My rat has a soft, bulky spot. Is it a fatty lump or something else?

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!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Gilrat. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. A procedure known as a fine needle aspirate is typically performed when a pet has a mass present. A small needle is used to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. This allows the doctor to tell you the type of mass and if treatment is required for him. I hope this information helps!

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.

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 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.

Lumps on rats are commonly caused by tumors or abscesses. You will need to get this mass sampled by your vet to determine which is most likely so that the appropriate treatment is recommended. If it is a tumor the surgical removal will be recommended and a prognosis provided depending on what type of tumor it is. If it is an abscess then oral antibiotics and drainage of the infected contents is the treatment needed.

It appears to be a wart from the photo but rats tend to have a lot of tumor growth so I would suggest you take him to a vet for a checkup. They would be able to give you a better idea of what it is with an examination. I hope this helps! He's really adorable!