Lump on Back

Question
QUESTION: I have a female rat, called Truffle and she is around 2 years old.  She has a few mammary tumors underneath her, but they are only small and don't seem to bug her, however she has a lump on her back which is as big as golf ball.  It feels firmer than her smaller tumors and it seems to be growing quick.  She is quite a healthy rat, eats a lot and drinks a lot, around 400 grams in weight.

The tumor does not seem to be causing her any harm, but I'm worrying about what it may be, its so hard and situated between her back leg and her spine.  It feels like theres more than 1 and they feel like they are stuck to her some how.  They don't move like the smaller ones.

ANSWER: Hi Diana


How long as she had this lump?
Can you tell me if the fur is still covering the lump or did the fur fall off?  Would you say it came out of the blue and one day you just noticed it?

Does she live alone?

Is there a color to the lump or is it just flesh toned?

I am hoping it is an abscess...but I will wait to see what you say to the things I asked first.

Has she had abscesses previously? If so, where were they located and how were they resolved?
Sorry for asking so many things but in order for me to get a good visual of what is going on I need to know a few more details. Its hard to know since I cant handle her in person and feel it and see it myself.

Would you say its attached and doesn't move like the mammary tumors do?

How long as she had the mammary tumors?

and last but not least..just one last question, I promise :)  

Do you have a vet that is experienced with rats and also experienced as a surgeon with small mammals?

I will wait for your response. Hang in there...hopefully its not a big deal.

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

QUESTION: She has had the lump since January but it started small and then just suddenly grew.  There is still fur on it, there appears to be no cuts or scrapes near it.

She lives with another female rat of the same age, who also has mammary tumors.  But she has been checked by the vet and given antibiotics and her lumps come and go, she has quite a few small ones.  

Truffles lump on her back is a normal color, but its starting to appear like the skin is stretching to compensate for this big lump.  She has never had an abscess before and her mammary tumors have also only recently started in about January.  She is quite a healthy rat, size wise and it was hard to see the mammary tumors at first.  At the moment her tumors are very fatty looking and not bulging.

Yes we do have a vet that is experienced in rats, so will take her as soon as possible.  I have researched the web to try and find an idea as to what it may be, but have not come across a rat with a lump on her back.  Thought it was a bit odd and could not find anything similar.

Thank you

Answer
Have you gone to my website?
A few years back my male rat, SKittles, had one on his back, more toward his shoulders. I have a photo of it too so if you want to take look and see if it looks like your rats.
Let me know what you think.

If you plan on removing the mammary tumors on the girls (I know, with two girls having them its a bit of a heavy financial weight to carny)
we have had success using lupron after the surgery to prevent regrowth rather than spaying since spaying later in life once tumors start is often unsuccessful. However, the lupron has helped prevent new growth and in fact has even shrunk the tumors that were existing. So You can talk to your vet about it and if he or she has any questions my vet is wiling to answer email or phone calls about it.
Anyhow check out my website, see the photo of Skittles and his odd lump.

The url is:
http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/allaboutratcare.htm