Something weird .....

[SQ]

Jonah and his brother Daniel will be a year old in a week ....
They were wrestling a few minutes ago in the free range area ... these two really get into it ...
Then Daniel walked away, went over and pounced on Solomon.
There was a horrible scream ... I thought it was Sol as the other rats think they are being attacked when either Jonah or Daniel want to wrestle.
I leaped into the play area (I was sitting next to it at my desk trying to write a paper) to comfort Sol, and I saw Daniel racing away using just his front legs to drag his body. He looked like his back was broken! Scooped up Daniel, who now seems to be ok - at least all 4 legs are now working fine .... except he retired to the cage and is resting as he isn't feeling very good.

Comforted quite a few ratties who climbed onto my lap. Examined the tiny bump on Jonah's side to see how it was doing and discovered a deeper large long lump streching from behind his front shoulder down his side .... He screamed when I was feeling it.
Abscess? Muscle? Tumour?

Looks like another vet visit will be happening very soon.

 

[jorats]

Are all your boys neutered now?
Boys scuffle all the time but it can get scary. Weird about Daniel and dragging himself like that.
For Jonah is could be an abscess. And remember most of the time when a rat squeaks, it's most likely protest and not from pain. Try and touch it again without picking him up, without him realizing you are there touching it. If he flinches, that's more likely pain.

 

[SQ]

ok, thanks Jorats, I'll try that. The whole thing is very strange ...
After I posted I discovered that Jonah has a couple of scabs on his other side and a hard white substance under the skin.
Tried a warm compress on it and will continue doing that. Will be starting him on antibiotics tonight.

All my girls are spayed.
All boys are neutered except for Eve's two baby boys. They are 7 weeks old and are scheduled to be neutered on Wednesday.
I rescued Jonah and Daniel in June and they have always been very rough with each other when playing.

 

[Godmother]

Very strange about Daniel. Sorry I have no idea what could have happened, but the vet may have some suggestions.