knee lump

[KayRatz]

Argonaut seems to have a knee lump. His knee looked weird when I got him, but it looked mostly like his other knee and didn't seem to be bothering him at the time, so I sort of forgot about it. I just noticed that he seems to be having a hard time moving that leg now. It's very hard and feels like part of the bone. Here's a picture:

What do you think it could be...?

EDIT: Eagle said it could be a sprain, which doesn't sound like a bad thought to me. What do you guys think?

 

[jorats]

Oh gosh, I'm not seeing it. On the right?

 

[hopefloats]

It looks like a lump before the knee off to the left? (if you are looking at the picture)

He could have broke it before? it healed funny which would cause arthritis in it once he is older or cold weather.

I would try for a better photo. If you make the rat stand on his legs on the ground, hold the top of his body up, and take it from an top angle it might show it better. Maybe even the side. Straight on photos make it hard to see lumps.

 

[KayRatz]

That might not be a bad thought hope! It never hurt him before when I noticed that it looked a little off so I ignored it, and it's been awful chilly here the past few nights.

Here's a more close up pic, does this help?

It does feel like it may have broken at some point and healed funny. It's kind of curved, but not sharp-ended or moveable (detached) or anything. He squeaks if I try to straighten his leg, but other than not using it as normal it doesn't seem to be causing him pain except when he straightens it.

 

[hopefloats]

if it was broke, that would of been a bad break. Does it move at all? or is on the bone?

 

[KayRatz]

it doesn't move.

 

[hopefloats]

From what I got in chat, since i know lilspaz and other will be here.

The lump does not move.
The rat doesn't like his legged moved. or "poking" hard.
he is on steroids for something else now.
Thinks it has been there since she got him 3 weeks ago.
rat doesn't really want to walk up the ramp much.

He may need pain stuff but i suck at that so I will leave that for the experts

It sounds to me like a healing break or something. They said ti feels like bone.

 

[KayRatz]

Okay so tomorrow I'm going to ask my dad if I can borrow some money from him and pay him back since it'll only be like 40 dollars. And on Monday when I call to check in with the steroids I'll tell them about the leg.

 

[jorats]

How old is your little guy?

 

[hopefloats]

I tried to ask them a bunch of questions I forgot age..don't steroids usually help with pain like that?

 

[lilspaz68]

Steroids are more for the inflammation not the pain, metacam is a better choice. Why is he on steroids right now?

It looks like an older break to me as well, similar to Ash's old boy with the break. I take it he doesn't use it, or climb levels etc? If it was a sprain I would expect more swelling in the surrounding tissues, but I would expect the swelling went down before she got him. Where did you get him from?

 

[KayRatz]

Oh I was just thinking the steroids would help the inflammation if there was any, I know they're not for pain! It's for his neuro issues--remember when we talked about that in the other chat? Finally took him to a different vet for it and he agreed about the steroids ^^; I don't have any way to get him pain meds until Monday though, no one is open today...

He was using it and climbing up until yesterday, I don't really know what changed... I think it looks like an old break too, I just don't understand why the amount it's hurting him would change overnight like that.

He's moving it just a TAD bit more today. But not by much. Mostly just holding it up.

 

[lilspaz68]

Oh I was just thinking the steroids would help the inflammation if there was any, I know they're not for pain! It's for his neuro issues--remember when we talked about that in the other chat? Finally took him to a different vet for it and he agreed about the steroids ^^; I don't have any way to get him pain meds until Monday though, no one is open today...

He was using it and climbing up until yesterday, I don't really know what changed... I think it looks like an old break too, I just don't understand why the amount it's hurting him would change overnight like that.

He's moving it just a TAD bit more today. But not by much. Mostly just holding it up.

Do they have him on abs as well? For the immune suppression of the steroid?

Yes the steroid is needed for your boy so it will be fine, so don't ask to switch to metacam. There's not a lot you can do for rats with sprains/breaks, besides keep the swelling down, reduce pain, keep things low so they can access them (food/water) and just keep an eye on it.

 

[KayRatz]

So should I be taking him to the vet right away or no? If I don't need to that would be one less worry for me financially... No he's not on abs, I asked the vet and he wouldn't do it >.< Shouldn't I get metacam for the pain along WITH the steroids though, since steroids aren't for pain?? I would put him on abs if I could but I have no way to get them since my vet already said he won't do it...

 

[lilspaz68]

So should I be taking him to the vet right away or no? If I don't need to that would be one less worry for me financially... No he's not on abs, I asked the vet and he wouldn't do it >.< Shouldn't I get metacam for the pain along WITH the steroids though, since steroids aren't for pain?? I would put him on abs if I could but I have no way to get them since my vet already said he won't do it...

Definitely not. Metacam (an NSAID) cannot be given with a steroid at the same time. Keep an eye on your boy for any worsening symptoms since pred shoudl always be given with an antibiotic, and if he has a bacterial infection going on, the immune suppression effect of the steroid might send it into hyper-drive.

 

[KayRatz]

okay. I'm thinking I wait til i've gotten two paychecks (just over two weeks from now) and then take him in, because i want to keep an eye on it before i rush to the vet since everyone is saying that i can't do anything about it if it's a sprain or a break. at least a week. i'm getting more this paycheck than i predicted so i told my dad he can have his money back lol. if it turns out to be an abscess or something i'll take him in right away though. but I really don't think so, it's really lumpy heh.

 

[mamarat]

I had a little girl who came to me with something like that but in her ankle. Vet said it was an old injury that had healed wrong. Since Angel was found at the side of the highway it didn't surprise me. The only thing she could have done is put her under and break it again and reset it. But there was no guaranty it would heal good so we just left it alone. Good luck with your sweetie.

 

[KayRatz]

The pet store employee was very rough with the rats, grabbing them by the tips of their tails because she "couldn't guarantee they wouldn't bite" >.< so I wouldn't be surprised at ALL if he was dropped at a very young age.

 

[KayRatz]

I think it may actually be an abscess because it's grown. I'm going to figure out what to do in the morning; I get paid at midnight and have already done all my basic shopping for the next two weeks. So I'll know how much I'll have after taking him to the vet and all.

 

[lilspaz68]

Poor little bugger, he's already going through enough. :sad3: