My rat is bleeding from her anus and has a tumor. What should I do?

If she hasn't been mated, a rectal prolapse is a more likely cause of the bleeding than the 2nd most likely cause...a vaginal prolapse. A rectal prolapse would look like an outpocketing of tissue from the anus. Application of neosporin and Preparation H ointment (alternating) twice daily each may be helpful. With some cases you can actually manually reduce the prolapse by pushing it back in. I recommend examining the area closely and if the above steps do not improve her symptoms, perhaps a friend can take her to a vet with you.

Hello. Unfortunately, tumors are very common in rats, especially as they age. Were the tumors sent for histopathology to see if they are benign or malignant? If malignant, then it may be time to just make her as comfortable as possible until her time. Benign tumors will not kill her, but you probably know they can get quite large. Either way, Yuki will continue to form tumors. This is just what usually happens with rats. I am sorry. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm sorry Lorenzo has a tumor. Unfortunately, rats in general, especially older rats, have a predisposition to developing tumors both benign and malignant. His prognosis depends on the type of tumor as well as its location. To determine either, he would need to be physically examined by your veterinarian and have diagnostics performed. This could include blood work, x-rays, abdominal ultrasound or a fine needle aspirate of the mass. Once you have this information, you can discuss all options with your vet. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be a benign or malignant growth. This could even be an infection. This cannot be completely assessed just by looking at pictures and usually requires sampling such as fine needle aspiration to determine its origin. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!

Thank you for your question about Shadow. The most common tumors that occur in the belly/leg regions of rats are mammary tumors. Based on the location that you described, this may be the case with Shadow. The reason I bring this up is because it is very common for these tumors to be like a ball under the skin, and only have a small string of tissue that connects it to the body. So, when they are removed surgically, they shell out very easily once the skin has been cut. There is the potential that after the skin become necrotic that the tumor was able to "fall out" of the defect left in the skin. The other alternative is that it could be becoming very heavy and stretching the areas of skin to make it appear like it has pushed itself out. I would recommend taking Shadow back to your veterinarian, as they may be able to remove this more easily now. This may be a good idea regardless, due to the necrotic tissue that you had described. I didn't see if that was still present now, but they can provide her with antibiotics, if they are indicated, at the same time. I hope that helps to answer your question, and congratulations on having a three year old rat. It says a lot about your care of her.

Hi Natalie, i have a feeling she might have injured her tail, try checking for a wound or a cut on the tail. if this is not it, it might be a urinary infection. in both cases she will need to be seen by a vet and she will need a course of antibiotics.

The red tears are due to the secretion of porphyrins. This typically happens during times of stress or illness. If your rat has bloody urine, you should have her examined by your veterinarian to diagnose a UTI or a more serious condition such as a bladder tumor.