New game plan and your thoughts?

[Melissa's ZOO]

So, Flower's armpit tumor has come back and she as another one on her rear. So I will be taking her in to have them removed. Do you think I should go ahead and have her spayed or wait since she will have to be under longer to get two removed?

I will also be taking in Rose, Willow and Sunflower in at the same time as Flower to have them spayed and then in December I will take in Lilly, Clover, Jaz and Ivy to be spayed as well.

I reserved two girlies from a friend who had an oops litter, but I am thinking I will get two boys. All of my girls will be spayed and I just hate tumors.

What are the health benefits of getting the boys neutered?

 

[Lise]

Sorry to hear that. These dang tumors. Someone needs to discover a way to eradicate them already! My rat Tevy has another one as well.

I would probably wait on the spay, or tell the vet to only do it if things have gone very well. Surgery over 1 hour for a rat becomes much more risky, and with two separate tumor removals it could easily take up that hour.

As for spaying, I'm not convinced that it is worth it on an older rat who has already had multiple tumors. There is still a very good chance the tumors will come back even after the spay. If you have the financial resources and she is in otherwise fantastic health then consider bringing her back for the spay... but if it is going to tax you too much, or if you feel that you will regret the spay if another tumor pops up I would opt against it.

As for health benefits to neuters -- not as much.

Basically it decreases the hormone levels leading to less angst and possible aggression, and an all around slightly more mellow less hormone driven rat. It would eliminate the chance of testicular cancer, but to be honest I have yet to hear of a rat with testicular cancer and most people do not neuter.

 

[jorats]

My vet has told me that from now on, when someone comes in for a tumour removal, she will insist on a spay at the same time. She's convinced, thanks to our experience that a spay is a huge benefit and doing it at the same time is actually an advantage since they are already under. Keeping in mind my vet is an exotic vet and is quite experienced with most rat related procedures.
I certainly recommend it.

Neutering the males will keep them young and happy. They won't go through the hormone overload.
But... my personal choice, I don't think I would have the boys neutered unless it was necessary like due to aggression. It's just hard for me to recommend a surgery when there's no real health benefit other than behaviour. I know that behaviour is just as important if not more so since it can affect health... gah... I don't know. My sister and I had this very same conversation. She told me in the future, she wants all her males neutered. Currently, she has a cage of all spayed girls and neutered boys and she tells me the happiness just drips out of that cage. She can feel the boys relaxed and comfortable. In fact, I just went downstairs today, during their out time and sure enough, Quill and Indie were hopping around like clowns.

So... what was I saying? :lol:

 

[mamarat]

I have a colony of 7 spayed females and two neutered boys and of all my 6 cages they are the happiest and funniest.

 

[Lise]

My vet has told me that from now on, when someone comes in for a tumour removal, she will insist on a spay at the same time. She's convinced, thanks to our experience that a spay is a huge benefit and doing it at the same time is actually an advantage since they are already under. Keeping in mind my vet is an exotic vet and is quite experienced with most rat related procedures.
I certainly recommend it.

Jo, perhaps your vet is very fast at surgery though??

After 45 minutes rats have experienced significant body heat loss during surgery even if on a warm water blanket. The anesthetics don't allow you to thermoregular properly. After 1 hour it is even greater. Opening up the body cavity at this point (to do a spay) leads to yet more core body heat loss and much much riskier surgery.

 

[jorats]

Yes, you're right Lise, which is why I always mention she's very experienced at the procedures. From what she tells me, the rats aren't under for that long.

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

Honestly, I would rather just get them all spayed and take my chances on the tumors coming back. The money is not a problem, I have it in savings. Plus my vet only charges $75.00 for a spay.

When Ivy had two tumors removed her recovery took much longer than Lilly's one tumor. So I will just get Flower's tumors removed and take her back later for a spay.

Plus my vet told me he is not fond of doing it all at once, either way it would cost me the same whether it was done all at once or in two separate surgeries. He said he just likes to get them in and out as soon as possible.

