Tia has a tumour... (Sad Update)

[Blue_Frog]

Hey Zara -- so very very sorry to hear about Tia. When we were still had rats (about 15 years ago), our favourite boy Ratfink got a tumour as well, and the story is pretty well the same as kittycats_delight. I'm hopng for the best for Tia, and keeping my fingers crossed for you guys. *hugs* _A_

[Roxyluvsme13]

I'm really at a loss for words, Zara .

I hope that the outcome for Tia is well, but only you truly know what's best for her.

Sending you lots of good vibes and major (((HUGS)))!

[theterrierman]

Zara, I'm so sorry you and Tia are going through this right now. I saw the thread title and immediately hoped it wasn't your girl. I can't offer much in the way of advice, but I'm sending some good vibes your way. I hope everything works out as well as it can.

Andy

[Scooter's Mom]

I had a mouse (Shelley) who developed a tumor. I noticed it the day we moved into our new house... it started so tiny but it grew fast. The vet I took her to agreed that she wasn't in any pain, but when she started to show signs of being in pain it would be time to have her put to sleep. She was such a sweet girl. She ended up passing on her own, before she ever showed any signs of being in pain.

Good luck with Tia. I hope and pray she remains pain free and happy for a long time.

Crystal

[Sevaede]

Oh Zara. I don't even know what to say. ***HUGS*** and good vibes for both you and little Tia Maria.

[luckies4me]

In all honesty, given her age and the location of the tumor I wouldn't recommend removing it if it is indeed cancer. At her age she is already a senior, and not to sound mean, but on her last leg. Putting her under anesthesia would be very risky, and I would hate to see you spend all that money for nothing. I have seen it all too many times. We have done so many tumor removals at the clinic I work at and each rat was put down within a couple of months after the surgery, either due to the tumor coming back or more growing in it's place. Fortunately some died during the surgery. IMO it's just cruel to put an older rat through so much when they are on their way out anyway. I don't mean to sound rude, but I want to be honest with you. Tumors in rats grow very very fast (most of the time), and even if it is removed chances are it will just come back, and when they do they grow even faster and are a lot more painful.

Veterinarians do not know much about rats, as when they go to vet school pocket pets are not a large part of the cirriculum (sp?), so please do your research and try to find one that has studied lab animals. I know that you will. You are a very smart girl.

In all the years I have owned rats I have only had one with a tumor, and she was a rescued PEW lab rat that came from the UofO testing facility. It's stories like this that make me stress the importance of buying from a breeder and not buying from a petstore. I have bred rats for close to 10 years and all have lived past the age of 3, sometimes even 5, and none have suffered the horrible things that petshop rats have. Granted, I've owned plenty of petshop rats too (even myself cannot resist letting a cute blue dumbo baby get eaten by a snake) and all have suffered tremendously with Myco and other illnesses. It's a very sad thing.

And on a happier note, not sure where the vet came up with rats not living as long as this is not true. Due to good breeding rats are now living 3 years plus, and not dying of these dreaded diseases, but dying of old age. We are definitely on the road to giving these little guys a better life.

The best you can do is make her comfortable and happy during this time, whether you opt for surgery or decide to let her live out her last days until you know it's time to say goodbye. Offer her plenty of kisses and cuddles and spoil her with yogies.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the tumor is not cancerous, or that it is simply a sebaceous cyst and we have nothing to worry about. I feel awful for you. Rats just have a way of leaving their tiny pawprints on your heart. They are such amazing little creatures. My prayers are with you and Tia. I know you will do what you see as best, and you have my support either way. Please keep us updated.

[WELOVESPUPPIES]

My son had a pet hairless rat, Molly, when he was little. She was the coolest gal ever. She developed pneumonia and was taken to the vet as it came on so sudden I thought she was dying and wanted to have her PTS while he was in school. She was bleeding from the nose and everything. When I arrived at the vets, full of tears, they checked her out and said it was pneumonia. They could put her down or I could try antibiotics and an injection of steroids. I figured Molly deserved a chance and so did my son to say goodbye. She got better. A few days later she developed a tiny little pea size lump in about the same area as your Tia. I knew what it was and her age was unknown, as we got her as an adult and she was at least 1.5 years, so we were guessing 2-2.5. I did not take her back to the vet as the vet told me when she had pneumonia that their life expectancy is only about 3 years. I did not want to put her through surgery so we watched and waited for any sign of discomfort. The lump grew fairly rapidly. It was about the size of a quarter, but not perfectly round, and I noticed that it was starting to interfere with walking but she still did not appear to be in pain. I had to make the decision to put her down just previous to the holidays(for anyone who has children will understand, I could not bare to have my little boy wake one morning near Christmas and her be gone). It was a very difficult decision to make but that is what we are here for, to love them while we have them but to make the right decision to let them go when we know it is for the best. IMO I would not put her through the surgery. Molly had been a completely happy healthy girl up until the pneumonia and I often wonder if that was cancer to, maybe in her lungs(?). We bought her about 6 months of time after the pneumonia and then she went to the RB. If I have to do it again I would do the same thing(of course considering the age of the rat first). I wish you much luck and hope that Tia just had a benign tumor.

[Babyboonie]

Zara i'm so sorry to hear about beautiful Tia - like many others, my heart sank when I saw the title of this thread.

Did you manage to get to a vet today? I've got my fingers crossed for Tia, but know that whatever you decide is going to be right for her.

Keep us updated. ((((((hugs))))))