Rat Help

[iceyshiver21]

My brothers rat developed a huge lump on her neck. It devopled just last week. Anybody have any ideas. It looks like a tumor but I didnt think they devolped that quickly. Help?!?!

[luckies4me]

It could be an abscess. Has the rat been scratched or injured at all? It should see a vet to determine if it is an abscess or a tumour. Hope all goes well!

[iceyshiver21]

She hasnt seen a vet yet, along taking her to a vet what could you do about it, or what excatly is an absess??

[Desert Arabian]

I would go to the vet ASAP. I had a rat with a lump, which turned out to be a tumor, and ended up claiming her life.

We waited too long, mainly because I was away from home for 6 weeks, and it was too late. What I mean by that is, it had gotten so big, that surgery was extremely risky. If we had done it sooner, we would have had it done.

[iceyshiver21]

This happened over a few day in not a week at the most.

[luckies4me]

It sounds like an abscess, Tumours usually do not get that large in just a weeks time, it is really rare.


An abscess is a swollen area on the body that is full of puss and bacteria, it is infected. It can start out by just a tiny scratch or a bite wound. Sometimes if it is really bad the animal will have to have it surgical opened up and drained, but for small ones they usually pop within a few days and heal quickly with antibiotics. I usually just drain the abscess myself, cleanse it with some saline solution and neosporin and it heals within a few days. But don't try this yourself if you've never done it before, which I am assuming you haven't lol.


The vet can tap the area to see if it is an abscess or a tumour. If the needle doesn't draw any fluid it is a tumour, if the needle comes back with either puss or blood it's an abscess. Hopefully it's just an abscess and you can treat her with antibiotics. You should take her to the vet though because like YLL said tumours can grow large very quickly and CAN claim her life! Not all tumours can be surgically operated on though and you just need to make them comfortable for as long as possible until it is time to let them go.

[CathyBogart]

Whether it is an abcess or a tumor the rattie still needs to see a vet. Trust me, you don't want to be draining an abcess if you don't know what you are doing. It is NASTY! Both abcesses and tumors can become deadly quite easily.

[luckies4me]

Originally posted by WolfChan
Whether it is an abcess or a tumor the rattie still needs to see a vet. Trust me, you don't want to be draining an abcess if you don't know what you are doing. It is NASTY! Both abcesses and tumors can become deadly quite easily.

Didn't I say that lol.

WolfChan have you had an animal die of an abscess? I have never heard of an animal dying of an abscess. I mean I have seen bad ones (my cats for example) but never one that could claim a life. Was it a rat? Wow that is just so scary!


Ok I'm a moron, of course if left untreated infection could kill an animal. Duh! I don't know where in the world my brain is today!

[wolfsoul]

It may also be a sebaceous cyst. After Frisco attacked Icarus, he developed a cyst. It wasn't too bad, it lasted a few weeks, but it I would raher deal with a cyst than an abscess.

[CathyBogart]

I am sorry to repeat what you said Luckies, you're right, I was just repeating you with less information included. I haven't seen animals die from abcesses, but I've seen some nasty ones.

My only experience lancing an abcess was on a sheep. *shudders* Not something I ever, EVER want to experience again.

Wolfsoul: Good point, I hadn't thought of that. We had a Guinea pig at work with a cyst from a bite a few weeks ago. The vet gave him something topical and at cleared up quickly. (I only work a few days a week so I don't get all the details on the vet visits anymore)

[tikeyas_mom]

my friends rat Roxy had a absess on her stomach, she couldent even move. it was sad. They didnt take her to the vet, they just let her die. Roxy died on my friends 16th birthday. so sad, I wish you luck.

[CathyBogart]

*Twitch* I don't think I could call anyone "friend" if they let an animal die like that.

Sorry, I couldn't keep my mouth shut...