I am not sure now on the neuter thing. I don't just don't know. I think I will just wait and see which of the little babies appeal to me and go from there. I am having second thoughts of getting new babies. I have 8 now in a double FN and I wonder if I should just wait. My GGMR syndrome is killer. My friend won't be mad as she already has more people wanting them than she has babies.

 

[jorats]

To be honest, I think 8 in a 142FN is max for me. I have 10 in one and I find it cramped.
GGMR is the worst!!!!

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

Jo, I think you are right. Right now there are eight girls and it can get kind of hectic in there. Especially with Willow and Sunflower being so young. They really get on the old ladies nerves :lol: . I am pretty sure that Lilly is the one who inflicted the chunk of skin off Sunflower's head. Lilly gets really angry when they mess with her.

Plus I have noticed that they fight like mad over the wheel, so I will be going tonight to get another silent spinner and rearrange the cage to fit it.

I will just satisfy my GGMR with shopping for the girls. They love new stuff.

 

[jorats]

Buying rattie stuff really helps.

 

[PiedPiper]

Plus I have noticed that they fight like mad over the wheel, so I will be going tonight to get another silent spinner and rearrange the cage to fit it.

I will just satisfy my GGMR with shopping for the girls. They love new stuff.

Hi everyone - My apologies for once again getting off topic on another thread, but I'm slowly and systematically trying to get through every thread posted in the Health and General Care Section (starting way back in the beginning when this forum was first created ) trying to bone up on my general knowledge and I have a couple of questions - what size of Silent Spinner is best for rats (our boys are approximately 12 weeks old now)? Is it the largest (I believe it's 12" and retails for approximately $25.00?)

And is GGMR an acronym for Gotta Get More Rats or something like that?

Thanks, I'll go back to lurking now.

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

Yes, get the 12 inch spinner, it works for little ones too.

GGMR Go Get More Rats

 

[PiedPiper]

Thanks, Melissa!

GGMR sounds almost as bad as GOD - Greyhound Obsessive Disorder. I've already got an incurable case of that! Gee, I hope I don't catch GGMR, too! :lol:

 

[jennifervb]

Thanks, Melissa!

GGMR sounds almost as bad as GOD - Greyhound Obsessive Disorder. I've already got an incurable case of that! Gee, I hope I don't catch GGMR, too! :lol:

You need to "catch" GGMR Gina... :scolding: how cool would it be to have them riding around on GOD. :laugh4:

 

[jennifervb]

My vet has told me that from now on, when someone comes in for a tumour removal, she will insist on a spay at the same time. She's convinced, thanks to our experience that a spay is a huge benefit and doing it at the same time is actually an advantage since they are already under. Keeping in mind my vet is an exotic vet and is quite experienced with most rat related procedures.
I certainly recommend it.

Neutering the males will keep them young and happy. They won't go through the hormone overload.
But... my personal choice, I don't think I would have the boys neutered unless it was necessary like due to aggression. It's just hard for me to recommend a surgery when there's no real health benefit other than behaviour. I know that behaviour is just as important if not more so since it can affect health... gah... I don't know. My sister and I had this very same conversation. She told me in the future, she wants all her males neutered. Currently, she has a cage of all spayed girls and neutered boys and she tells me the happiness just drips out of that cage. She can feel the boys relaxed and comfortable. In fact, I just went downstairs today, during their out time and sure enough, Quill and Indie were hopping around like clowns.

So... what was I saying? :lol:

My vet has a similar stance to yours Jo. Tumor removal is a good time to get the sweetie spayed.

 

[jennifervb]

So, Flower's armpit tumor has come back and she as another one on her rear. So I will be taking her in to have them removed. Do you think I should go ahead and have her spayed or wait since she will have to be under longer to get two removed?

I will also be taking in Rose, Willow and Sunflower in at the same time as Flower to have them spayed and then in December I will take in Lilly, Clover, Jaz and Ivy to be spayed as well.

I reserved two girlies from a friend who had an oops litter, but I am thinking I will get two boys. All of my girls will be spayed and I just hate tumors.

What are the health benefits of getting the boys neutered?

How old is Flower Melissa? Is your vet an exotic animal specialist?