klary

I haven't posted for a while and now it's with bad news... I just
discovered a lump on Setsuko (she's 18 months old). The lump is fairly
small, about the size of a hazelnut. It's in her left armpit and it
feels soft and sort of loose (as if it's not attached to her body but
sort of hanging around in her skin).
Only yesterday I was thinking how lucky I was that she and her sister
Bodie are both so healthy.
Well it's a trip to the vets tomorrow, but I'm worried...

Klary

j&s bouchard

This is the big worry with females.
Benign mammary tumors are quite common.
Removal of the tumor will be less risky if the tumor is still small and
spaying her will be of a great benefit to her.
Spaying reduces the recurrence of mammary tumors. When one tumor starts to
grow, you can be sure there are more about to come out.
Please keep us posted, hopefully it will be better news, like an abscess or
something like that...
--
Joanne
Mom to 12 rats
http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70

tracey

Sorry to hear that, Klary, I hope it's nothing serious - maybe an easily
treatable abscess. Let us know what the vet says.

Tracey

klary

Well, the vet had a look and felt the lump and she also took a
puncture (punction? don't know the word) and she says it's a benign
lump of fat. She says I should keep an eye on it because when it
starts to grow, because of the position under the front paw, it become
a problem with Setsu moving around. She would then receommend to have
it operated on. So for now, no worries, but I have to inspect it
regularly and make sure it does not grow too big.

It was, by the way, a stressfull trip.. Before I was downstairs and
out the door, Setsu had wiggled her way out of her cardboardbox and I
had to go up again. New box, taped it together, she was out in a
minute!. So I took a large tupperwarebox, punched some holes in the
top and locked her in.. I need to get one of those special baskets to
transport them..

Klary

j&s bouchard

I think a fatty lump is better news than a tumor. I believe they grow much
slower.

--
Joanne
Mom to 12 rats
http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70

tracey

Glad it's benign, that must have been a relief for you.

I've got a kitten carrier that I take mine to the vets in, much better than
relying on flimsy containers. Wasn't expensive and over here now, they even
make extra small plastic pet carriers for rodents.

Tracey

klary

Yes they have those at my petshop.. I just never bought one because it
seemed funny to buy something "in case they got sick".. I know I'm not
being very realistic here, I can be very good at denial.. but I'm
going to get one now!

klary

klary

well.. since monday, the lump has grown to twice its size. Going back
to the vets tomorrow. But first I'm going to buy a rodent-friendly
carrier to make the trip at least less stressfull for both me and the
rat..

Klary

j&s bouchard

--
Joanne
Mom to 12 rats
http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70

tracey

Sorry to hear that, I hope it is something that can be sorted without
causing too much stress or harm to your wee girl.

Tracey