tooterjennings
New Member
I am concerned about my dumbo rat, Cherub. She is almost one year old, an intact female.
A few weeks ago she developed a small, hard lump on her chest. I believed it was either a cyst ot abscess, I now believe it’s an abscess. Several months ago she was bitten by another rat in the same area the lump appeared, her right armpit. For reference, she is not cage mates with the other rat. They live separately and it happened during a playtime session to get them comfortable with one another. They were separated immediately.
Anyways, the lumps. It started as one or two. They are small, around the size of a small pea. From past experience with rat tumors, I do not believe they are tumors. One of them developed a black spot and scab, opened, then drained itself of pus over the course of a few days. From reading online, this seems to be the normal healing process for an abscess.
Within about a week of that, her face began swelling. Concerned and consulting online again, my partner and I decided to start her on a course of amoxicillin. The swelling went down pretty immediately. We have continued with the amox to help the abscesses and prevent infection. The swelling in her face has not returned.
My current concern— the abscess are multiplying. They are in her armpit, on her chest, and on the right side of her neck. She’s very wiggly so it’s hard to tell, but I would estimate there are roughly ten of them. They don’t seem to be draining anymore. She doesn’t seem to be in pain or otherwised bothered by them— eating and drinking like normal, no weight loss, no change in behavior or energy level.
I’m a very anxious parent so this has got me pretty concerned. Unfortunately my go-to vet has left me less than impressed in previous visits, and they charge quite a premium. My partner has suggested popping one or more with a needle to see if that helps, but I immediately vetoed that idea.
Does anyone have help or advice to offer? I really love Cherub and want her to be okay.
A few weeks ago she developed a small, hard lump on her chest. I believed it was either a cyst ot abscess, I now believe it’s an abscess. Several months ago she was bitten by another rat in the same area the lump appeared, her right armpit. For reference, she is not cage mates with the other rat. They live separately and it happened during a playtime session to get them comfortable with one another. They were separated immediately.
Anyways, the lumps. It started as one or two. They are small, around the size of a small pea. From past experience with rat tumors, I do not believe they are tumors. One of them developed a black spot and scab, opened, then drained itself of pus over the course of a few days. From reading online, this seems to be the normal healing process for an abscess.
Within about a week of that, her face began swelling. Concerned and consulting online again, my partner and I decided to start her on a course of amoxicillin. The swelling went down pretty immediately. We have continued with the amox to help the abscesses and prevent infection. The swelling in her face has not returned.
My current concern— the abscess are multiplying. They are in her armpit, on her chest, and on the right side of her neck. She’s very wiggly so it’s hard to tell, but I would estimate there are roughly ten of them. They don’t seem to be draining anymore. She doesn’t seem to be in pain or otherwised bothered by them— eating and drinking like normal, no weight loss, no change in behavior or energy level.
I’m a very anxious parent so this has got me pretty concerned. Unfortunately my go-to vet has left me less than impressed in previous visits, and they charge quite a premium. My partner has suggested popping one or more with a needle to see if that helps, but I immediately vetoed that idea.
Does anyone have help or advice to offer? I really love Cherub and want her to be okay.