Frannie has a lump on her tummy *UPDATE 8/4*

[Leonakitty]

Well, I found my first lump on one of the girls last night.  It's my squishy Fran, of course.  She's been to the vet with phantom illnesses more than any of the other rats combined... I'm always worrying about her.  And now she has a lump on her tummy near her hind leg.  I'm sick to my stomach and so upset.  She's just barely a year old.  I wasn't expecting trouble quite this soon. 

I'm hoping it's either a fatty cyst or a benign tumor.  It's soft, like how your earlobe is soft, about the size of a large pea, very round, and I can roll it a bit when I touch it.  She isn't acting like my touching it is hurting her at all.  She's eating normally, not losing weight, and is active.  We've got a vet visit at 4:30 today when I get of work.  Think good thoughts for my girl, please.  I'm so worried about her... my poor baby.

 
Melissa

[Scubbs]

Good luck!  Hopefully it's just an abscess and doesn't require surgery.

[mandycoot]

Good luck at the vet! We'll be thinking of you and Frannie.

[moonsingingfreak]

Sorry to hear about the lump!  Hopefully your girl can get all fixed up.

[Dorasmommy]

Hey, good luck with that.  I was reading a little about holistic health and diet...
I think the same stuff applies to rats as it does to people,
I've read that broccoli is good for malignant tumours and garlic is good for everything.
try supplementing her diet/meds with these foods

I just found a lump on my little Dora, I hope it's ok! 

[Topaz]

Good luck at the vet's.  I hope Frannie is okay

[Leonakitty]

Well, we're back.

The vet I normally see was off and the one who is the "rat" vet was late getting back from a housecall due to insane Twin Cities traffic.  So we saw the vet I'm not really fond of and who I think isn't keen on rats.   First of all, she looks at Frannie's chart and says "well, you seem to like to have problems."  What?  Oh yes! I LOVE when I have to bring the girls in.  I enjoy tossing money at you all. Hrmp.  I respond along the lines that since they mask symptoms so well and can go downhill so quickly, I prefer to be safe rather than sorry.  She then tells me, in a very condescending voice, about how they mask because they are prey animals.  Which I completely know, not being an idiot.  :/

So she finally looks at Frannie.  She gets frustrated when Fran wiggles, which makes me nervous!, and seems just not really into the exam at all.  Finally, I offer to hold Frannie for her after Fran makes a SPECTACULAR leap off the exam table to my shoulder.  Really, it was a thing of beauty to behold!  I didn't know the little pudge could still jump like that... everyone was impressed.

She finds the lump and I nervously mention I'm hoping it's a cyst or a abscess.  She says it's pretty hard and she's thinking tumour, which will have to be removed, and that's risky since rats do poorly with anesthetic.  I'm trying not to cry at this point and hubby is looking worried.  Fran starts looking me in the eye and bruxing and boggling.  Which makes me want to cry more.  I ask her to try and drain it, first, to make sure it's not a cyst.  Jon holds Fran since I'm a giant WUSS with needles going into my babies. 

It drains!  It goes down dramatically!  The doc is like "hrmp, maybe it is a cyst" and I'm thinking "way to scare me and upset me before checking, lady!"  They ran some lab work on it and there weren't really any cells in the fluid.  It's a cyst.  Fran is on baytril, we're getting rechecked (with her normal, nice vet who does follow up calls!) next week to see if it needs to be drained again or what.  It's almost completely gone at this point, there is a little bit of a lump left.  I'm so glad it wasn't cancer.  Also, 60 dollar vet bill is preferrable to a couple hundred.

Soooo hooray!  The vet wasn't great but I'm so relieved it's a cyst I could have kissed the old biddy. 
Fran's getting lots of loving and smooching right now.  My sweet lucky girl.

Sorry so long... I'm still a little miffed at the vet.

[Topaz]

WOOHOO! I'm so glad Frannie's okay!!

