Bella - Question Regarding Tumors

As most of you know, Bella ..my 30 month old female has had 2 large mammary tumors + a very large hernia for the past 4 to 5 months. One tumor is by her left hind leg (size of a large marble), and the hernia is on the other side (close to golf ball size) and the other mammray tumor is in her right arm pit area growing towards her neck area (size of a small to medium marble).
I know with the hernia and tumor by her hind end ..once it affects her peeing, etc it's time for me to make that decision ..but what I'm really concerned about is the one in her armpit/neck region ...I'm afraid of it growing and cutting off her airways ..how am I supposed to determine when it's time? I don't want her to go by not being able to breath because of the tumor ..right now, she is perfect ..she loves food, loves cuddles and loves coming out ..yesterday, her left eye started showing porph (I'm assuming stress from the tumor growth) ..any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Also, surgery is not an option I want to turn to, at her age, I'd rather let her live the rest of her life easy!

ETA: here is a video of her and the girls two night ago (just to show her activity level)

[BBvideo 425,350:39t1xc1k]http://youtu.be/Mxaud5UB6aw[/BBvideo:39t1xc1k]

 

[Bamboo]

Hmm, I'm not sure how much help I can offer, since I've never had a rat with a tumor in that spot, so maybe don't listen to me. I do feel like you would know if it was starting to negatively affect her breathing...she would likely be very stressed out and upset. I've had other animals with respiratory infections so bad that the fluids started to clog their airways. When this happened, they would position themselves awkwardly -usually looking straight up (which is often referred to as "stargazing") in an a effort to open up their airways to make breathing easier.

I don't know if a rat would do this, or if it would even apply to this situation, but it's just a thought...

(She's beautiful btw More importantly, she looks very happy)

 

Hmm, I'm not sure how much help I can offer, since I've never had a rat with a tumor in that spot, so maybe don't listen to me. I do feel like you would know if it was starting to negatively affect her breathing...she would likely be very stressed out and upset. I've had other animals with respiratory infections so bad that the fluids started to clog their airways. When this happened, they would position themselves awkwardly -usually looking straight up (which is often referred to as "stargazing") in an a effort to open up their airways to make breathing easier.

I don't know if a rat would do this, or if it would even apply to this situation, but it's just a thought...

(She's beautiful btw More importantly, she looks very happy)

Thanks for the response, I am hoping that she will show some signs that will give me time to take her in ..I hope it won't just happen overnight!

The above picture was taken about a week ago.

She seems a little stressed out the past two days, like I said with the porph coming from the left eye, but other than that, she's active and eating.

 

[Fidget]

Aw, bless her heart! I think when they have breathing trouble they often will position themselves with their front propped up higher than their bottom like leaning up on something. I hope the neck tumor doesn't cause her problems and you have lots more happy comfortable time together.

 

[Joanne]

Since tumours are generally slow growing, I would think that any airway impingement would be very gradual. For my Jazzy, I ended up euthanizing her because the skin started tearing over her tumours, not because the tumours themselves were causing a problem. I think you'll be able to tell when it's time.

 

Since tumours are generally slow growing, I would think that any airway impingement would be very gradual. For my Jazzy, I ended up euthanizing her because the skin started tearing over her tumours, not because the tumours themselves were causing a problem. I think you'll be able to tell when it's time.

Thanks, good to know!

Like I said, I'm not worried about the others, just the one close to her neck.

I hate tumors =(..so unfair!

 

[Rachael]

Poor Bella. :/ I don't think the tumour will affect her breathing at that size... one of my siamese girls, Pink, had 2 tumours grow on her neck. The first one was really fast growing, but because her mum also had a tumour that needed to be removed she had to wait almost a week to get it removed after seeing the vet. It ended up massive...

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab54 ... th/101.jpg
http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab54 ... th/103.jpg

... but even on the day of the operation, with the tumour the size it was above, her breathing was actually okay. With her second neck tumour we didn't get it removed and nearer the end she was getting a bit snuffly and I think her breathing was a little off, but again not that bad.

 

Poor Bella. :/ I don't think the tumour will affect her breathing at that size... one of my siamese girls, Pink, had 2 tumours grow on her neck. The first one was really fast growing, but because her mum also had a tumour that needed to be removed she had to wait almost a week to get it removed after seeing the vet. It ended up massive...

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab54 ... th/101.jpg
http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab54 ... th/103.jpg

... but even on the day of the operation, with the tumour the size it was above, her breathing was actually okay. With her second neck tumour we didn't get it removed and nearer the end she was getting a bit snuffly and I think her breathing was a little off, but again not that bad.

That gives me lots of hope Thank you.