mammary tumour by anus?

pscychopomp · Jul 11, 2011

It looks like one of my females has a lump on one side of her anus. Can mammary tumours grow that low? It's not under the lowest nipple, it's right beside the anus. It's not hard but not squishy either. She is approx 21 months. If it is a tumour is it going to affect her going to the bathroom?

Nekopan · Jul 12, 2011

I've been told that rats have mammary all over their bodies, not just under their belly.

Are you sure it's a tumour and not an abscess or cyst?

lilspaz68 · Jul 12, 2011

Sadly that is what is known as an inguinal tumour and they are not fun. Would you consider a removal since its small now?

They have mammary tissue a lot more places then you would expect...see the diagram below

jorats · Jul 12, 2011

My sister's rat had a mammary tumour in that exact spot. She had it removed and Irene was spayed. She was about 20 months old at the time. The vet did tell us that the tissue was hyperplastic but nothing more serious. Although it could have become something else we just don't know.

pscychopomp · Jul 13, 2011

Are inguinal tumours harder to remove? I'll probably take her in to get it checked out, she also seems 'off'. She seems slower and clumsy...I think her brother is developing HED, he waddles and can't really jump up things, it's like his butt is heavy. What are the chances of her having HED too? I understand it's more common for males.

How common is it for them to develop multiple tumours? I know you guys probably get volume discounts but about how much can I expect a removal to cost? And how much more to add a spay in?

victoria · Jul 13, 2011

Is she just clumsy or is she also acting confused? I've had a fair chunk of my females develop HED (3/18) so it's not unheard of but when a rat is "off" I always suspect a PT. Mammary tumours popping up around the same time as PT is not unheard of so it's something to be aware of.

I hope it's not a PT, but it is something to keep in mind when you go for a checkup.

If there's no PT, then I would get the tumour removed sooner rather than later. Like Shelagh said, inguinal tumours can be trickier to remove.