As for the vet, I think we've all had problem vets who stick their noses up at rats.  I've had one do that to my DOG!  So I changed vets. hehe.  Congrats on Fran being well!   

[kit]

I'm so glad it turned out good for Frannie. I just don't understand vets who are like that . Good for you for making the vet do more investigating!! Nothing like doing her job for her, uncompassionate bitty   Hugs and scritches to Frannie!

[mandycoot]

I'm so glad Frannie is going to be fine! Sorry it had to be such a trying experience. What vet do you go to normally? We love Barb Leppke at Shady Oak Vet Clinic in Minnetonka.

[Leonakitty]

We go to Doctor Hensen at Century Ave. vet clinic in Maplewood.  Is Minnetonka really far from the TC area?  I drive about 10-30 min to get to our vet (10 normally, rush hour increases it a bit).  How reasonable is your vet?  Ours charges 20 for a visit, 10 for a recheck.  I had an appt., fluid drained, and meds for 57 at this vet.  Which is great.  I love having a reasonable vet.

I'm possibly looking into adopting a baby boy soon who I'd want to neuter to live with the ladies... what did you vet charge you for Thunder?

Sorry for all the questions!
Melissa

[mandycoot]

Ummmm ... it takes me about an hour to get to Shady Oak from Northfield. It should be less but 494 adds those extra ten minutes or so. It's a bit far from you -- SW of Minneapolis/east of Eden Prairie, kind of by Chanhassen.

I don't see her often--only when we're at home which has been less and less lately. They're a bit expensive. I don't recall how much an appointment is but I know it's a bit pricey. The spays in the spring were the last thing we got done there--they were $140 each, meds were $20.

I had Thunder neutered over here in Appleton for $85, and I can't remember what Shady Oak quoted for it.

Scout goes to Barb Leppke too; I don't know if she'll catch this thread but you can always PM and ask.  However, if you've got a good regular vet that is closer to you and more reasonable, I don't see too much of a reason to switch.

[Dorasmommy]

yay for her....
shame on that vet.
Rats aren't prey animals to a pet owner. They are so much more! That was a rude remark.

[moonsingingfreak]

I definately think you should have words with that vet about how she treated you, you did not deserve that at all. You should also tell the practice manager that you are not intending to recommend the practice to your ratty friends so long as she will be looking at them. Maybe they'll list her as "no rats"... sounds like she needs to have a big sticker on her forehead: "I am a close-minded idiot who only cares about animals that I deem worthy"
Your story made me very upset. You were far too diplomatic with that bet, telling her that you'd rather be safe than sorry... and her comment about them being prey animals 
I'm glad you'll be seeing the regular vet for the follow up.... I'd mention your experience to him/her also. They need to know how the mean vet is treating clients.

[Leonakitty]

Yes... I think I'm going to let Dt. Hensen know what happened.  And refuse to see the other doc ever again.  She made me feel uncomfortable and silly for being so concerned about the kiddos.  I do have the tendency to be very diplomatic when treated badly.  I'll still be polite about it... but I'm worried that if Hensen mentions it to the doc, she'll give me ugly looks when I come in or somesuch.  I'm a wuss, really.  :/ 

I'll make sure to mention it to their normal doc.  She's very kind and would probably find a good way to tell the other doc. while keeping me anonymous.

Melissa

[moonsingingfreak]

I'm sure if you tell your vet that you wanted her to know but not make a fuss, she'll do her best. I can understand your concern (I hate drama and do my best to not irritate situations), but these rats are your babies. If a pediatrician had done that to a family with a small child, it would probably be on the front page of the newspaper.
If she does mention it to the other vet and the other vet DOES give you dirty looks, give 'em right back. Vets should work on commission, she'd make no money 

[TheNightSpider]

Silly vet! She is such a ogre cause she doesn't know the wonder of owning ratties! YAY! Fran is better! 
I think Fran leapt so far cause she didn't like the vet also. LOL.