Surgery

Question
QUESTION: Sandra,

Thank you for all the advice for my past rat Jules, who past away last year. You inspire me and I'm actually looking into going back to school and becoming a exotic vet. I got two new sister rats and even with spaying, the younger smaller one had a tumor. I found a vet and asked all the right questions. My rat, Ella, is sleeping in my bed after her sister tried to pull at her stitches. I will keep them separated tonight and see about them together tomorrow. The vet told me to come back in a week and get the stitches removed. Is that normal? Also what should I watch out for? She is eating but keeps wanting to climb everywhere which is making her stitches bleed a bit. Should I just keep her still in a smaller cage for the next few days?

ANSWER:
Hi Tara

The spayed rat that still grew a tumor: How old was she when she was spayed and was the tumor a mammary tumor?  Although its not common for mammary tumors to grow when a rat is spayed between 3 and 5 months of age, they still may grow one but should not continue to sprout more.  I sure hope at least this is the one and only tumor you will see with her!!

As for going back for the stitches to be removed being normal protocol:Every vet is different. I prefer to have the stitches be internal and have glue on the outside and staples if they tend to want to pick at them.  Some vets use dissovable stitches, others dont. Usually a week is kind of soon to remove them, but it depends on how fast she heals.  Usually with staples its at least 2 weeks before removing them.  

Is she on antibiotics and pain medication?  I would keep her in a smaller cage for a few days as long as she isnt stressed, but she sure needs to stop climbing all over the place.  SHe must feel pretty good if she is active like this!  I am surprised her sister is pulling her stitches. usualy other rats lick and sniff but dont try to pull the other rats stitches out! I have only heard of this happening on one other occasion.

How does the incision look?  If you want to send a photo that would be great. You can attach it right here when your done responding.

Thats really great you are thinking of going back to be an exotic vet. Do you have a degree now? Usually you have to be a general vet for a period of time before going for a specialty in exotics.

For more info, here is a link on how to become a board certified exotic companion mammal specialist, which requires at least a 36 month residency in an exotic clinic setting.

http://www.abvp.com/categories_ecm.htm

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stitches   QUESTION: Thank you Sandra! Attached is a photo of her stitches, she loves to run on her wheel and keeps trying already but I didn't know if you would recommend her back on there as I wondered if her running would rip out a stitch. The vet said he couldn't just do internal because it was a bigger mass then he thought and she's pretty small for her age, she was the runt of the family. He booked me for next weds for the stitches to come out so almost 10 days..

Answer
I would keep her from the wheel just to be safe. Once the stitches come out you can let her have it back again.

The stitches look good and healthy. Very clean. It doesnt look as if they are healed totally though so I would be cautious about her activity levels yet even though tumor surgery is non invasive.