Tumors and Vets

Question
Today is my first time finding your site. Until about a month ago, I had two rats, both females, Baby and Daisey. Unfortunately, I lost Baby, which still makes me sad, but Daisey does her best to fill the void. Recently, Daisey developed a large bulge on the inside tummy next to her left leg. It's because of that bulge that I found your site because I wanted to know what it was, which I now know to be a tumor. You mentioned that there is a way to prevent tumors, and I'd love to know what it is, because it's more than likely that I'll get another rat, and I'd hate to repeat this lesson. Also, I am new to my area in New Jersey and have no clue about local vets that work with exotics. My zip code is 08090. I want to get that bulge/tumor checked and taken care of before it's beyond help. I love your candor and your information, and I share your love of rats. I have a door mat just inside my kitchen door that says, "This house protected by a watch rat. Enter at your own risk." I didn't get the mat with this saying, I actually took the time to change the word "cat" to "rat," which gets lots of laughs from everyone who enters. Thanks so much, and keep up the great work.

Answer
Hi Judi


Thanks for writing.

Have you seen the information on my site about mammary tumors along with some of the photos?

I created "Critter City" a few years ago but recently after joining all EXPERTS, I decided to devote my website to rat owners that,both new and old, and took the most common questions and made their own pages on my site.  So after answering about these tumors umpteen times, I took all that I have ever said about tumors and put it on one page and I give the URL to people rather than have me go into a long spill about it yet again. I will brief you, however, about mammary tumors, which I do feel your rat has! These tumors are usually found in unspayed rats after menopause age, around 18 months or so. High estrogen levels begin to fuel the growth of these tumors, found on the belly, under the front paws, chest, under the hind legs on the inner thighs, in the groin area, and even in the neck and chest area.  Getting them early is vital before they start becoming vascular. Once they start to grow, they become vascular an start to feed off the nutrients the rat gets from her food. This in turn causes the rat to lose weight despite her ravenous appetite.  As time goes on, and when I say time, I dont mean many months, I mean more like weeks, this tumor starts to get bigger and the blood vessels thicker which can make surgery more of a risk since the vet may run into some problems with bleeding when he comes across a   big fat blood vessel that may bleed profusely and jeapordize the rats life due to blood loss.
Other complications can occur which I outline in my website.

Prevention: Thats simple: Spay the female at a young age before hormones start to rage. Well, ok, not so simple, since of course that means we need not only a good vet but a good vet that is experienced in spaying young rats.

Anyhow, please check out my web page on mammary tumors and there you will also find out about non invasive treatment such as a certain form of chemotherapy (not the exact same thing as what humans get) and these treatments are used to prevent growth after tumors are removed.


Anyhow here is the URL and if you need anything more just feel free to write again!!

http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/allabouttumors.htm