Onyx had his ear amputated today. Updated with pics :)

[Arlene]

A few months ago I noticed that my black and white berk dumbo boy, Onyx, had a little blood on the top of his left ear. It was bleeding a little so I figured he just scratched it. The rest of his outer ear was red too. I kept watching it and finally saw that he had little places which looked like a pimple. His outer ear was still inflamed. I took him to the vet and she said that she thought it might be a tumor.

A week and a half later his ear was even more inflamed and he had 3 dots. She examined him again and said they were definitely tumors and the only way she could "fix" it was to amputate his ear. Naturally, I was upset, but better his ear than an eye or a leg. I told her to do whatever she needed to do to help him.

She also suggested that we do a biopsy because if it popped up somewhere else we would know what it was. I agreed. The biopsy should be back tomorrow. I am relieved his surgery is over. He looks a little funny but is still very cute and seems sleepy but otherwise okay.

This is something I have never encountered before so I am sharing it with all of you in hopes that it will help someone else. I will post a before and after picture as soon I figure out how to do that on a Mac. <long>

 

[chicky82]

Poor sweetie :tumkiss: I'm happy he made it though the surgery though, virtual scritches for your boy and I hope he feels better :cheer:

 

[Bronwyn]

I'm a Mac user, let me know if you need some help!

Poor Onyx! I'm sure he looks just as cute. I've never heard of a rat ear being amputated but it makes sense, they're such delicate little things, I doubt she could have only removed a tumour.

I hope he feels better soon, good luck with the results!

 

[mamarat]

Aww poor baby. Sending healing vibes to Onyx.

 

[jorats]

Thank god it was one of those things that can be removed. So many times the tumour is on an area where an amputation can't be done but yet is the only thing that can stop the immediate growth.

I bet he must look super adorable though...

I'm glad you shared this experience, something like that might be easily dismiss. Do you have pics of the "dots"?

 

[Melissa]

Poor little guy. I'm glad he is ok now.

 

[lilspaz68]

Arlene is going to send the pics to me to put up for her.

Poor liddle Onyx, so glad you caught it in time!!!

 

[Arlene]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes!

I was thinking back and it was actually Melissa "angelratgirl" who first noticed that his ear was red. At that point, you couldn't even see the dots. His ear just looked flushed. That was the end of August so it looks like we did catch it pretty early.

I'm not sure if I have a picture in which the dots can be seen. I have a hard enough time taking pictures of the front of him. To get one of his ear would be just about impossible! Frank took some last night though and as soon as he transfers them, I will look and see if any of the ones we tried to take came out well enough for them to be seen.

I just checked on him and he's sleeping in the igloo all cuddled up with his brother. AWWWW! They look so sweet! I'm so relieved the surgery is over! Dr. Guth did his surgery first and called me right after to let me know he was okay and I could come pick him up. (She knows me SOOOO well!)I really appreciated it.

 

[MumsyRat]

I'm sorry to hear your little guy had to endure a surgery. On the other hand I can't help but think that a one-eared rat is going to be so cute everyone who looks at him will say "Aaaawwww"!

 

[lilspaz68]

As promised here is the lil cutie

Pre-surgery Onyx

Post-surgery Onyx (Arlene says he hasn't skipped a beat :thumbup

 

[mamarat]

Awww he's just as gorgeous as ever.

 

[Arlene]

Thanks, Shelagh, for posting the pics of my little boy. I just wish I wasn't in the pictures. I look terrible!

 

[Melissa]

Thanks, Shelagh, for posting the pics of my little boy. I just wish I wasn't in the pictures. I look terrible!

Pfft, whatever. You're just as cute as Onyx.

 

[Bronwyn]

I just got your PM, Arlene, I'm sorry I wasn't on MSN! It looks like I wasn't needed though.

You both look fantastic.

 

[jorats]

Wow, I would never have thought to bring a rat in to the vet for an ear like that, I would have thought there was a squabble.

He sure looks sweet though even more so now.

Arlene, you look great!!!

 

[Godmother]

So glad that your sweetie came through so well. Banana mash all around! :bananas:

 

[Arlene]

Now I KNOW you are my good friend if you think I look cute too! LOL I don't even think I'd combed my hair!

 

[Arlene]

We didn't have banana mash but Daddy shared his Hershey bar with him and his brother. That definitely made things better! :lol:

 

[Arlene]

Jo, At first I thought it was just a scratch too but I watched it and it kept nagging at me. It just didn't "feel" right so I took him in. My vet is used to me "knowing" something is wrong before it is always obvious. :wink:

I thought the report from the biopsy was supposed to be back today but I didn't hear anything. I so hope this is over!

 

[user 78]

He looks great! It's wonderful that you're vet had an option for you to help fix it. From the picture, I would have had the same reaction to his ear looking like that. Just doesn't look like a battle wound, just looks wrong.

You look great in those photos, Arlene! Seems your vacation is agreeing with you. :wink: