Rats and tumors please help!!?

Question

So my sweetheart Maudie rat of 2 years has a tumor. I'm devastated and am taking her into the vet this upcoming week. I just want to get some idea ahead of time. I am willing to take her in for surgery and I'm wondering if anyone else had their rat through surgery. Did they make it? How long did they live afterwards? I know that I will find this out this week but I can't wait any longer I really want to know and hear some input and what happens or has happend in the past to rat owners...

Thanks so much ...

Answer 1

Two of my son's pet rats developed tumors and the vet advised against surgery. None have lived past 2 1/2 years.  Good luck.

Answer 2

Well, I've had good and bad experiences.

Jigsaw - about 2 yrs old. Large cancerous tumor, necrotic in areas. He passed away at the end of his surgery, as the vet was stitching up the incision.

Hannah - Had surgery to remove a small (dime sized) tumor from under her front left leg. She was 2 yrs, 4 months old when it happened. She is now 2 yrs, 7 months old, happy & healthy. She bounced back from the surgery like it never happened. She HAS gotten another tumor (under right arm, this time), but I decided against putting her through surgery as the tumor is very slow growing.

My oldest rats are my current females (Hannah 2 yrs 7 months, Roxie 2 yrs 8 months). My rats, growing up, never lived past 2 yrs 4 months, and I contribute that to a smoking household, poor quality rat food, improper bedding, and improper caging.

You learn a lot from your mistakes as a child. (Hopefully) My rats now have the best bedding, best food, large cage, and they're in pairs for optimal happiness. :) Smoke-FREE household, as well.

Answer 3

My first rat got a enormous tumour, we went to the vet and he also advised against the surgery because even though he would remove the tumour, it would of been very likely to get more tumours because of the cancerous cells. That and the chance of her dying during surgery due to the anaesthetic.  He told me euthinisation was a humane option.

Selfishly i did not choose the euthinisation for my rat as i loved her too much and she did live for almost a year but in the last couple of months of her life she suffered and died in my hands. (she did have a very bad case, her tumour had popped out of her skin)

Its a very hard thing to choose but think of the welfare of your Maudie, she may live for another year or more so if you think surgery is the way to go i support you on that.