Rat Tumors

Yes, rat tumors. Odd subject, no? -lol- Today was one of those days where it seemed it was "meant to be." And I like days like that so I thought I'd share. David and I were going to take a sample and do a biopsy on this ... thing ... that Dexi has growing on her side. Kahlua has a small one now, too. In the same spot - go figure. So we put them in a carrier and drove to work, where my boss was going to help us with the whole thing.

Well, when we got there, a customer came in who just HAPPENED to breed rats. And he just HAPPENED to notice our rats, and just HAPPENED to have a pet rat going through the same thing. He explained what it was, why it was, how it was, and told us what we could do about it: nothing. He explained that rats often get fatty growths or tumors as they age (which I already knew) and he said that the tumors can sometimes get as large as the rats without causing the rat any harm or pain (which I didn't know). Dexi has a growth the size of an egg on her left side, almost under her armpit. It is growing, but slowly, and it doesn't seem to be hurting or hindering her in the least so I hadn't bothered to rush her to the vet. She still eats like it's nobody's business and runs and plays with her sister without any problems. She doesn't wince or complain when I mess with the growth either, so apparently she's not bothered by it.

In the end, after much discussion and many questions we decided not to even bother taking any tissue samples. We took the girls home, gave them a treat and put them to bed for an afternoon nap. I'd been worrying all night about having to take the tissue sample, and something was telling me I ought not to bother. Meeting this breeder at work was completely by chance but he completely put my mind at ease. I just feel like I was destined to meet him when I did. He said that his rat's tumor is massive - baseball sized he said - but she manages just fine. She's lazy anyway so she just goes about her daily business with no problems. -lol- Geriatric rats - such personalities! :)