Tumour, blindness & loss of coordination/energy, female

Question
Hi there - I only just stumbled upon this site, and it may be too late for me to do anything now BUT everything is worth a try: I currently house two female rats (between 1 1/2 - 2 years each) (they do NOT share a cage) and one, about a week or so ago, has been having some problems. We first noticed she was moving slowly, but thought she might have hurt herself (we let them run around the house quite a lot). Then, I found what I assume to be a hard mammary lump, which I think is growing and has almost reached the circumference of a quarter, on the left side of her tummy by her leg. Then I noticed she was having trouble with her "fine motor skills" - she couldn't clean herself properly (though she still tries!), and now it has become so severe that she can only eat baby food because she cannot hold her food, and it looks as if she can't properly grab food in her mouth.

In addition to all of this, she is, what I presume, blind. As in, is not aware when I wave my hand in front of her face and only saves herself from smacking into walls by her whiskers. She is lethargic and sleeps a lot now. She used to be very active. The strangest symptom is that she has a sometimes-slightly-green and always darkish yellow discharge coming from her birth canal, sometimes blocking it up (because she can't clean it out on time?). And her eyes are gunking that red stuff like crazy, but she's always had the respiratory problems, so that's nothing new.

And, unfortunately, since she was a "rescue rat" her pedigree is pet-store quality. That's all the information I can think of right now!

Do you have any idea what could be wrote with her (We call her Arabella :) 'Bellabutton for short)? I don't want to put her down, but I think I'll have to if she doesn't start getting better by Friday.

Thank you very much.  

Answer
Sadly your little girl sounds like she is suffering from a pituitary adenoma. The signs are all there, esp the part where she cannot use her forelimbs to grasp food. Chewing becomes difficult and eventually swallowing is impossible, which is when the owner usually puts the rat to sleep.

You can always try steroids but if they work and thats a big "if"  its only a temporary fix.

You can read more about this condition on my website, Sandys Critter City.  

http://www.sandyscrittercity.com/pituitarytumors.htm


I always dread writing these types of messages but I do want to be up front with you about this.  

Let me know if I can help in any way.