non-cancerous growth : scratching : surgery?

[ChrisK]

I took Lollipop to the vet a few weeks ago and she's in excellent health overall. However, she has a growth behind one ear which is attached only to the surface skin, but it has been getting larger over the past few months. The vet does not expect it to be cancerous, and gave me a quote that it will cost $1,000 to have this growth removed.

The growth didn't seem to bother Lollipop until just a few days ago. She scratched it so much that it bled, and she's been scratching a lot more than usual the past two days. I wonder if she's trying to scratch the growth off or something??

I'm concerned and thinking to bring her for a second opinion. I checked into health insurance for rats, and am told there no such thing in Canada.

Does anyone have experience with this sort of thing? Lollipop is approx. 9 months old. I'm wondering if: (a) there are other options/remedies which would help, or if surgery is the only reasonable answer (b) the $1000 quote for surgery seems high -- is it? or is this just what these things normally cost?

Thanks for any feedback you can give me on this!

 

[jorats]

OMG... $1000!! where are you located? maybe we can help you find a better vet.
A dermal mass shouldn't be more than a couple hundred dollars to remove.
Definitely a second opinion, especially if it's just a cyst.

 

[lilspaz68]

Can you take a pic of the growth for us? Plus we would love to see your lollipop :cheeky:

Can you also let us know where in Canada you live? We might be able to recommend another vet.

That price sounds like you live in Winnipeg or its High Park Animal Hospital fleecing rat owners again :sad3:

 

[Joanne]

$1000 is way too much. $200 - $300 sounds reasonable.
Find another vet. These guys will be able to recommend one.
If the tumor is growing, you need to get it removed even if it is not cancerous. It will just keep getting bigger and bigger.

 

[ChrisK]

Thanks for your replies! Regarding where I live -- Ottawa Ontario. Glad to know that $1000 IS as ridiculous as it sounded. Vet recommendations would be welcome! I will try to get/post a photo of lollipop which shows the growth asap...

 

[lilspaz68]

We have a few people from Ottawa on here who may be able to help you find a decent vet you can afford. :doh: There may also be references to vets in Ottawa in our Vet Section as well

 

[jorats]

There's a recommendation here:

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=9840

 

[ChrisK]

Thanks for the link to the nice vet. I will definitely check it out. I took two photos of Lollipop to upload; I'm just working on the technical / how to upload part. (I'm not that listserv/computer savy.)

 

[lilspaz68]

you can actually add files (pics) from your computer down below...I believe you browse and then Add the File...you can only do 2 though.

Here is my old thread on how to post using Photobucket as your host website

viewtopic.php?f=36&t=1284

 

[ChrisK]

Thanks for the instructions. Hope this works!

 

[ChrisK]

Hello all... just wanted to give an update on Lollipop. We took her to see Dr. Liston as referenced, for a second opinion. I was pleased with the way he handled things. He was able to get a smear (of the growth behind her ear) onto a slide, which he added dye to and put under a microscope. He was able to tell us right there that it is a melanoma. Apparently that's not so seriuosly bad for rats as for humans, especially in this case, as it is localized. We're relieved to know what it is. It is probably going to require surgery to remove it, because it does keep getting bigger and Lollipop is only 9 months old.

Thanks for the help finding a vet! I wonder if anyone can tell me:
1 - advice for pre/post surgery care for ratties, and especially ideas to help keep her from scratching at stitches afterwards
2 - anything you've heard of which might lessen or rid her of melanoma/growth without surgery. (I figure she'll probably have to have the surgery, but if there's an alternative, I'd love to hear about it!)

 

[henry's_mum]

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=9640
link to pre op questions/discussions....

 

[jorats]

I'm not familiar with melanoma in rats. But if your vet suggests that it needs to be removed, then I would go for it.
Stopping a rat from scratching the area will be a challenge. But most times, rats will scratch their wounds if they are feeling pain so make sure you have pain meds.

 

[ChrisK]

I've done as much homework as I can, and little Lollipop is scheduled for surgery Monday morning to have the growth removed. I will bring food for her to eat after surgery. I'm supposed to drop her off in the morning and pick her up in the afternoon -- so they can monitor her afterwards to be sure everything is fine before I take her home. I plan to ask them to clip her nails too, because they're too long, and to give us pain meds to take home just incase it seems she needs them. I hope shorter nails and maybe pain meds will be of help with the inevitable scratching afterwards.

I'm pretty nervous about it because I hate surgery even for myself let alone my little girl! If there's anything else you can think to tell me that will help it go well for Lollipop, please advise, and if not, please send good thoughts her way Monday morning... Thanks!

 

[jorats]

It sounds like you've got all your bases covered. We'll be sending your little one lots of healing vibes for Monday.

 

[ChrisK]

Thanks! I'm pleased to say Lollipop's surgery went well this morning. She's still resting as the effects of the drugs haven't completely worn off yet. But all is well. Thanks for all your support! :happydance:

 

[jorats]

Excellent!

 

[ChrisK]

can anyone point me towards information on the post-surgery period for ratties? We picked Lollipop up yesterday afternoon, and it took quite a few hours before the drugs seem to wear off. That I expected. But today she still is very listless, and hiding her head (growth removed was behind her ear) sleeping a lot. I think she might be in pain, but the vet told us yesterday that he'd given her metacam and it was enough to keep her for up to 36 hours. I'm not sure if what I see is my rattie in pain or if this is normal result from surgery and metacam. The vet finished her surgery approximately 24 hours ago now.

It occurs to me that I did all the research about surgery and vets, but not much on what to expect post-surgery. Does this sound normal? How long should I expect recovery to take and what does the recovery period typically look like?

 

[jorats]

Every vet and clinic have a different surgery protocol. Most times, pain meds only last 24 hours but we don't know what your rat was given. So it could be that she's still very groggy/sleepy from the surgery itself.
What did the vet say about the growth? Was it invasive or simply on the surface... did it involve the ear canal or optic nerves?

 

[ChrisK]

The vet gave her valium + katamin followed by isoflurane for the surgery. Then he gave her metacam for pain med. He also did a minor skin graft to hold the skin together where he'd removed the growth. The vet said the growth was NOT invasive, though, and that the pain meds (metacam) he'd given her should last up to 36hours and should be enough.(but I can call for more if it seems she needs it.)