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The two boys are 2 years and 4 months old which makes them little old men. One is having issues with his teeth and needs them clipped, has a small cyst on his back, a large tumor on his left armpit and a very small one on his right armpit that is just starting to form. His brother has a medium sized flat hard tumor under his right armpit that we just noticed, and a small pea sized cyst? tumor? behind his left ear. We're doing multiple warm compresses everyday to see if it's a cyst or abscess maybe.
Two rats having surgery at once and with two tumors each, that will be pretty expensive. Of course we will pay it if needed, but we're worried about the risks of operating on two old men.
We're considering having them both neutered at the time of tumor removal. There is a wonderful rat surgeon who is affordable and careful and has lots of experience with spay/neuters for rats. But she only works at a spay and neuter clinic, and they will not remove lumps unless they are also neutering or the animal has already been neutered there. Since tumors feed off of hormones, we think this might be a good idea health-wise and cost-wise. Do males who are prone to tumors benefit from the lack of hormones after a neuter the same way that females benefit after a spay?
Opinions would be appreciated. With the holidays coming up, they most likely will not be able to get surgery until middle or end of January since vets all go on holiday for a long time.
Two rats having surgery at once and with two tumors each, that will be pretty expensive. Of course we will pay it if needed, but we're worried about the risks of operating on two old men.
We're considering having them both neutered at the time of tumor removal. There is a wonderful rat surgeon who is affordable and careful and has lots of experience with spay/neuters for rats. But she only works at a spay and neuter clinic, and they will not remove lumps unless they are also neutering or the animal has already been neutered there. Since tumors feed off of hormones, we think this might be a good idea health-wise and cost-wise. Do males who are prone to tumors benefit from the lack of hormones after a neuter the same way that females benefit after a spay?
Opinions would be appreciated. With the holidays coming up, they most likely will not be able to get surgery until middle or end of January since vets all go on holiday for a long time.