tumor, abscesses, cyst, something else?

Question
QUESTION: hi i just picked my girlie iris up from our vet today. she had surgery last night to remove a mammary tumor, which thank heavens was benign...but now one of my boys dimitri seems to have a lump. it feels like 2 small lumps that're conjoined but with a depression in the center and kind of around his rib cage area. they feel kind of hard and nothing like iris fibroadenoma...i plan on taking him to see our amazing vet but unfortunately, my work schedule prevents that until early next week at best unless i see something that seems like an emergency, so if anything stands out to you as something that may need a more rushed appointment date, i'd greatly appreciate your opinion. thank you.
amanda

ANSWER: Hi Amanda

Although males are not immune from mammary tumors, they are not half as common as they are in females. With the depression in the center it almost sounds like an abscess. When did you notice it and how fast has it grown and changed?  

What you can to is if it is indeed an abscess, you can help it along by simply getting him to lay on a warm compress or a ricebag that has been warmed in the microwave etc...lay him on it and give him the ear scritching of his life.  If you can get him to lay there for 20 minutes *yeah right!!*  that would be ideal.  Give it a while and see if you can get anything expressed from it. It may only take simple coaxing but should he fuss, I would leave it be and check it every so often to see if it has filled up with pus or if there were more changes. You may notice a scab too.  It could also be a lipoma which is nothing more than a fatty cyst.

Before I suggest waiting a short time or rushing the appointment date, I need to know how aggressive this lump is first, and the sooner it is removed of course, the easier the surgery is, but if your talking just a week, I am sure it is fine no matter what it is.



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

QUESTION: uhm yesterday i noticed it. it hasn't changed at all really. i'll try to do what you recommended since my ratties actually have rice beanbags in their cages. and it does have a scab on it though i don't know if he just happened to scratch it after the lump(s) formed. but i'll try the ricebag and schedule his appointment as planned. many thanks.
amanda

Answer
I do have a feeling is an abscess now that you said there is a scab. With the depressed area and the scab, it may even be draining on its own. If you try to squeeze it, which if you feel you can handle it, I do advise trying to rid some of the pus in it, make sure you press at the base of the lump and if pus starts to come out continue to press it till it stops.  Once the pus is out, there may be a large crater. You can clean it out with clean water aand simply add a few blobs of antibiotic ointment to the crater.  This will not harm him in any way. Let me know how it goes.

Sandra