another rat

Question
QUESTION: hello, herbie my rat has just been diagnosed with a tumor by just a regular dog vet. The vet said herbie had the tumor as soon as she saw it, and did not bother to touch it or ask any questions. She immediatly said herbie should be put down. But the problem is, herbie was originally diagnosed with an absese that almost healed, then he chewed around the eges and now its a tumor? This tumor is not like others, its actully a hole type thing, not a huge lump. Please help, what should I do and is this 'tumor' operable?

ANSWER: Hi Paige


Absolutely do NOT listen to this woman. She is totally clueless.
Why on earth would a rat need put down when he isn't even acting sick?
Obviously she has no business seeing rats at all. And for the record, with rats, just about every tumor you can see with the naked eye is operable. The ones you cant remove obviously are brain tumors, lung tumors etc....not because they cant be operated on, but because of the size of the rat etc...

That just burns my pants thinking about this vet and how she had on respect for YOU as a client and no respect for your rat as your beloved pet,as if it were some throw away animal that could be replaced at the nearest Petsmart.

It sounds to me like he has another abscess if its in the same spot. They often return if the pus was not totally empty when the skin closed up again. Does it look like a crater? Is there a scab on it?

You need to take him to another vet. Maybe not for this but in the future. I will be more than happy to find a vet for you that sees rats. Let me know where you live (city and state) and I will have names for you by this afternoon :)

Is it bloody, or is there pus in it?? IS there an odor from it and does it drain or is it fur covered and kind of sunken in with a hole in it like a crater, perhaps like something had come out of it like pus and other discharge. Does he act ok? Is he eating and drinking and acting fine? How old is your rat, by the way?

Sorry for all the questions, but it will help me be able to understand what this thing is all about if I knew more about it. What I can tell you for sure is your little Herbie does not need put to sleep, even if it were cancerous!  Cancerous tumors are removed and the rat is given steroids for a few weeks to possibly halt or retard growth and thats that.

Hang in there.....he will be ok and we will get a real vet for Herbie!!





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

QUESTION: hi i am paiges cousin.Gemma, i have recently found my rat, rumble has been sneezing blood. i am really worried about him and i dont want him to die. please help me i dont know whats wrong..

Answer
Hi

Your rat is not sneezing blood.


Please go to this URL and see photos and read more about it.

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

Also, the sneezing needs to be diagnosed. Can you tell me what kind of litter the rat is on?  Is he around any thing that can cause sneezing?