potential tumor?

[spankaroo]

hi all,
my 11 month old male rat, spanky, has had a lump on his left side for a month or so now- but until recently it did not appear to be bothering him. i checked it again today, and it has increased quite a bit in size and is now red and scabbed over on top. it is firm and beneath his skin. we have an appointment scheduled with the vet on monday. does anyone know what this is, or has anyone seen anything similar in their own rats? at first i believed it could be an ingrown hair due to the yellow discoloration around it, but now i am not so sure.
thank you in advance!!
shay

 

[lilspaz68]

It could be just be a cyst or an abscess, is it located near his back? I think see orangeish buck grease which is normal for intact males.

 

[spankaroo]

It could be just be a cyst or an abscess, is it located near his back? I think see orangeish buck grease which is normal for intact males.

yes, it is right on his side but closer to his back than his belly.

 

[lilspaz68]

Good. More likely to be a sebaceous cyst then.