KatTheHippie
Well-Known Member
Today I noticed a decently large lump on Cooper. I'm kicking myself for not finding it sooner, but it' in a weird spot, on the right side of his lower abdomen, right in the fold of where his thigh ends and tummy begins, and that area has a lot of skin and fur, so I didn't notice until today..
It doesn't feel like the abscesses I've dealt with a million times over before, it's about the size of a grape, but not hard or round, per say. I'd say it's more pillow shaped, and it's really soft and fleshy feeling under the skin. It also doesn't feel attached.
I've only ever dealt with mammary tumors in rats and both of them were females, can males get them too? The only other ratty I had who got tumors was my rescue Kreacher, who we noticed a lump on, then three days later he was covered in a whole bunch of lumps, which were inoperable due to there being so many, there was no way surgery was worth the risk since he'd die from it anyway. We let him live out the rest of his life comfortably, but he was only 3 months by the time he needed to be put down, all of his tumors turned necrotic and it was such a terrifying thing to witness.
I'm horrified this may happen to Cooper. Should I get it aspirated? what if it is a tumor, he had his first birthday back in June, is that too old for an operation? Is an operation even worth it? I haven't had anyone operated on since I lost Rhydian during her spay, it just makes me so nervous having them put under now..
Anyone have any answers for me? And please, everyone send well wishes to my sweet boy.. In this last month I just lost Edgar, and a close friend just lost her boy Romulous, who I was very close to swell (He was Dover's brother, and I used to baby sit him often.) I don't know if I can deal with another tragedy so soon.
It doesn't feel like the abscesses I've dealt with a million times over before, it's about the size of a grape, but not hard or round, per say. I'd say it's more pillow shaped, and it's really soft and fleshy feeling under the skin. It also doesn't feel attached.
I've only ever dealt with mammary tumors in rats and both of them were females, can males get them too? The only other ratty I had who got tumors was my rescue Kreacher, who we noticed a lump on, then three days later he was covered in a whole bunch of lumps, which were inoperable due to there being so many, there was no way surgery was worth the risk since he'd die from it anyway. We let him live out the rest of his life comfortably, but he was only 3 months by the time he needed to be put down, all of his tumors turned necrotic and it was such a terrifying thing to witness.
I'm horrified this may happen to Cooper. Should I get it aspirated? what if it is a tumor, he had his first birthday back in June, is that too old for an operation? Is an operation even worth it? I haven't had anyone operated on since I lost Rhydian during her spay, it just makes me so nervous having them put under now..
Anyone have any answers for me? And please, everyone send well wishes to my sweet boy.. In this last month I just lost Edgar, and a close friend just lost her boy Romulous, who I was very close to swell (He was Dover's brother, and I used to baby sit him often.) I don't know if I can deal with another tragedy so soon.