Question
Lump on Swiffer's Tail
My rat "Swiffer" has a lump that has slowly grown on her tail. It started off rather small about four months ago and has now gotten big and turned dark. I took her into the vet about one and a half months ago. The doctor suggested he didn't want to try and poke it to see if he could drain it because he thought there would be too much blood. His suggestion was to cut off the tail just above the lump.
In the last day, the lump has turned dark (it looks as though there's blood gathering in there). It does not seem to be causing her much pain - I can touch it and she does not react much.
I'm not excited about cutting her tail off and am wondering if this is an abscess that can be drained or if in fact the tail should be amputated. I am attaching a picture. Thank you so much for your help!
AnswerThank you for sending the picture, it helped a lot. This does look like an infection and a serious one. Infections in the tail can affect the tiny bones and destroy them so this needs to be attended to right away. Could you please join my group Holistarat where we can give you ongoing help to resolve this issue. Google Holistarat, it will be the first hit on the list. Is it possible to soak the tail in water and remove the scab to see what is going on under it, and let me know what you see. I'm thinking that this is serious enough to require a vet prescribed antibiotic to prevent the tail from having to be amputated.
Not lung tumors at least
QuestionQUESTION: Hello,
Been writing you about my boy
joint infection
QuestionQUESTION: Hi, I wrote to you a few days ago abo
My rats bad scratches
Question
My poor rattie
My year old male rat has myster
Inner Ears, Bulging Eyes, Blindness?
QuestionQUESTION: Well hello; yet again. I have a femal
How do I help my rat to heal her eye infection?
QuestionQUESTION: About a month ago I took to my rat to
