Does anyone on here own pet rats?

[smmfish]

I have 2 female pet rats and have a question about one of them.
I noticed yesterday that one of my rats (Charlotte) has this tumor like growth right under her abdomen on her right side a little smaller than a golf ball and we called the vet to see if he could give us an idea as to what it could be and he said to be absolutely sure to bring her in but said it most likely is a cancerous tumor. I am soooo sad .... I dont want to lose her. Any other thoughts on this.

We are going to take her in, just wanted someone else's thoughts on this situation.

 

[lovespunaround]

I've had tons of rats, and it's very common for the older ones to get tumors. I really doubt any vet treatment would help for very long.

 

[smmfish]

Man, that sucks. Yeah, she is around 2 years old. I know they do not live very long at all. I will just hope for the best.

Thanks for the info.

 

[toehead11183]

did you get an albino rat, or hooded rat(white with black head)?

 

[smmfish]

They are albino rats, and I have had them since they were about 6 months old.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

I have rats in my freezer.

 

[smmfish]

I have rats in my freezer.

HaHa, I said pet rats (live ones) preferably.

 

[toehead11183]

i hate to tell you this, but the albino 'pet' rates sold at pet shot are the exact same rats you read about on the back of the Sweet-N-Low backs. "shown to cause cancer in lab rats" They are repeadedly inbred to cause problems so we can figure out how to fix them. You have the standard lab rat. They are fine for the first year or so then they go blind, grow tumors, start showing neurological problems are start running in circles or any wide range of problems. That tumor could kill the rat tonight or it may live for many more years. depends on how the growth grows. They are perfectly safe to feed to snakes and such but most pet shops will deny they are lab rats because people are affraid to feed them to their snake. a vet will charge you out the ass to fix it.

 

[ewurm]

Rallysb1tch has rats, PM her.

 

[smmfish]

i hate to tell you this, but the albino 'pet' rates sold at pet shot are the exact same rats you read about on the back of the Sweet-N-Low backs. "shown to cause cancer in lab rats" They are repeadedly inbred to cause problems so we can figure out how to fix them. You have the standard lab rat. They are fine for the first year or so then they go blind, grow tumors, start showing neurological problems are start running in circles or any wide range of problems. That tumor could kill the rat tonight or it may live for many more years. depends on how the growth grows. They are perfectly safe to feed to snakes and such but most pet shops will deny they are lab rats because people are affraid to feed them to their snake. a vet will charge you out the ass to fix it.

I figured as much, they were kind of a rescue anyway. A lady advertised them in our local newspaper for free. She had bought them for her very young daughter and she had lost interest in them and they were not being taken care of properly so for the last year and a half my fiance and I have taken very good care of them. They are very good pets. I am not looking into spending a whole lot of money on them, just wondering what the growth was.
Well, I will give her the best care for the amount of life she has left in her.
Thanks for the info guys.