Lump in mouth

Question
Hello Sandra,
You gave me some advice about my rat Stripe a while ago and helped me find a good vet so I'm hoping you can give me some advice again. On Thursday, as she had been showing signs of myco, I  started her on some antibiotics. I mix it with baby food so she can lick it from the spoon and usually she can't get enough of it, but this time she was eating less and less each day.  Yesterday I noticed the right side of her jaw was swollen as she has developed a lump inside her mouth.  Her chin was quite wet and smelly and she's also had some blood coming from her mouth. The lump seemed to appear overnight, so I thought it may be an abscess.  I took her to the vet today and they said they could have a look at it under anaesthetic but for now they have given her an anti-inflammatory and antibiotic injection and we'll take her in again tomorrow. The vet thinks it looks bad and that we may need to put her to sleep if the injection does not have an affect and she is struggling to eat.  I had hoped that with the correct drugs we could get rid of the lump but the vet didn't seem too positive.  Stripe does seem to have perked up a bit today and has eaten fruit and veg like bananas and sweetcorn.  I have also given her some liquid with a syringe.  
Have you had any experience of an abscess being so bad that the rat needs to be put to sleep straight away?  Do you think there is anything else I should do?  I know your website says to use a warm compress on an abscess but I'm not sure if I should also do this when the lump is inside the mouth.  Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Gemma

Answer
Please do not put your rat to sleep if she still acts happy.  Do me a favor and check out my page about rats with lumps on the side of their face. let me know if it looks anything like this.

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

Also, if you want another opinion I can locate a vet for you no matter if your in the UK or not.
Let me know!