preventation of tumors

Question
I have a one year old female rat that is in good health and I want her to stay that way. If she gets a tumor I would have to put her down because I do not have $200. How do you prevent tumors?

Answer
Most tumors are either estrogen fueled (mammary tumors) or cancer. The only sure way to avoid tumors is to simply not get a rat; and of course, that isn't feasible for any of us, since we love our pets. Spaying does help but does not completely eliminate the possibility of tumors, and of course knowing your rat's bloodlines and history so you know what to expect is a big help as well. Other than that, I'm not aware of any tricks out there.

Best luck;