Perplexed-Possible Nasal Cavity Tumor? Update Pg3

[Dazzle87]

My rat Dazzle, who is almost two, started having some nasal noises when breathing. I brought her to the vet right when it started, and have been through multiple combos without improvement (yes, proper combos, proper doses and all that). She's also been on metacam for inflammation. I brought her into the vet again today, and it was confirmed there is still no lower respiratory involvement. She is concered that there is a possibility of some sort of tumors or something in the nasal passageway causing irritation. It is not my regular vet but she seemed pretty knowledgable. She said she could send me to a specialist and be put under for a CT scan and a better look at her upper respiratory tract. I'm not sure how I feel about that, with her age, poor healing times (her last surgery incision took like 2 months to fully heal, and she's still missing fur from a surgery that was a few months ago), etc. She also said that we could go with prednisone on the assumption something is up there but she wants to make sure we try to rule out infection first, so I'm doing one more round of antibiotics (zithro and doxy).

Thoughts? Things I should suggest to the vet? She's very open about suggestions and advice and willing to look into things, I've only seen her twice but she discusses options rather than saying this is what I'm doing.

 

[lilspaz68]

My rat Dazzle, who is almost two, started having some nasal noises when breathing. I brought her to the vet right when it started, and have been through multiple combos without improvement (yes, proper combos, proper doses and all that). She's also been on metacam for inflammation. I brought her into the vet again today, and it was confirmed there is still no lower respiratory involvement. She is concered that there is a possibility of some sort of tumors or something in the nasal passageway causing irritation. It is not my regular vet but she seemed pretty knowledgable. She said she could send me to a specialist and be put under for a CT scan and a better look at her upper respiratory tract. I'm not sure how I feel about that, with her age, poor healing times (her last surgery incision took like 2 months to fully heal, and she's still missing fur from a surgery that was a few months ago), etc. She also said that we could go with prednisone on the assumption something is up there but she wants to make sure we try to rule out infection first, so I'm doing one more round of antibiotics (zithro and doxy).

Thoughts? Things I should suggest to the vet? She's very open about suggestions and advice and willing to look into things, I've only seen her twice but she discusses options rather than saying this is what I'm doing.

There's a possibility of naseopharangeal polyps but they aren't common. I had a girl with ear polyps and steroids and abs were the only thing that worked, but not for long. Then her face swelled up, and we assumed she had the polyps in her nasal cavities as well.

Was Dazzle ever sick before? How is her health other than nasal noises? I would definitely try steroids, it might shrink any masses in there.

 

[Dazzle87]

She's eating well and everything, but she looks kinda rough. I'm not sure if it's age, but her fur is very dull and rough. She's just as active and all that as ever though. She's had two URI's before, one when she was a baby, and one in her middle age (a year maybe?). Other than that she's had tumors, and mammary cysts, but she's spayed now. That's all she's had to deal with for health.

I'm glad they're rare but polyps really suck-when I first found out what they were they seemed so harmless-nope

I agreed to wait to see if this shows improvement before getting steroids called in, you think I should ask for them now?

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

I would try an x-ray before going for the CT (if you were leaning towards getting one done). When my boy had blood coming from his nose my vet was going to try an x-ray (from above with the plate in his mouth) to see if there was an abscess or tumor. It might not give a definitive answer but I would think it would be cheaper than the CT.

If it was my rattie I would try an x-ray to see if anything can be seen and if not then I would try the steroids. I personally probably wouldn't go as far as to get the CT because I probably wouldn't do the surgery. Obviously you know your girl best and whatever you decide to do will be the right choice.

 

[Dazzle87]

I couldn't find it in a quick search, but does an x-ray require anesthesia? If it doesn't I will gladly do an x-ray.

I'm leaning towards not going for the CT scan due to the anesthesia, although, if she started swelling up in the face I'd likely change my mind...

 

[victoria]

I've had x-rays done without anesthesia. I guess they may if the rat doesn't stay still enough though.

 

[Dazzle87]

Oh okay. I'll call the vet back and ask about that, suppose it is worth a shot.

ETA: I meant to say thank you. I didn't want to miss any options.

 

[lilspaz68]

the amount of anesthesia given is totally different between a surgery and just trying to keep a rat still for "pictures"...its probably relative to a tooth trim anesthetic, etc...I would go for the x-rays.

 

[Dazzle87]

I didn't think of that, thanks.

 

[Joanne]

If they're going to try and get a film of her upper jaw and nasal passages by putting the plate in her mouth (so you don't get the superimposition of the mandible as well) then she will need anaesthesia, but like lilspaz said, it's pretty light, just enough to stop them from moving for a minute.

 

[Dazzle87]

Yeah that makes me feel better about it. The vet didn't specify that it wouldn't be the same as they do for surgery so it didn't even occur to me :emb: If it's only a light gassing I'd rather opt for more visible x-rays.

 

[Dazzle87]

So today her left bottom eyelid was a little swollen and got porphyrin...ugh It is back to normal now but she's going back to the vet now.

 

[lilspaz68]

So today her left bottom eyelid was a little swollen and got porphyrin...ugh It is back to normal now but she's going back to the vet now.

Is that the same side you are suspecting the potential mass?

 

[Dazzle87]

I honestly don't know what side, neither side looks larger or anything.

 

[Dazzle87]

Monday can't come soon enough. Poor girlie has a weird growth now. It's ridiculously small, and like a polyp but not on a mucous membrane. Kinda like a flattened out super tiny wart? I attempted to take pictures, unsuccessfully. I swear, the more expensive the camera, the worse the pictures come out for me :gaah:

Oh and that's not hairloss. It just still hasn't grown back all the way from a tumor removal many months ago..

 

[lilspaz68]

The last 2 were clear but I couldn't see the "wart"...it could just be a skin tag sort of thing, older rats get all sorts of lumpies and bumpies that are harmless.

 

[Dazzle87]

Yeah it's so little it was kinda just luck I noticed it. Good to know old rats get things like this, hopefully its just skin.

Well, I'll let you guys know what happens Monday. I'm really really hoping they give me a CD of the x-ray like they did for my dog (at another vets though). I think it's kinda neat to look at lol.

 

[jorats]

I've had lots of rats with tiny bumps and even bigger ones that were harmless. My Pony has one on his back, it's never gotten any bigger than this. It used to be very small as a baby and it grew along with him, staying one size once he reached about 7 months.

 

[Dazzle87]

Wow that is one impressive benign growth! It almost looks like a boil. He looks very much like my Dazzle too :heart:

 

[jorats]

It does look like a boil but no dot or any indication that their could be secretion. It's somewhat hard but squishy if that makes sense. I think it's just a bunch of keratin and other follicle junk.