Is this possibly results from nueter {WARNING GROSS}

[vinzyangel]

Also yea I know she said she just used glue. I will call as soon as they open its 5 am now.

Reason it got this bad:
I had literally been on bed rest, and I've been coughing so I have been letting mom do the cleaning feeding etc. She didn't mention ANYTHING was amiss, hes been eating drinking, and acting fine, nothing has been amiss, but i noticed he looked thin so i got him out and gave him a once over and found this.

Everyone else is fine, there have been no fights, so, is this from a botched surgery?

Just infection?

He is going to the vet bright and early today. He is away from the others.

Feel free to yell at me if you think its my fault, whatever, but give me advice on his care in the meantime. I will take flack for dropping the ball on this, just help?

His care is worth more than my pride at this point.

EDIT
He almost hurt himself trying to get back with the others and they were trying to get out to get to him so i put him back with them and they are cuddling with him and keeping him warm so seperating is a no go.

 

[xxchelle]

There is no need to separate unless it's the other rats causing the injury.

Maybe I'm not seeing the picure right, but is it a lump with an open wound, like an open abscess?

 

[vinzyangel]

Its kinda an open.. hole. With some drainage. I will get a better pic soon. I am taking everyone when I go, because some have stitches and some don't.

 

[lilspaz68]

hmmm, sounds like it may have abscessed? When was he neutered?

 

[vinzyangel]

A week or two ago. Except for that spot on him and a few not healed completely on a couple others everything looks ok.

I've been up worried since I found it. Thanks guys for being so cool and understanding.

 

[lilspaz68]

Yep I would think it was definitely a neuter abscess then. Sometimes the body reacts to the foreign bodies inside of it or bacteria was trapped during the surgery. They happen. Is the cavity full of pus still or nice and empty and HUGE?

I have pics of neuter abscesses if you are curious?

 

[vinzyangel]

It is fairly large and gaping with a small amount of whitish yellow fluid. The soonest appointment was 11:40 tomorrow. He doesn't seem to be in pain and let me look at it and such. My mom thinks they might clean it and sew it up.

 

[lilspaz68]

It is fairly large and gaping with a small amount of whitish yellow fluid. The soonest appointment was 11:40 tomorrow. He doesn't seem to be in pain and let me look at it and such. My mom thinks they might clean it and sew it up.

You can start cleaning it up by making up a saline solution and using a medicating syringe flushing the abscess cavity. Its how we take care of these abscesses at home. The pus has to be flushed out twice a day at least. Getting the pus/bacteria out is the best thing you can do for him, beyond taking him to the vet.

Here are a few pics of neuter abscesses from some past rats

[spoiler:3am9lzj3]Before

After

Before

After

[/spoiler:3am9lzj3]

 

[jorats]

Once he starts his meds that should clear up but like that others have said, keep it clean and his habitat clean as well.

 

[vinzyangel]

Ok thanks guys you have all made me chill out a lot. Looks like abcesses are common? I'll get mom to flush it I am scared I will hurt him. We clean them daliy so the cage will be nice and clean.

I thank you guys again for being so kind and understanding. You helped me calm down quiet a bit, which is good seeing as I had to go out today and get food for my anole. We have an appointment with the vet tomorrow, at 11:40 am since we have an appointment already for our dog.

I thank you all so much.

 

[jorats]

Keep us posted.

 

[vinzyangel]

oh i will right now hes chilling out in the cage trying to find even more food lol

 

[vinzyangel]

Hey just letting you know, Chuck is doing good. the vet cleaned it out, and put some sutures on the inside, but left some areas open to drain. It is slowly healing, draining good, and is not very infected. They said he didn't need antibiotic yet, it was clean and not red or puffy66. Hes here playing on my desk with me holding him. He is healing really well, and I take him and some of the fellas back Tuesday for recheck The vet has done some studying on rats since having my boys start coming in so we are all learning.

ttfn

 

[Godmother]

So glad he is doing better! I find neuters more scary than spays.

It really is great, isn't it, to have the Forum to go to when you're in a panic about something. There is almost always someone online who knows something about a problem and who can help you chill out. I recall a couple of all-nighters panicking about something, e.g. bleeding toes.

 

[mamarat]

That's good news. Sending healing vibes.

 

[vinzyangel]

I'm only slightly worried about him being thinner than the others, going to discuss it at recheck. Chuck is, btw the vet's fave rat, she loves handling him.

 

[rodentmama]

The only two neuters I had done on boys, all four testicles abscessed. Being open is good to let the infection out. We speeded healing by packing the wound with white sugar which helps the tissues heal. But we did have to keep Warren separate from other rats (Yummy! Sugar coated abscess!) and had to body cast him to keep him from licking himself. He healed up perfectly. George didn't have his abscesses open and was always sick with a low grade infection and abscesses for the rest of his life. Glad he's doing better.

 

[vinzyangel]

Chuck is healing nicely, gotta take him back next week I believe. Doctor didnt charge to look at him.

 

[rodentmama]

Post op infection they don't usually charge. They charge if the prescribe something but most vets will follow up after surgery and not charge exams only treatment and meds. Which is nice. My vet did a full debriding of Warren's scrotum and restitched him for free, but it still refilled and burst. That is when I found that Guelph uses sugar in deep abscesses on horses and thought I'd just let it heal open. And it was fine. Glad he's healing.