rat cancer?

Question
QUESTION: My pet rat Gwen has been losing weight for a couple of weeks, and has been very sluggish for the past few days. We took her to a vet and she's pretty sure that it's cancer. She wants to do some tests to be sure, and I want to know if you think that it would be worth it to have the tests done or if we should just put her to sleep. Thank you!

ANSWER: Hi Kayla

For starters, how old is Gwen?  
Second, is the vet an actual certified exotic vet that has gone on after Vet school to continue her education, pass the specialty boards and is now a board certified specialist?  So many vets that see rats on the side along with dogs and cats do it know days with limited knowledge and limited equipment and their advertising suggests they are bonfified exotic vets yet they are not, they simply have what is professionall known as having a "special interest" in exotics.

To be honest, cancer in rats is not as common as people think. Most of the mammary tumors removed from female rats are benign.

That said, the only symptoms your rat is displaying could mean so much more than cancer. In fact, those two signs are in no way enough to even suggest cancer.  Does she have any tumors? Is she breathing heavily? Has she been ill in the past and if so, what was the diagnosis and how was it treated?  
If anything, your rat is showing signs of either heart disease or possibly a respiratory infection such as pneumonia that causes silent signs which means you need to use a stethoscope to listen to he lungs and heart.  

The number one symptom of heart disease is WEIGHT LOSS followed by LETHARGY. The weight loss is gradual, just like your little Gwen.

Did the vet give her antibiotics?   

If you would like me to check the vets credentials if your not positive about her real title in exotics and also, if you want, I can give you a few names of a vet that can see Gwen for you.

NO way would I consider putting her down for one second without first treating her.  What kind of cancer do they think she has?

I am confused as to what would ever make this vet assume she has cancer because she is losing weight and lethargy when this can be a sign of other things less extreme.

Please let me know....I will help you best I can.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We have no idea how old she is. We got her along with two other rats from someone who didn't want them anymore.

The vet we took her to was recommended by another rat owner. She doesn't have any visible lumps or anything, and the vet said that her heart and lungs were fine. Her breathing is normal and she doesn't seem to be in pain.

The vet gave her Baytril, and so far it seems to be helping. Before Gwen had trouble walking and was sort of lurching around, but she can walk better now. She has trouble balancing when she cleans herself or tries to eat, though. Her left front paw seems weaker than her right. Also, she curls up strangely to stay balanced. She's eating normally too, when we offer her food she eats a lot. There is a lot of porphoryn (sp?) around her nose and eyes, but that has been reduced to mostly coming out of her right eye.

ANSWER:
If the baytril is working, she has a respiratory infection.  Just because the lungs and heart sound clear over the stethoscope isnt always a thumbs up for a green light.  

Its pretty hard to tell if the rat has an enlarged heart from listening to it esp if the rat is not holding perfectly still.

I am just glad the baytril is working and the good news is that she is eating and drinking. I would not even consider putting her through any tests for  cancer, she has no signs of cancer  at all.  If she had cancer of the organs such as kidney or liver, she would have problems going to the bathroom, the orange color in their teeth fade and the teeth actually appear more normal (orange or yellow teeth in rats signifies health), there may be blood in the stool, abdominal bloating, loss of appetite, frequent urination without increase in water intake OR increase in water intake but less frequent urination, which of course means the kidneys are not working good: excessive thirst, seizures, you name it, you would have a sick rat.  

Lets just hope she continues to improve on medication and hopefully she was given enough to keep from having a relapse, which means she should be on the baytril at least 14 to 21 days and in the case of mycoplasmosis, a full 30 days is needed to help control it and prevent relapse.
myco  
Good luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much! Do you have any ideas about how we can help her gain some more weight and strength? And does it mean anything that she doesn't seem to be going to the bathroom much? What should she be tested for and how much would it cost?

Answer
You can feed her baby foods...and also ENSURE or BOOST which are really good to help restore lost nutrients.  She can lick it like a milk shake.

As for going to the bathroom, do you mean urinate or bowel movements?
Is she drinking well?

I am not sure about the prices, every vet is different.  As for testing, all she really needs is to be put on enalapril, which is a good diagnostic tool for heart disease.  IF she responds (it may take a week or so) chances are high she has heart problems.  Blood work can be done but its not really necessary.