Rat died from an abscess

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

On Sunday I noticed my rat had a lump on her face very suddenly.  It was quite large...maybe about 1/5 the size of her face.

I read online about warm compresses but could NOT get her to hold still.  I tried it once on Sunday and again on Monday and again Tuesday morning.

She seemed to be eating and drinking ok and playing and her regular self aside from NOT liking me to touch the lump. I also noticed it was getting smaller and did feel some wetness on it so assumed it was at least gradually draining though it was VERY hard.

I put polysporin on it a few times but maybe not as much as I should have as she licked it off my finger a couple times and I was worried it would hurt her.

Yesterday the swelling was pretty much gone and she seemed to have a big scab on her chin.

Today she was dead and my husband says there was a lot of blood down the front of her.  I knew she was dead inside of a tube and I couldn't look myself and after my husband saw her he said not to look.

I am trying to figure out what happened, as I had no idea an abscess could get so serious so quickly and yet it seems likely to me that that is what was wrong.

I would really appreciate any insight you could provide as we have two other rats, just in case one of them gets an abscess...though I am thinking next time I will take them to a vet.  We live in a small town and I am not sure if there are any vets here who are knowledgeable about rats.

Thanks...Carol Ann

ANSWER: Hi Carol Ann

First of all, I am so sorry this happened to your little rat and my heart goes out to you. Each time we lose a rat, our heart aches.
I hope your heals fast. I truly mean that.

An abscess in that area can be very tricky. Sometimes the bacteria can actually leak into the body instead of bursting externally.
 
Sometimes what we think is an abscess can indeed be a tumor, but the tumor is located inside the body and we do not realize it. The tumor will abscess and the abscess is more external. What you may have seen could have been a tumor that abscessed. If this is the case, there may have been alot of blood vessels involved which could cause severe bleeding as well, which could result in fatal blood loss.
It is not common for this to occur, but it does from time to time, unfortunately. Also depending on the location, the bacteria can go straight to the brain causing infection to the brain and sudden death can occur.
Can you tell me where exactly this abscess was located? Jaw? Ear? Under the eye and on the face?
NO matter the cause, you tried your best to help this rat and it can be heart wrenching when this occurs. Chances are nothing could have been done to help the little rat anyhow, no matter if you had the best vet on the planet.
What your rat had happen was unusual, that is for sure.
My rats never have normal stuff happen with them. Its never just a simple ailment such as a respiratory infection etc.. I have rats that have the most odd ball ailments! Recently my young 15 month old rat went blind...right out of the blue, he lost vision in both eyes POOF! He had to be removed from his huge cage he shared with other rats and now he lives alone in a single story cage in my walk in closet where I can give him constant attention. He is doing great though and gets around like he has no handicap unless I remove him from his own element, and he freaks when that occurs since he isn't sure what is going on.  He clings to me like fly on sticky paper.
I also lost another beloved rat a month ago to, of all things, its almost impossible to spell let along pronounce: meningococcal meningitis.  This came out of the blue and killed my otherwise healthy and young and energetic neutered buck. I was devastated.

So you see, freak things happen regardless of how well we take care of them and we try out best.

I can help you find a vet if you let me know where your located and what large cities are around you.  It may not even be an exotic vet but one that holds a "special interest" in exotics and can help for future use. You just never know what can happen from day to day with these furkids of ours and it would be peace of mind to know that at least you have someone to run to if your rats get sick in the future. Knock on wood it doesn't happen though, but reality is reality.

Mean time, please let me know what else I can do to help in the future and do get back tome  and let me know where the abscess was located. I am curious now and knowing the location may even help shed some more light on what happened.

hang in there

Sandy

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

QUESTION: Oops, I think I got back to you in the wrong place - I did it while rating.

The lump was kind of just below her chin, at the top of her throat.  It came up so suddenly that I thought it must be an abscess rather than a tumour but maybe a tumour that abscessed makes sense too.

I am in Milton, Ontario - near Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Georgetown.  Mississauga is the largest closest place.

Carol Ann

Answer
Here is what I have come up with so far. Not sure how far she is from you but she is an exotics specialist. I did yahoo driving directions  and it shows about 41 minutes from Milton, Ontario.



Dr. Samantha Munn
Greenwood Park Animal Hospital    
1041 Gerrard Street East
Toronto Ontario M4M 1Z6
Phone:    416 778 6666
Website: www.drmunn.ca

***************

Animal Hospital of High Park
Phone: 416-763-4200
Fax: 416-763-4387
3194 Dundas St. West
Toronto, Ontario M6P 2A3