Female rat with vaginal bleeding and tumor on leg

Question
We just discovered two days ago that one of our approx. 18-month-old female rats is bleeding from her vagina.  Every once in a while I see blood on the vaginal opening.  I think she licks it up, because sometimes it's not there, and I haven't been finding any blood on the bedding.  She is overweight, so I am not sure if it is related to some internal tumor, but her belly is soft and I haven't felt any hard spots.

I have also noticed a very recent increase in the size of a tumor that she has had on her hind leg on the back of the thigh.  It is a hard lump, and there is now a large white patch (not fur) on the skin of the leg, but it does not smell.  I have no idea what this is or how to help her get better.

She is still perky, bathes herself, play wrestles with the other female rat, eats the rat pellets we give her, and is always eager for treats.  It does seem that she has stopped drinking as much water, which leads me to believe that the vaginal bleeding might be an infection.

My boyfriend and I don't have very much money, so a trip to the vet might not be an option for us.  Is there some sort of home remedy that I can give her for both of these things?  If not, how much would a trip to the vet be?  Is there one in our area?  We live in Tacoma, WA.

I appreciate any advice you can give.

Answer
Hi

I am afraid she needs a vet. Vaginal bleeding is usually infection or from a tumor internally. This,unfortunately, is the age where tumors start to appear and the female reproductive tract starts to stir up trouble such as infection, tumors and polyps etc...
This occurs in unspayed rats mainly because once they go through menopause around 18 months, estrogen levels soar and start to fuel the development of the mammary tumors. When a rat is spayed around 3 to 5 months old,this stops production of excess levels of estrogen. Long story short, your girl will need a vet to help her in order to save her life. There are no home remedies, unfortunately, that can help her. I wish it were that simple.

Here are some names of vets. You can apply for Care credit if you have decent credit, and this is one great way to pay the vet bills. Some vets work with you on a sliding scale in order to not have to turn away an animal that needs medical treatment. I would ask the Vet directly about options because he is the only one to make these decisions, not the people at the front desk.

Dr. Michael Jones
Jones Animal Hospital
3322 South Union Avenue
Tacoma WA 98409
Phone:    253-383-2616