My rat has a bruise weeks after lump removal surgery. Is it normal?

Hello. That is a lot of bruising, but it just indicates that there was some subsurface capillary bleeding. This can occur in any surgery, but most often is the result of too much activity too soon after surgery. Try to confine Barklie a little more, by keeping him indoors & leash walking only for another week. If he is licking a lot, you may have to put an Elizabethan collar on him for a week or so so everything can heal. You can pick up the collars at most pet stores or even Tractor Supply if one is near you. If you are truly concerned, it is always best to have the veterinarian who did the surgery take a look to make sure everything is OK. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Unfortunately, senior rats are predisposed to developing malignancies late rin life. To confirm this, you will need to have Dobby examined by your veterinarian. A fine needle aspirate can be done in the clinic to collect samples for pathology. Once results are returned, you can discuss treatment options with your vet. Monitor for bleeding, ulceration, odor, lethargy or decreased appetite. Keep him on paper towels and change them daily or as needed to keep the area clean and dry.

Hi there, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear about your lumpy rat friends. Small lumps (less than 1cm) in the skin that have a brown spot or head on them might be sebaceous cysts - a common condition in male rats where a gland in the skin gets clogged and swells with cheesy, white-yellow material. You mentioned that these lumps are soft and under the skin, however, which makes me think of another kind of lump. I don't see that you mentioned their ages, but if they are older rats (over 1.5-2 years old), I do start to worry about mammary tumors (yes, even in males!). These are extremely common in rats as they age, and may be benign or malignant, and may need to be removed, especially if they get large. I strongly suggest that these boys get evaluated by a vet to determine what these lumps are. There is a vet that sees rats near you - here is their info: Acacia Animal Hospital 4205 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719 (520) 308-4225 In the meantime, if you'd like to repost with a picture, feel free to do so. I am also available for consultation if you'd like to discuss your concerns further. Good luck, and I hope that Lenny, Norm, Fred, and Herman stay happy and healthy!

This could be an abscess, a hernia or a tumor. Unfortunately tumors are common in rats, so if this started small and then grew to this size over time, it is likely a tumor. A tumor in this area is relatively easy to remove if you don't let it get too big, as the surgeon needs enough healthy skin to close the wound again after surgery. A hernia can be easily repaired surgically. You can check whether it is a hernia by gently pressing on the lump and if you can make it disappear into the abdomen, it is a hernia. An abscess will need to be lanced and your rat will need antibiotics. I suggest you schedule an appointment with a veterinarian soon.

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!

This is terrific news! Keep her warm, dry and as stress free as possible. Monitor the incision for any signs of infections. This includes redness, swelling, discharge or bleeding. Monitor Yuki for lethargy or loss of appetite. Medicate her as directed by your veterinarian if shebcsme home with medicine. Keep her from licking at or chewing the incision. You may need to fashion a tiny e-collar (cone) for her or use a sock to make a "sleeve" to slip on her to protect the site. Limit her activity as much as possible to allow for healing If she has sutures (stiches), they may dissolve or can be removed in about 2 weeks.

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.