Rats...Do they make good pets?

Soubrette

It's definitely not always bad news - sometimes rats develop abcesses from bites or scratches, usually they go on their own but sometimes need antibiotics.

Glad you are taking your rat to the vet though - lumps on rats are always best checked out - just in case.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow

Sou

wuno

I've operated to remove many lumps (i.e. proper lumps not abcesses) from rats. Sometimes, the lumps have been so big that I was probably removing the rat from the lump....

Hope all goes well.

Kelinik

One of my female rats had a tumour but it was removed fine and she is still going strong. Fortunately most ratty lumps aren't cancerous so its only if they are recurring that its becomes a real problem.

daisykinn1

When I had a rat he had a couple of lumps, I found out it was a protein build up so we changed his diet and they reduced in size. Good luck at the vets!

snowman2_2

Most lumps on rats are benign mammary tumours and are usually easy to remove surgically. Your vet should be able to give you a good idea of whether it is possible and how much it will cost

Jellicat

One of my rats has a very "bloody" looking nose sometimes. I know their nose discharge is supposed to be red, but she seems to have quite a lot of it...however she is white faced so perhaps it just looks more obvious on her than my black faced rat. She has always been a bit sneezy, but seems to be worse when she's stressed. Had her checked out when I got her and the vet said both of them had clear sounding breathing Second opinion??

Kelinik

If her breathing is ok then I'd lean towards the porphrin (sp?) being a symptom of an underlying problem. It certainly proved to be the case with my rat-a-tats.

Personally I'd seek out a vet who is experienced with rat/small furries as it could be any number of things. https://www.fancy-rats.co.uk is a good place to ask.

Jellicat

Thanks, there is a very specialised massive vet surgery that deals with pretty much everything in my town, bit out of the way but I'll try them.

Jummy

Sadly little Ruby died on Sunday.
The vets tried ti drain the lump but couldn't and said it was a tumour not an abcess or anything.
Options were too operate,but the tumour would probably return.
The only other option was too bring her home and spoil her rotten,which we did.
She was fine on saturday,but didn't come for food on sunday and thats when i found her.
I'm worried about Rodders now.
How will she cope without her buddy?

buckrogers

not sure if this is in the right place?

called the council about a rat problem, and she was telling me from next year, it will be no longer be free that you will have to pay.
as she said, she can see no one calling them out no more and eventually there job will be gone as they wont be needed.
even if the cause of the problem is 2 doors away but you are having the rats around your house why should you have to pay?
and with the milder weather we have and rats breeding like mad and with some parts of the country just having 1 day a fortnight rubbish pickup can see this getting worse.

Is anyone else's council going to start charging that you know of?

by the way essex council starting from next year.