and give it to your doctor, even  before the appointment if you can.

http://ratguide.com/health/neoplasia/zymbals_gland_tumor.php

If you can also bring it in on an iPad, you can show him the actual photos the page links to.

Although these are sometimes treatable, sometimes they simply aren't.

This website is amazing; if your vet isn't acquainted with it, show it to him. It really has all the latest in medical information about rats.

When it comes to the decision whether to euthanize, my advice is every day go to your girl and ask her, or ask yourself, is she happy to be alive today? You are right; what she looks like does not matter. But if the area is really in bad shape, causing her pain, etc, she might just not be enjoying life anymore.  That is all that matters.

I wish her the absolute best, poor baby.

Squeaks,

Natasha