Gregory's tumors. 9/3/11 RIP little man.

[Joanne]

If Gregory's respiratory issues keep coming back when he's off Baytril, you should consider keeping him on it indefinitely.
As far as the cysts/tumours go, if there's nothing surgical to be done, and he's not ready to leave yet, then I would just keep things clean and make sure he's got pain control if he needs it. I would keep him on fleece if you don't already as you don't want any loose little bits getting up into the area...
I don't know what the vet could do for him otherwise........

 

[DadRat]

MomRat, do you know what type of fluid came out of the cysts? only blood or pus or other? What does it smell like? pus smell awful, blood smells like rust/iron.

Fluid when cysts were removed surgically was brownish. Yesterday was just red blood and clear liquid. They do not look like they have burst, but more like he was rubbed them raw as they drag on his fleece liners.

 

[DadRat]

If Gregory's respiratory issues keep coming back when he's off Baytril, you should consider keeping him on it indefinitely.
As far as the cysts/tumours go, if there's nothing surgical to be done, and he's not ready to leave yet, then I would just keep things clean and make sure he's got pain control if he needs it. I would keep him on fleece if you don't already as you don't want any loose little bits getting up into the area...
I don't know what the vet could do for him otherwise........

He has always been a sneezy rat, spent a lot of time on Benadryl when he was a youngling. We normally have had him on Baytril or a Baytril and Doxy combo for infections (URI or abscess). Zithro gives him a really upset tummy. Should we just go back to Baytril, or have some combo with Doxy or Clavamox?

 

[Joanne]

He has always been a sneezy rat, spent a lot of time on Benadryl when he was a youngling. We normally have had him on Baytril or a Baytril and Doxy combo for infections (URI or abscess). Zithro gives him a really upset tummy. Should we just go back to Baytril, or have some combo with Doxy or Clavamox?

I would try him first on just the Baytril. Then if you don't get the resolution you want after a couple of weeks, add the Doxy or Clavamox at that time. If you can get away with just Baytril that's great. Unknown if the bugs are resistant at this point until you try.....

 

[DadRat]

He just finished up a 6 week treatment of Baytril after his most recent surgery. But now that his lumps are getting worse his sneezes are starting to sound wetter.

 

[jorats]

Poor little guy. Maybe you could put some neosporin on the raw parts of the tumour?

 

[DadRat]

Appointment tomorrow morning to have the masses drained. They appear tender to the touch and are getting raw from either dragging on the fleece, or the skin straining from the inside.

Will update when we get back tomorrow afternoon. Happy 32 little fuzzball.

 

[mamarat]

Fingers crossed for your sweetie.

Happy monthday Gregory.

 

Fingers Crossed :heart:

 

[jorats]

Happy 32 Greg! Hopefully he'll feel better then.

 

[ChrisK]

Good luck at the vet's! Happy 32, Gregory.

 

[temblabamomo]

Hope things go well at the vet. Happy monthday to him!

 

[DadRat]

His monthday was on the first (convenient, as we have no clue when he was born) so he got to get stuck with needles a lot today. Not a good party.

Got 3cc of clear fluid out of one lump, and about equal amounts of blood from 2 others (not sure if they were blood filled, or the needle nicked them when he jerked), the other several were fleshy with nothing to drain. So....we probably will not be taking him in for more drainings. He was a good little guy and just looked pitiful and struggled when getting stuck. No squeaking, nipping, or anything like that.

We're gonna be keeping him on Baytril permanently, and adding some Vitamin E to rub on the area where he rubs the lumps raw dragging. Will add in some children's Ibuprofen as needed if he seems to be having a hurty day, and otherwise letting him live out his days in peace.

 

[Joanne]

Keeping him comfy is the most important. If 9cc of fluid was removed, he must notice some difference - That's quite a bit!

 

[mamarat]

Hope Gregory is more comfortable now. Fingers crossed he has many more days with you.

 

[jorats]

Darn... too bad they weren't typical abscesses. Did the vet check to see what the substance might be? Sometimes some cells are detectible under a microscope.

 

[Godmother]

Poor little Gregory. He is a brave ratty boy, and I hope that you can keep him comfortable and have him with you for a while.

 

[RatsForever]

Did all go well?

 

[DadRat]

Did all go well?

Not amazingly so. Every time we have done something to try and deal with these cyst-tumors, they come back with a vengeance.

The old boy has really ballooned his tumors over the past week or so. One of them actually ruptured at some point today, so we have a bloody little guy, by the looks of his cage liner it was mostly a clear fluid with some blood. He's getting a pretty high dose of ibuprofen right now as that cannot be comfortable at all. It seems the light is fading in his eyes as these damned tumors grow more and more.

We'll probably be taking him to the vet next week for the last time.

 

[jorats]

We'll probably be taking him to the vet next week for the last time.

:hugs: