Found a tumor on my rat yesterday

[j]

The heading says it all.  I found a tumor on my baby girl yesterday.  We're heading to the vet in 4 hours, which will be 5pm, where she'll get sedated and have her lump biopsied.

 :sad:I'm pretty worried, Nuisance is the only pet I have and I really love her.  She is getting kind of old, she's about 18 months old but she's still really active and doesn't seem sick at all so I am hopeful that the tumor is benign. 

Wish us luck!

[kaika_dragon]

I hope it goes well!  I'm sorry you're going through this.     Rats get tumors so often it seems... on a more positive note, I thought one of mine had a tumor, and it turned out to be a benign cyst.  Hopefully you will have the same luck.  ((HUG))

[j]

Thanks for the hug!!!!!!

Well, we're back from the vets... It took an hour and a half and unfortunately we found three more lumps.  She's had all four biopsied and on Monday we'll find out the results.  I held her while she was sedated and biopsied and she's never sat so still her entire life.  The lump under her arm was filled with a milk like substance so I'm a little worried about what it might be, doc didn't mention what she thought it could be... eeeek.

On the other hand the vets were amazing!!! SO NICE and just wonderful people.  We chatted the entire hour and a half about our pets and they even said if I go through with my vet nursing course that I should call them, might be able to get a job with them!

Nuisance is still reaaaaally sleepy and is lying on my lap so quietly, it's kind of unnerving as she never sits still but she looks OH SO CUTE!  When I know anything more I'll post again.  Wish us luck again!

[Roxie]

Oh, j!!!!

I'm really sorry about your Nuisance. I do understand totally facing the possibility of losing a pet of any type.

Do know it is perfectly OK to ask the vets all the questions in your heart and mind and ask them as many times as your heart and mind need to hear the answers.

I never owned a rat... but I have owned mice that I loved dearly.

I have not a clue what to suggest you do to comfort a rat that is not doing well.

I guess just touch it gently and frequently and talk to it with love in your voice. Also, take some pictures of Nuisance.

I'll bet they also cross over Rainbow Bridge.

I would have responded sooner... but I'm going through a lot of very frightening painful family problems, and still absorbed in the grief of losing Sara. (Ha! Some friend I am, huh?) And,  I'm pretty ill myself. I am kicking myself for not responding to your concerns and fears sooner.

I'm here if/when you need me. I'm always up late. Kinda nocturnal.

Roxie

[j]

Thanks Roxie!  It really means a lot and you're post has made me feel a heck of a lot better.

Nuisance is actually doing really well tonight, you'd have never known she'd been sedated and biopsied yesterday.  She's still a little tired and occaisionally nearly falls off my shoulder but she's pretty much her old crazy little monster self.  Unlike her, though, she's been sleeping on me all day; which is absolutely adorable but normally she tries to crawl all over me!

If you couldn't feel the bumps you wouldn't know she was sick.  The "wife vet" (I don't remember their names) said she was in perfect condition and was absolutely gorgeous; which of course made me feel really good.  Then the "husband vet" said she was so friendly for a rat and I mentioned how she's always loved human attention and he said "Are you sure it's her and not just that you've been a really good owner to her?"  That made me feel AWESOME!  I seriously LOVED these two vets, such friendly people.

I took about a thousand pics of her a couple of weeks ago because I'm always afraid of pets and family dying suddenly and I only had pictures from when she was a little bub.

I was really sorry to hear about Sara and I would have written something but didn't think it my place as I'm still a newbie and losing a loved one is such a personal thing.  Life sounds really tough for you at the moment and I'm really sorry you have to go through that.  I can't say I've ever been through anything tough so I can't imagine what you're going through but I really hope things get better for you soon.

I never thought a forum could be a place for warmth and comfort but I was definately wrong.  To be honest I've never felt more easily welcomed into such a tight knit community.

Oh, and I don't think I've mentioned before, but my name's Jaz.   

[Roxie]

I was really sorry to hear about Sara and I would have written something but didn't think it my place as I'm still a newbie and losing a loved one is such a personal thing.  Life sounds really tough for you at the moment and I'm really sorry you have to go through that.  I can't say I've ever been through anything tough so I can't imagine what you're going through but I really hope things get better for you soon.

I never thought a forum could be a place for warmth and comfort but I was definately wrong.  To be honest I've never felt more easily welcomed into such a tight knit community.

Ohhhh, Jaz!!! Never feel becuz you are a new"kid" on the block you need to not post if/when you want to!  This sounds really "dumb", but this group is kinda "family". At least for me it is.  You are family, too, in here!  What you say - think - feel - dream matters!

I have no one really close to me in my life --- except my oldest daughter. Can't trust anyone to let get close. (Mental illness thing) The group members here know more about me than actually my therapist does!

