2 Rats... similar lump issues

Question
Hi Sandy,

About 6 months ago we rescued 3 rats that been left in a home that was recently vacated.  They seemed healthy overall.  One cage with 2 males rats and 1 cage with a female.  I have since made the males a large cage but continue to keep the males and female separate.  

Issue #1 about a month ago the female rat stopped using her front paw (never owned rats before so may be using dog verbage, sorry) and at first I thought maybe she over extended it or something.  Clearly it hurt her as she tried to bite me when I went to examine her.  I guess I thought to wait and see if it healed.  It doesn't appear to hurt her anymore but she still doesn't use it.  She has since not used it and holds it near her chest... as well a few days ago I noticed a small lump appearing to be in her armpit of the paw she isn't using.  

Issue #2... The 2 males are large and as I held one yesterday I realized that one has a massive lump that seems to be on his rear leg and is slowing him down a bit.  Both males have always been a little lazy and chunky compared to the female so I didn't notice anything different in behavior initially or size.

I don't see any type of scab or cut so it seems they are tumors of sort... or that is my guess after reading several posts.  I'm wondering as a new rat owner, have I done something to cause this?  It just seems strange that 2 different rats are having the same issue.  I use regular rat litter and feed them "rat" food plus I do give them treats.

Please advise and my apologies for the long winded question.
Thank you!

Answer
Tumors as you may have found, are common in some rats, esp those that are not well bred, although its not really fair of me to say that, but over the years I am seeing less tumors in the rats that I buy from reputable hobby rat breeders rather than pet store rats that are bred carelessly by breeder mills.  Females are prone to mammary tumors and mammary tissue is pretty much all over the "under carriage" of rats, even males.  Its the surge in hormones that fire up the growth of these tumors.  In females that are not spayed early on in life, they may develop them anywhere around the time of their ratty menopause, normally around 15 to 18 months, sometimes later, sometimes earlier.  Males are not exempt to mammary tumors but its not as common.  MOST of these tumors are always benign and can be removed with ease but the smaller they are the less vascular they are and the less risky the surgery itself will be as far as blood loss goes.  Of course this all rides on the shoulders of the skill of the surgeon and thats the PROBLEM, sadly.  There are not many vets in this country that are really up to par on rat care, as much as they claim they are, which is why I do what I do: Educate rat owners so they know if their vet has the ability to properly care for their rat.  Many vets despise this and take offense to the fact I or anyone else may know a bit more about rat health than they know and due to the lack of a degree on our wall like they display in their office, they dont want to hear a word we say, often dissing any info people may get from the internet.  Why they assume the internet cant be trusted is beyond me since they themselves seek info from the net, having their own special forums (Pay forums for Veterinary professionals only not open to the public, mind you, but I have been in them plenty of times) and they seek out advice from other vets.  Sometimes I have read their responses and sat there with my mouth hanging open, shocked and scared at some of the LACK Of knowledge they have when it comes to treating small exotic companion mammals.  That said, its vital your vet is very educated when it comes to rats, surgery on rats etc....which is why I have my own personal website and have had it for years, called Sandyscrittercity.com.   You can check it out if you havent already and there is a section on tumors and also on what to look for in a vet. I can also help find a vet for you in your area.  IN FACT< there is an AWESOME vet in Washington state who happens to be the queen of rat care.  
Her name is Dr. Cathy Johnson-Delaney and she is exactly the kind of vet I suggest, if at all possible.


Dr. Cathy Johnson-Delaney
Eastside Avian and Exotic Animal Medical Cente
12930 NE 125th Way
Kirkland WA 98034
Phone:    425-821-6165 or 1-888-821-6165
Website:www.avianexoticmedcenter.com

She is a certified exotic vet and her specialty is the small exotic companion mammal along with avian/exotic animals.  She has a great reputation and I would fly across the country with my rats to see her if that was at all possible (I dont like to fly and of course we cant bring rats as a carry on and I wouldnt put them in cargo even if they were allowed, some airlines dont allow them at all, period) but of course thats a different story and a dream anyone to be able to see this Vet)  I am hoping you live even within an hours drive to her facility. She can help your rats and safely remove their tumors as long as they are not invasive, which in that case, surgery may not be an option as the risks go up and its not worth risking their life when the surgery may not be a success or the recovery will be long and hard and the rest of their short life will be trying to recover from an invasive surgery.  For the most part, however, these tumors are very easy to remove. Just a slit in the skin, the mass is right there, and its removed, any blood vessels are clamped and cauterized, they are stitched up and thats that.  Its not a deep digging to get all of the mass again, as long as its not invasive and these tumors are usually not.  If the rat is healthy and fairly young, its worth it.  If the rat is older, the risk of surgery rises and the fact that the rat will probably not live long anyhow makes the surgery not worth ruining the quality of their life.  I have had tumors just pop up on my big chubby males too.  Its very upsetting to discover a mass one day out of the blue and before you know it the mass is huge.  I had this happen before but the rat had other issues as well and surgery was not a good idea.  He passed away from cancer of the lungs about 4 months after I found the mass. Turns out all of his brothers had the same thing, they had a mass that invaded their chest cavity and migrated into their lungs and throat.  This was a breeder thing, it was genetic, and the rats probably were doomed from birth.  It was heartache for me to see my three precious boys all die a month apart, one in March, another in April and another in May. Their second birthday was in May and only one of them survived long enough to have his second birthday and died a week later.  Needless to say I was totally devastated.  Surgery was NOT an option for these tumors, which by the way, are not common among rats but CAN happen to any animal. Now that I have blabbed on and on (I am totally excited today as hubby and I are driving three hours into Georgia to pick up three new baby rats from a really good breeder) and I have been awake since 4am!  LOL  I lost my last of the three boys I talked about above in May and have been so sad without rats so I am looking forward to having new babies. They are very small, just 4.5 weeks old.  
Anyhow, please let me know your city and if your not close to the vet that I stated above, I can give you other names as well. Sorry this was so long hope I didnt lose you along the way!