Funny thick scab

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I hope you can help me. One of my male rats who is coming up to 2yrs recently had a sebacious cyst (I took him to the vet at the time who diagnosed him). However, over the last few months the cyst has obviously burst and left a really thick unsightly scab that won't seem to fall off. The scab is granulated and feels deep and at one time it looked as though his skin was growing back over it around the sides. Luckily (I think) one of his cagemates must have groomed him and chewed it off as it was a nice healed patch the next day. Since then the thick scab has returned and he won't let me touch it. Hair has stopped growing on it. I feel tempted to pick it off as it's been there for so long but I won't as I'm sure it would hurt him. Is it something to worry about or should I just leave it?

Also, another of my dominant bucks has developed one of these cysts and it looks to have a hard white head on it. I've read that you can give these a squeeze yourself - can you give me some tips please on how to do this without distressing him?

Many thanks for your help.

Claire

ANSWER: Hi Claire

That is so odd that a cyst would fill up and burst. Can you tell me if it was pus that came out of this cyst? What color was it and did it have an offensive odor?
Also, can you possibly take a picture of it?? Odd request, I know, but its hard to get a visual sometimes on these things.

Your other rat has an abscess (which makes me wonder if the first rat has one instead of it being a cyst) and yes you can squeeze it yourself but be prepared for some work ahead to clean it up to prevent infection.

For starters, if you can, get him to lay still and hold a warm compress on the abscess. 10 minutes is ok but longer if you possibly can. Do this several times a day until the abscess seems really soft almost like a blob of jello. It may burst on its own or he may do it himself.
Meantime, have some supplies ready such as latex gloves, a mask if odors bother you, antiseptics such as diluted chlorhexadrine or a diluted betadine solution of 1:5. You can also use saline solution. You will need a syringe or aspirator like a bulb syringe.
Once you try to soften the abscess up, put on gloves if you have them and again, the mask if offensive odors bother you, and if there is a scab, gently pick it off...it may open up right at that moment or may require more help from you. If thats the case, first find the base of the abscess. Go BELOW the base and gently press in a steady motion on the abscess. Look for his reaction. You may or may not get a protest but remember, this will NOT hurt him because abscesses do NOT have nerve endings in them and wont cause pain. He just wont like the restraint if anything!!  Again, apply steady gentle pressure on the base of the abscess. Once the pus starts to come out, continue to press till it is all empty. It may leave a large hole. Dont worry if it does. This is normal.
After that you want to flush it using the bulb syringe and flush it with either betadine, saline solution or chlorhexadrine. Never use peroxide as this will damage delicate tissues and burn him badly.
Next, fill the hole with neosporin. You can repeat this a few times per day.  
Keep in mind that if the area has lost fur etc....it will all close up and grow back.

Anyhow, if you can somehow take a photo of your other rats cyst and the scab it has etc...that would  be great!

Regards

Sandra

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

QUESTION: Thanks for all the advice. I think I may have got confused as the lumps aren't abcesses they are like oily spots possibly from too much fat or protein in the diet. They look just like a spot a human might have. The vet said they are harmless but the way Pinky's scab has gone makes me think it's a bit weird. Maybe the other rats keep nibbling it off so it's not healing properly. I'll see if I can take a picture of it to send to you.

Thanks again for your help.

Claire

Answer
Send a photo to Sandyscrittercity@yahoo.com


I am still a bit confused as to what this cyst is made from. A cyst is a lump filled with fluid or solid matter or both. It differs from an abscess because an abscess is a pocket filled with pus from infection while a cyst can be caused from other factors such as inflammation or trauma or infection although the cyst itself is not always infected, it can become infected. They are usually raised lumps or "sacs"
Usually they are aspirated and drained, and if the cyst doesn't get smaller, the vet usually removes it surgically. If the cyst is caused by protein or fat (you may mean a sebaceous cyst) the diet should be altered and the cyst removed too so it doesn't get bigger. They usually do not cause pain since there is no nerve endings and they also are usually benign.  I am wondering if what your seeing is an accumulation of buck grease? They are waxy orangish spots on the skin, usually found on the back.  
I will wait to see if you have photos so I can help more.
There are other conditions that a lesion can form and eventually scab over like what you are describing.
Is your vet an exotics specialist, by chance?