mamarat
Well-Known Member
Your poor baby.
knee lump
- Thread starter KayRatz
- Start date
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I calculated my funds, and the vet told me it wouldn't be extra to dran an abscess, so if he gets abs for this at the most it should be $60, which I can do. Heck I've had enough >> I'm living off of spaghetti and tuna! My best friend keeps telling me she would have put him down by now or at least not be taking him to the vet and that made me cry, just the thought of it... You know? I couldn't just give up that easily. I just hope this is the last of the vet visits for a while, because I can't really afford much more.. 
No one expects a new pet to have so many health problems within a month!
No one expects a new pet to have so many health problems within a month!Dazzle87
Well-Known Member
Ugh, so frustrating, especially since most wouldn't suggest that if it had been a free kitten :emb:
I'm glad you can get the poor guy to the vet. Good for you for making him a priority. I feel you on how frustrating it is though, you'd probably fall over if I listed the number of vet visits I've had in the last two years (I hope no one else has my monumentally bad luck with that lol).
Let us know how it goes!
I'm glad you can get the poor guy to the vet. Good for you for making him a priority. I feel you on how frustrating it is though, you'd probably fall over if I listed the number of vet visits I've had in the last two years (I hope no one else has my monumentally bad luck with that lol).
Let us know how it goes!
It turned out to be an abscess with unusually thick pus I could hear poor Argonaut screeching when they drained it >.< He's on abs now for it. It looks like it's filled up again but they said since they had to use a little extra force to drain it that it might fill with blood at first and then go away with the abs.
I could hear poor Argonaut screeching when they drained it >.< He's on abs now for it. It looks like it's filled up again but they said since they had to use a little extra force to drain it that it might fill with blood at first and then go away with the abs.
hopefloats
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I think being old causes that. I had that on my boy.......be glad they took it out and you didnt have to mess with that nasty stuff LOL
that is good though so he will be ok! much better than a bad break!
that is good though so he will be ok! much better than a bad break!
hopefloats
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Most abscess i have dealt with will go through a pattern. It grows then it turns a different color on the lump, then a bit of a scab. Some will have to be helped along. If the bumps are on the bottom part of their body I soak them in a bowl of warm water with a bit of Epsom salt. I do it a few times a day to help pull the infection out. If you have an opening then you need to flush it with a syringe some use the saline solution. If you can hold him you can warm compress it to help it along but I always have a difficult time with the back side of a rat and a compress.
What does his look like now? is there an opening to flush it?
What does his look like now? is there an opening to flush it?
lilspaz68
Well-Known Member
Can you take another pic?
Okay there is definitely some pus in it, I squeezed it out I think, any tips for flushing it?
EDIT: Whoops you already gave me some tips! I'll do those things! The opening is pretty small (it's just where the needle went) so I don't know if I want to use a syringe in case I can't get the water out but I'll definitely try soaking him.
EDIT: Whoops you already gave me some tips! I'll do those things! The opening is pretty small (it's just where the needle went) so I don't know if I want to use a syringe in case I can't get the water out but I'll definitely try soaking him.
lilspaz68
Well-Known Member
I haven't been following closely but was the abscess opened up so you could flush it out or just diagnosed with an FNA (fine needle aspiration)?
Either way with the soaking it should open up eventually so you can properly flush it and get it to heal. Poor little booger.
Either way with the soaking it should open up eventually so you can properly flush it and get it to heal. Poor little booger.
It was aspirated then drained, and the hole that the needle made is big enough for the soaking to help draw out the pus. It's not big enough that I can flush it, but I think I might have a finer point syringe I can use than what the vet gave me, if I can find it. He's pretty angry these days, he thinks every time I hold him he's going to either get meds or get put in a bowl of salty water... I do hold him otherwise of course, I think he's a pessimist lol He's definitely doing better already, he couldn't move that leg at all when I took him to the vet.
lilspaz68
Well-Known Member
ohh too bad they didn't lance it and open it right up, it would heal so much better. You will have to make a point of taking him out for treats and fun time while doing these horrible things to him.
mamarat
Well-Known Member
What a cutie pie.
The abscess is gone ^^ I was right about his knee being weird when I got him (though it turns out that wasn't the actual abscess) and I think he may have had a prior injury there at the pet store that may have contributed to the abscess. But he's doing wonderfully now--although I can't touch that leg any more without a fight LOL So yay ^^
mamarat
Well-Known Member
That's great news!
More good news, I've been busy and haven't had as much time with my rats lately (grrr college) but I noticed tonight that Argo's mystery head tilt seems to be lessening on its own He's not rearing back as much either... could this finally be resolving itself?
He's not rearing back as much either... could this finally be resolving itself?