[Oriane]

Magic is due her 6th operation for a tumour/ abscess.

I just wonder if I'm being cruel?

I'm thinking about getting her spayed but I don't know of any vets experienced enough to do that. Plus she is a stitch picker and that concerns me. Would it work at her age?

 

[Isamurat]

How old is she and what have get surgery's been for?

 

[Oriane]

She's a year and a half. First 2 were abscesses. Next was tumour, then the next was tumour/abscess? It was unclear. It grew back in a week along with another tumour so she went it to get both removed.

 

[Isamurat]

If you can find a good rat vet then i would give it a go. I'd make sure she's had a month or two since her last op if possible. Where in the UK are you. i know a couple good rat vets in the North of England

 

[Oriane]

I live near Durham, that would be good because I think if I trusted the vet I'd go for the spay. Or ask for Lupron injections. Thank you

She tolerates surgery very well. I think it stresses me out more!

 

[Isamurat]

It's well worth traveling to Judith at first vets in Newcastle. i know a lot of people who use her abs she is one of the best rat vets in the country.

If she is to far then Debbie Stafford of gilmour vets in Durham is recommended by one of my pet homes. pm me if you can't find the number and i will get it for you.

 

[Oriane]

Ahh I've been to Debbie before, I wasn't too sure of her. I can definitely try the one in Newcastle though, it's an hour but it should be okay. I've got the operation booked in for Monday at just a normal vets but they've always been brilliant with her. They aren't rat specialists so I don't think they are able to do a spay. But they are okay for a small lump removal and I've already swapped shifts with every one at work for a week to look after her. Will definitely ask the Newcastle vets about Lupron or a spay

Thanks for your help!

 

[Oriane]

Sorry so you know what the surgery is called in Newcastle. There is a few

 

[Isamurat]

It's Judith brown, first vets, forest Hall

 

[Oriane]

Thanks ever so much! I think you've helped me on many occasions

 

[Oriane]

So the vet couldn't remove all of the tumour she says. She said it had branches and was deep into the tissue and not encapsulated. That sounds like a malignant tumour right?

 

[Isamurat]

Yeh that doesn’t sound good, you can only really tell from getting it sent away but I would probably say if another one pops up or she starts looking a bit rough or unwell I would think about putting her to sleep. Cancer is a nasty way for them to go so I tend to put to sleep earlier rather than later

 

[Oriane]

I know that's what I thought. I'm still trying to locate tamoxifen or Lupron injections. No one seems to have a clue though

 

[Isamurat]

if its cancerous then tamoxifen is unlikely to be a big help as it only affects hormonally driven tumours and most cancerous ones seem to come regardless and aren't fussy about what they spread too. I've not come across lupron bit of its similar i would leave it too unless it helps you to give some to her and she doesn't mind the taste.

 

[Oriane]

Ahh I see.
So what kind of signs should I look out for to see if it's time to pts.

 

[Isamurat]

I've had a few with cancer that's spread and you tend to see the rat go from fine if a bit hard to keep weight on to noticeably unwell and unhappy. This seems to happen over night

 

[Oriane]

Okay thanks for your help. I'll keep an eye on her. My poor Magic

 

[Oriane]

So this is old but I thought I'd post some good news. It's been a month and the tumour has not grown baback!! I took Magic to see Judith in Newcastle and she is booked in for a spay in a month.