Large Mass On Gyro - In Surgery - Success

[EDK]

Hey everyone, those of you who don't know, Gyro is my second eldest rat, my berky, who was neutered no more then a month, almost two months ago:

He loves his mommy

Anyways I noticed after he was neutered there was some swelling in the operated area, but the vet assured me that it should go down within a week or so. Well after nearly two months, I realized that not only has the swelling not gone down, its formed into a mass...

The mass is slightly firm, but squishy too, and is movable within in his testy pouch, and appears to be effecting his walking or ability to get around properly. He doesn't put as much weight on his right rear leg, where the mass is closest to it as of last night and today. I don't think the mass has gotten any bigger, but it certaintly hasn't shrunk down either... I don't want to say tumor, and I don't want to say vet either. Parents are starting to say rats are supposed to be easy pets to take care of and shouldn't cost this much in vet bills. Not that they have a say in my babies and their health, but I'm tired of the vet too, was hoping to go at least 4-6months without another visit...But I may not have a choice and get an appointment either today or monday. But some suggestions on what it could be or whether or not I should wait and see if his walking improves would be much appreciated

 

[crumbilina]

It could be an abscess since the neuter was not that long ago and there was puffiness after.

Try doing some compresses and see if it will reveal itself.

 

[victoria]

It looks like a neuter abscess. Because it's related to the surgery, sometimes the appointment is no charge. For sure do compresses, but I would get antibiotics as well.

 

[jorats]

This recheck should be no charge. I'd bring him in and tell them that you are concerned that the surgery didn't go well and you'd like him looked at.

 

[EDK]

Well I took Gyro to the vet that's closet to me since the one that did the surgery is not open on the weekends and takes me over an hour of driving to get there. I wanted this taken care of as soon as possible, so I'm paying an arm and a leg...(thank god I have a job, it'll take awhile to make up for the costs but my babies are worth it always). So here's what the vet says:

After taking a sample, the pocket or mass she (who is the head vet) took from, could only make out that it's a possible abcess, with infected or inflammed cells, along with tissue that's infected. There was alot of bad bacteria in this pocket that much she could tell and she felt best to get it out as soon as possible, as it wasn't gonna go away on its own. So Gyro is in surgery, similar to that of a neuter, the vet doesn't foresee a problem, but there's always a risk, with what this pocket of fluid or tissue combo could be connected to etc... So please send healing vibes everyone I'm very nervous about this, what with him in surgery and the risk...I specifically told her "DO NOT CUT HIS SCROTUM" even though she wasn't the vet responsible for doing so the last time they did surgery for me..., the fact she's the head vet of the office makes me more relaxed, but still...HEALING VIBES PLZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Edit (2:20pm USC) - So I gave the vet a call after being sick with worry. Nothing but good news so far PHEW anic: The vet described the 'mass' as she predicted it'd be, not only was it an abcess, it was also a combo of that plus fatty tissue that wasn't breaking down, held in bacteria and was causing infection. It was probably the reason why he wasn't putting weight on his right leg, the effort made him sore and uncomfortable. So she's removed the fatty tissue and cleaned out the area as best she could, and has sutured him up with glue. She did notice though that he kept trying to reach back and chew on the incision area so she's trying to find a way to put a cone or makeshift corcet on him :giggle: but I told her not to bother as he's done that before and despite, he's always healed. Still she wants to try and keep him from chewing on the area, TRY, which I'm sure she'll fail at lol. I am gonna be picking him up in 2hrs giver take. Now all i gotta do is worry about him healing :?

 

[temblabamomo]

Healing vibes to your boy, fingers crossed this is his last surgery. You have a vet who is not only open on a Sunday but also sees and operates on rats???

 

[EDK]

This is my primary vet location, I had him neutered at another location, and they weren't open on the weekends, plus they are very far away from me. My primary vet does take care of exotics plus rats, but they are extremely expensive. Like i said i had to pay an arm and a leg for him to be operated on today. But he's home now, he's eating and happy to be back with his brothers, and he's got pain medicine and some baytril to treat for any other infection

 

[Joanne]

I'm glad he got his abscess taken care of! I hope he heals up now the rest of the way. Even though he will be sore, I'm sure he'll feel better too. Fast healing Gyro, and don't chew!

 

[mamarat]

Sending lots and lots of healing vibes to your boy.