Yeah.... Sara dying has really taken the wind out of my sails. I've had a tougher time over her death than I have had over my human family members and son. I even watched Tay "grieve" over Sara not coming home.

I smile when I think of your rat's name! Nuisance! That is sooo cute.

One day my 5 year old Mandy asked me "Mom? Is my middle name Goodness?" I told her no and asked why she thought that was her middle name. She said " you always call me Oh My Goodness."  (Yes, I did! She wrote the book on being a challenging rascal!)

I do hope the biopsies are all benign... and just cysts. You are trully a wonderful steward for your Nuisance! In all my decades I have never once heard anyone taking a rat for medical care and intervention!

What an awesome person you are! I am really excited and proud to know you!

Roxie

[j]

Thanks Roxie, I really do feel welcome but I'm always afraid that if I post too soon or too often people will feel that I am intruding on their "family".   

I, too, have a lot of trouble trusting other people; the main reason why I don't keep in contact with anyone after the reason I see them(school, work) goes away, hence the complete lack of friends in the real world.  It's a lot easier to be open with people online for me, it's harder for people to get to know me and therefore they have less reason to judge me negatively which just happens to be one of my biggest fears.

Nuisance didn't have a name for the longest time.  I'd call her my bubby girl, my little monster and finally, I started calling her my gorgeous nuisance because she's a marker and constantly pees on me, which is a bit of a nuisance lol.

That's a great story about your daughter!  I laughed like crazy when I read that!

I've seen a lot of people let their mice and rats' tumors grow until they finally die pretty horrific deaths.  I could never do that to my girl.  A lot of people think rats don't recognise their owners or feel affection towards them but she knows me.  She'll bite anyone's fingers, if you put them in her cage, except mine (she only bites them because she thinks they're food mind you and lets go as soon as she realises they aren't food or new tissues).  When she's enjoying a cheek rub she'll groom me and I know she loves me.

I had a hamster who, if I could have, I would have done anything to keep with me longer.  He was 2 and a half years old when he passed away in his sleep and I still greive his death even though he was very old.  His name was Fing, as in baby talk for my little "thing".  He was the most gorgeous little man in the entire world as he was the most affectionate and loving pet I've ever had, including my cats and dog. 

Nuisance means just as much to me as Fing and I refuse to let her get sick or feel pain.  She takes care of me by nibbling and licking my fingers, keeping me clean in her own little way.    She takes care of me so I'll take care of her the best I can.

Thanks so much Roxie for the good wishes.  I, too, am really proud and excited to know you.  I don't think I've met a more caring person!

Jaz

[louie]

I hope your little Nusiance gets better! It sounds like she will. I know that rats make wonderful companions. I had one that would follow me around the house, run to the door when we had guests, and laughed when I tickled her belly. She was a joy and I loved her. They are wonderful ESAs and I even had to go and buy one on a vacation I was on because having a rat helped ground me while we were travelling and I was better able to enjoy the trip. (We gave her to my daughter as a gift when we left - it was a win-win situation.)

[robbertbobbert]

Hey, I'm late to this post, but I really hope they're just cysts and that Nuisance is okay. I've never had rats and never much cared for them (although I hear they make great pets!, just not for me) but I know how very deeply animals can affect our lives. Be sure to let us know when you get more results.

[kaika_dragon]

Tumors aren't usually milk like- that just sounds like an infection to me.  I'll cross my fingers while you wait for the results.

[Roxie]

Could be a sebacious cyst.... they are composed of a milky, thick substance (sebum). But there is no way to tell until biopsy results are in. (I always hate waiting!)

Roxie

[j]

They said to call in on Monday about midday and these last few hours of wait are killing me!  I think I'll call in three hours because four would be unbearable.

I looked it up and mammary tumors can have pockets of milk in them and the biopsy really did look like milk.  I'm a little concerned that there's FOUR of them so that could mean they've metastasized, but again I'm hoping they're just benign tumors as majority of mammary tumors in rats are benign.

Well, I'm going to have brekky and I'll get back to you in 3-4 hours.

[j]

Actually, I can't wait until 12pm, I'll call at 11am.  I'll let you know the results in and hour and 20 mins, hopefully.

[j]

Okay, it's all good news!  From what I could understand she has three benign sebaceous cysts and the last one is just a benign growth of cells that won't affect her whatsoever.  She doesn't need antibiotics or surgery and she'll be completely fine.  Vet reminded me to make sure to check her for new bumps and we'll have a check up in 6 months time.

Overall, I'm very happy!  Nuisance will be getting extra fruit and veg tonight! 

[Roxie]

That's what I thought after you described the stuff they drew out!!!!  WooHoo!!!!!!  Bet you are relieved!

Roxie