Libra Bump plus Lump=???

[lizmo1221]

Libra seems to have a small, pimple-like bump just behind her jaw bone, on her neck on the right hand side. There is also a small mass right underneath it (you can just make out the small lump in the photo).

There seems like there might be some discharge, as her fur is clumped. The skin at the base of the bump is also slightly red. She doesn`t seem to be in any pain because of it, and it seemed to crop up out of nowhere, as I am 99% sure the bump was not there yesterday (although the mass may have been). I am not sure what exactly is going on, but it worries me a little bit.

Edit: Libra has been in a few scraps as the ladies sort out dominance and fight over toys, tunnels, etc, so my first instinct was that it was a bite wound, but the mass underneath makes me think it could be something more...

Any help on what this could be and what the best course of action would be would be much appreciated

 

[xxchelle]

It sounds to me like the girls are fighting and scrapping a bit, and causing minor injuries to each other. I really think this is a result of stress, of being moved around god knows how many times (surrendered to the GHS from who knows what situation, lived in their BATHROOM for two weeks before coming to me, then to Shelagh, then back to me, then to you, then BACK to me, and finally now back to you).

It could be an abscess... can you do a warm compress and see if you can squeeze any gunk out of it?

 

[lizmo1221]

How would I go about the warm compress and squeezing? Keeping in mind that I only have common household items around :S

 

[xxchelle]

Just take a warm damp cloth and press it on the scab for as long as she'll let you, to loosen the scab up. Then squeeze or "pop" it like you would a pimple, but gently.

It looks really small, which is a good thing.

 

[lizmo1221]

Ok I just finished soaking and squeezing with some good results, I think. Before I even started squeezing there was pus stuff coming out, and lots came out once I squeezed, along with a solid brown lump. That coming out made her squeak in pain, and now she is bleeding from an open-ish wound. Nothing else is coming out when I squeeze.

[spoiler:2e8zw2er]

[/spoiler:2e8zw2er]

Just wanted to make sure this is ok and normal-ish. The mass underneath is still there (possibly a deeper abcess??) but the one on skin level is gone, except for a red bump where i squeezed it. She is also super stressed and pretty pissed with me I think lol.

Edit to add spoiler

 

[xxchelle]

That's normal. The lump is likely inflammation from the small abscess. But it looks good! Just keep your eye on it, if there's a weird smell or more pus just squeeze it out. Keep the cage clean. All that fun stuff.

 

[lizmo1221]

Cool thanks! Good thing I did a full cage clean earlier I will for sure keep an eye on it (along with the other half dozen things I need to keep an eye on with these three... :S) and let you know if anything goes down.

Now, I have to sleep. I work at 9am tomorrow

 

[lilspaz68]

scratches and slashes usually heal well on their own...a puncture wound from a bite is more likely to abscess as the bacteria is forced deep in the tissues and rats are incredible at walling off these bacterias and causing abscesses. Most abscesses resolve on their own as well, but just to make sure we usually treat the smaller ones at home ourselves.

good job Liz!!!

 

[jorats]

Rats also get keratin cysts, some are tiny while some are big. Many of them have what seems to be dried pus and can be removed and cleaned out.
But ya, with scrapes and scratches, our rats seem to be prone to normal abscesses.