Mammary tumour?

[Hanespower]

I think one of my girls has a mammary tumour. It is in the right spot, just kind of beneath her armpit. It doesn't seem to be bothering her and it hasn't grown to the point where it's hindering her movement in any way.

I guess I'm wondering if I should just continue to monitor her for comfort. She's 2 years old and I'm not sure surgery to remove it would be beneficial to her with her age and the risks involved.

Thoughts?

 

[Sheldon]

If it isn't impeding her movement I would say she is too old to risk surgery. ☺

 

[SQ]

If she is healthy and does not have breathing problems, and you have a vet that has the experience and knowledge to safely operate on rats then removing the tumor should be low risk. http://www.ratshackforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7691

Small tumours are much easier to remove and less invasive.
However if it is slow growing, it might not become very large during her life.
I have had mammary tumours removed from rescue rats that were around 2 years or older.

But if a rat gets a mammary tumour, she is likely to get many more if not spayed (spaying at any age may prevent or slow down their growth) But people do not usually spay girls over 2 years because ave life span is 2 to 2.5 years and older rats do not bounce back as fast from such an invasive surgery.

Some people have chosen to give girls with mammary tumours meds that may inhibit the growth of mammary tumours.

I would urge you to discuss the options with your vet and then think about whether or no if you want to do anything.

Here is some info that might help http://ratguide.com/health/neoplasia/mammary_tumor.php

good luck to both of you