rat with pituitary tumor

Question
I wasn't sure how to respond back on the same question page as before, but I'm the person who wrote last night about the female rat diagnosed with a pituitary tumor.

Her symptoms began about 1-2 weeks ago when I noticed she just didn't seem as active as normal.  I kept an eye on her, thinking maybe she was developing a respiratory infection, but there was never any sneezing, wheezing, etc.

Over this past weekend (5 days ago), she stopped coming to the second level of the cage, and she was unable to hold food with her front paws.  Grooming is also difficult, as she is having trouble using her front paws, and she topples to the side when she tries to sit up to clean.  Her eyes were getting rimmed with, I don't remember what it's called, but that rusty-colored secretion.  

Her ears both look clean, with no discharge.  

At this point, she also seems to be having trouble chewing anything that's too hard.  I've been hand-feeding her soft fruits and vegetables, and giving her baby food from a spoon while she's resting on a towel.  She doesn't even attempt to hold the food anymore.  Over the weekend she was still trying to hold food with her front legs.

Thanks very much for your response.

Answer
Sadly, I must agree with the diagnosis.  Not only is she not using her front paws but she is losing the ability to chew, another motor skill that is effected by the tumor. :(   Soon she wont be able to swallow and this is not good, as you know.

THe rust discharge is called "porphyrin" and its a secretion from a gland behind the eye called the harderian gland. This gland becomes active when the rat is stressed, producing discharge from the eyes and nose which sometimes scares people into thinking the rat is bleeding from the eyes and nose.

Unfortunately all you can do know is nursing support. I would still go for the steroids but do it now before she declines further. HOwever I will be honest, I do not see them helping much at this point but its worth a try. Discuss narcotic pain medication for her too. The vet should not have any problem with this. It will make her very comfortable  and will not hurt her in any way. I hate this part of the work I do. I have to be totally honest with you and if things persist like this I dont see her around much longer....maybe even a week or less. I hope I am wrong, but experience unfortunately tells me otherwise.  Not long ago another person wrote in and I told her the same thing and so kept her girl close to her, cozy and comfortable and one night she fell asleep with her body tucked under her owners chin and drifted off to the rainbow bridge very peacefully.

If you noticed the symptoms just 2 weeks ago at best, this is a very progressive tumor that is probably growing rapidly. I dont see this going on much longer. Keep her close to you, I am sure that is what she wants, or if not you, her cagemates. Often female cagemates know something is wrong and they tend to play nurse with their ailing mate.

I cant tell you to put her to sleep. I always believe in letting them make the choice on their own unless they are in distress, like with respiratory distress like you said earlier such as with pneumonia when they may gasp and wheeze are are clearly hypoxic, panicked and suffering. This is the kindest action to do in that case (euthanasia) and if your the type that can handle being with your rat till the end, I would go with your heart. Only you and your rat will know, nobody else can tell.  I will only tell you that it will be time soon, but when, I dont know. I am really sorry. This totally sucks.