I couldn't let them kill him! Rescue boy tumor help..

[MaevePotter]

Hello Everyone,

I knew I shouldn't work at the humane society..  One of my favorite little boys that I have been going there to give attention to when I volunteer is Nicholas. He is a darling lovey boy and today as I was playing with him and his brothers, I found a lump under his neck. It is a hard lump so it is not SDV and none of the others had one, so I assumed it was a tumor, and told one of the people there and they asked the vet, and said they would have him put down rather than remove the tumor. I mean the little guy is darling and is only 7 weeks old! I was about in tears so I had to take him home. The vet there did lance it and give me some antibiotics. She said it might be an abcess because there are white blood cells but there were also some bad looking cells and she said it could be a tumor/cancer. So I called my vet and he said 195 without diagnostic, 303 with diagnostic test sent out. If anyone can find it in their heart to help me out with this I would be very greatful. I just couldn't let them kill such a young little guy.. I brough two of his little brothers home to keep him company too. I didn't want him to be sad and lonely.

[ajzq]

  What a sad story.  I'm so sorry that I am not in a position to help you out.  I hope somebody who is more financially able will assist you.  Please keep us posted on his progress ! 

[Adventure Rats]

It's most likely and abcess, I'd hot compress and try to get it to drain and keep in on the ab's. If it doesn't go away with that then maybe another visit is needed, but from the sound of it I'm guessing abcess forsure.

[Marybelle]

Yeah, 7 weeks is really young for anything resembling a tumor...  I know the chance is there, but I'd be voting abcess, as well.  Try hot compresses, and do antibiotics, and see what happens...

[roxy92si]

Oh thats so sweet! i wish i can help but I'm in the same situation. one of my boys is sick and i cant afford the med or the consultation. I wish you the best of luck!

[wonderrodent]

Awww Meghan! That's so cool of you that you took them home! I hope it's nothing serious, only an abscess! Keep us updated!!

[MaevePotter]

Well, from what I have read on a couple other threads on here it might just be an abcess. Abcesses are hard and tumors are soft right? I have him on antibiotics and have been doing the warm compress but it doesn't seem to be getting smaller. I am also worried because he is less active than his brothers, and I am worried it is because of that.. Do abcesses have to be surgically drained or will they go away by themselves?

[JulesMichy]

Abcesses can be drained or lanced, or surgically removed. It depends on the size, the location, etc. It sounds like your vet already stuck a needle in there and tried to pull fluid out (what we call an aspirate) and got leukocytes and some other, abnormal cells. Lancing it requires a scalpel blade and a shallow incision.

[Rosies_Mom]

Absesses are like big yucky pimples. They don't get smaller. They will continue to get larger until they burst. Dexter has had groin absesses since he was neutered a year ago. Fortunately, as they get bigger, they get painful, and he chews at them. He breaks them open and we clean them out and apply an antibiotic ointment. Give it some time. The important thing is don't panic. Keep us posted and possibly post pictures for us to see.

Good luck

[Popcorn]

I wouldn't let the abcess get too big because the infection could start to spread and turn into something truly horrible.  (Are you familiar with a naked rat named Hairy?)  Since an abcess usually forms around an injury you will most likely be able to fine some kind of scab.  If you do find some way to open it.  Warm and soften the spot with a damp compress then take a pair of good tweezers and pull it off fast (like waxing your legs) or take a hot sterile pin and poke it into the edge sideways.  The bigger the abcess the grosser and stinkier the result will be.
Once you done this clean the site as well as you possibly can and put a good antibiotic ointment on it.  Clean it and put the ointment on it at least twice a day.  Antibiotics are good but you MUST use a topical exterior antibotic ointment as well.  While he's healing keep him on cloth, no dusty bedding!
I've had 100% success doing this - in fact one of my boys is healing from an abcess as we speak.

P.S.  I think your vet let you down - find another one.

[MaevePotter]

Just so you know that vet was the humane society vet, not my vet.

So I took him in today because I really wanted to get it looked at, and the vet said it is an abcess and he drained it. So thank god it is not a tumor! And here the stupid jerks at the humane society were going to put him down without even trying!!

Well as I said, the costs for this, (while less than the tumor price thank god) are still unwelcome at the moment, so I have started making some hammocks. If you want a new hammock I would really appreciate you looking at mine. I can make them any size you want. I am also making cuddle cups. I also have some new Harlan Teklad 2018 blocks if anyone needs some. I will ship it for 2 dollars a pound plus shipping.  Please see this thread for pics of my hammocks. They are ribbon hammocks! http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat/topic,4011443.0

Thanks for all of your great advice guys!

[myzoo2]

I am so happy to hear that it was just an abcess... What are your cuddle cups?  also we would all love to see the pictures of your rescues    

[trubandloki]

I also have some new Harlan Teklad 2018 blocks if anyone needs some. I will ship it for 2 dollars a pound plus shipping.

Wow!

Isn't that a tad pricey?  Plus shipping?  The Ark sells them for $1/pound don't they?  I realize you are trying to make money but... 

[MaevePotter]

I have no idea what other people sell them for. However, this is going to benefit a rescue rat's medical treatment. Perhaps I can lower it to one dollar a pound. I wasn't really sure of the going rate and that seemed cheap to me.

[EARPS Indy]

Yay!  What a relief.  (not yay about having an abcess, but yay about not having to have a mass removal surgery)