Bump?

Question
QUESTION: My rat has a round, red lump (1mm diameter) on her back, just left of the spine. It doesn't seem to cause her irritation, and it isn't affecting the coat. She's just over a year old (I got her January last year), and beside being somewhat fat she's healthy.

I'll be taking both my rats to the vet in a week, but I don't want to risk waiting in case this is serious.

ANSWER: Hi Chris

I have a few things to ask first that can help me get a better visual of this bump since of course its hard to be as accurate as I would like since I cant examine her in person. Hope you dong mind the questions. :)

How fast did the bump come up?

Did it seem to appear out of nowhere?

How long has it been there?

Is it soft and seem free to move around or does it feel hard and attached?          

Is the bump under the fur and the fur has not fallen out,
exposing the lump?

Is there a scab on the bump or is it pitted inward?

I know for certain it is NOT a mammary tumor if it is directly on her back, unless its more toward her side.

I am hoping it is an abscess but there are other things it can be, from a cyst (fluid filled) to a lipoma, which is mostly a fatty tumor and almost always benign. Lipomas are also slow growing too which is why I asked if it came on suddenly or grew over a period of time. One thing about lipomas is they dont usually need removed if they do not continue to grow or change in appearance but no matter what, if the vet decides to leave the mass, a biopsy should be done (aspiration) just to be safe.

Let me know during a follow up the things I asked so I can further advise.

Thanks

Sandy

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

QUESTION: I didn't notice the bump until yesterday, and I handle her everyday. I don't think it's been there for too long. It's not soft - it's solid, and firmly attached to the ouside of the skin. It's convex. The fur around looks normal - none has fallen out, and it's not thinner than in other areas. There doesn't seem to be a scab near it.

I don't think it's a tumour - it's pretty small, there isn't any swelling under the skin, and it's just a bump on the surface of the skin.

Thanks for your help!

Answer
Hi Chris'

IT must be the day for bumps and lumps on here!  I answered two more message like yours today and there are several others pending my answer now!

Kind of ironic...
Anyhow, Can you send me a photo?  My email is sandyscrittercity@Yahoo.com

I am understanding that if there is no swelling under the skin that this bump is just flat on the surface of the skin?

I agree it doesn't sound like a tumor and with it being red it may be a little hematoma, which is why I wanted to see a photo.
There is also a tumor that is more flat, known as a button tumor and it is also flat and red and (good news) benign and often not even removed unless it starts to cause trouble for the rat. Basically its up the the Vet in these cases as to if it needs removed!

Either way, you asked if it may be serious enough to warrant you to move a vet visit closer than a week away and although I am still unclear as to what it is without seeing a visual, I don't think its serious enough to change appointment dates but as I always say: you know your rats better than anyone else so go with your gut!  If you think this is something that is causing her discomfort in any way, by all means, call the vet to get her in sooner.