Ok this is going to sound gross but what did it smell like? Like a cheesy bad smell or like an infection smell. If it was just smelly cheesy white stuff in the big back lump it would point to just a very big and inflamed sebaceous cyst. If you have it removed ... that is all of it ... the sack included, it will not return. However if you leave it there it may not heal or get infected or become worse.

Maybe an oral antibiotic would give him a better fighting chance. Your vet would also be able to assess wether its empty and clean and debris it.

For the one on the side, you could perhaps apply a warm wet cloth to the skin and growth to soften it and then try to gently extrude what you can.

It just smelled.. maybe cheesy? I am not sure. Just didn't smell right.

I also ended up dressing his wounds with nonstick sterile pads and gauze and waterproof tape:

(1) So he, or Gollum won't lick the antibiotics off.
(2) Dust, and other stuff doesn't get into it.
(3) Has time to heal.

I will have to wash it out and flush his wounds daily, but I hope that it helps him, and hopefully it will heal up nicely. As for the black thing on his cheek, that will have to wait until I have some funds to go to the vet. (I currently just applied for a job at PetsMart, so who knows? Maybe I'll have discount at the clinic there, too!)

It was pretty gross - but I could handle it. It was having him in pain that really tore at me. I've tried giving him plenty of yogies to make up for it - but I still feel badly about it. I will probably have to go to PetsMart later and get pet friendly dressings and antibiotics for him. Anything to make him feel better. 

I already tried picking at it and it's like a solid rock - so I'm not even going to go further with that. He's a little irritated with me but hopefully he knows it's for the better.

You know what, this cartilage-like growth reminds me of cutaneous horn

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~thabif/weeklyclinic091001/21actinichorn.jpg

I don't know if it can happen in rats but the color, structure seems similar.

That's almost EXACTLY what it was like.. just kind of grows out like that! When it FIRST happened, I thought he got stabbed with something.. bedding or whatever.. but it just keeps on coming back. I've flushed out the wound and tried to get as much as that tissue as I could but I don't want to put him through SO much trauma in on eday.

A lot of what is left, I believe is just dead tissue - although I will be continuing to heat, squeeze and pus - antibiotic, and dress until it looks better. I will show some pictures of what I have done so far, tomorrow.

After discussing Splinter with Bella (you may know her from her Rattery and TheRatGuide) - and she saw the pictures, she was concerned and asked that I brought him in to her Rat doctor. (Luckily it's very close to where I live!) She is willing to meet me there too because she wants to find out what it is, too!

Also, I noticed the day before yesterday when I took his bandage off, that he developed a slight red mark on his sides from where teh bandage rubbed on his skin. So I kept the bandage off. When I came home yesterday, it had developed into a deep red gash across his belly.. He is in physical pain. When I hold him to put ointment on the red gash, he goes crazy. I am in tears, it looks like I've abused him. I just want what is best for him - so at 8am, I am calling to make an appointment with Bella's doctor and hopefully get him in to see him/her today.

What Splinter's fate may be, I don't know. But please send him warm wishes of recovery. For those that don't know his story - Splinter is a mock hairless that has had absesses constantly for about a year. There is one, which is open, on his butt - but not fully flushed, as there is a lot of dead tissue - which won't heal up. There is also a mysterious black lump on his cheek - which is hard as a rock - you can scrap it and have nothing come from it. It bleeds occasionally from where it comes from the skin.

Anyway - I will post updates later. :

I'm glad to hear he went to the vet and was looked over. Definitely keep us updated.

-Melina

I hope that the vet helps you get rid of the cyst/abscess/gash for good! Keep us updated and I hope Splinter has a speedy recovery.

Oh, poor Splinter! My heart aches for him (and you). I'm glad to hear he got some help from a "real rat" doctor and will be on the mend shortly. please do keep us posted and i'm sending soothing and healing thoughts Splinter's way.