My baby has a lump

[JOOOWEE]

I am so upset, my baby hairless dumbo Kojak has a lump on his neck under his chin.  He is only a few months old...could it be cancer???  It just appeared out of nowhere and is already the size of a pea.  I emailed my vet to see if she can get me in first thing Monday (of course all medical emergencies and catastrophes occur on holiday weekends..never seems to fail). 

[CaitlynRae]

It could be an absess. The ones around the mouth can prevent them from eating. What about going in tomorrow?

[JOOOWEE]

Its right under his chin kind of on his chin/throat.  I am so worried about him..my poor boy.  He seems like he is not feeling good.  He is always quiet and mellow but he seems even more so now.  Is it possible for it to be cancerous at 3mths of age?  The vet office is closed for the holiday weekend til Monday.

[CaitlynRae]

Ohh, my vet is open Monday-Saturday, and only closed on the holidays them selves, not the days surrounding it.

Is there an emergency vet near you that takes rats? It may be more expensive, but if something is wrong it would be worth it. If not, it would atleast ease your mind

How's he doing today?

[Scubbs]

Have you brought any new rats home recently, or gone to any pet stores and come right home after?  A swollen lymphnodes in the neck can be a sign of SDA.

Hairless are extremely prone to abscesses, so that might be the problem.

[JOOOWEE]

My vet is in this afternoon and evening so I am going to call the office at 9 for an appt.  Ok I feel dumb but what is SDA?  thanks

[JOOOWEE]

I took Kojak to the vet today and he was a perfect angel.  He was so good, I was really amazed.  Anyways they drew some blood out of the lump and she checked it under the microscope and from what she saw we "think" its a viral infection that decided to root itself in the salivary gland.  I am really relieved at the thought that it is just viral and will pass.  He is in quarantine now not sure what good it will do at this point but what the heck ..and we are watching the lump.  If it gets worse we will try some antibiotics but hopefully it will start improving.  The vet said it could take up to a month to go away completely.  Poor little bubbe:)  Has anyone experienced this sort of thing before?  The vet said it wasnt an uncommon problem...thanks