Rats are smart and good pets.Cancer is a fairly common health problem in rats over a year and a half of age, and unspayed females are the most likely to develop this disease.If you think your rat friend has cancer, you should take it to the vet for a diagnosis and treatment.Feed your rat at home by hand if you decide to do so.
Step 1: You should watch for symptoms.
Rats with cancer can be listless.The rat may show signs of confusion and uncoordinated movement with certain types of cancer.They can go blind or tilt their head.They might lose the ability to control their legs.Rats with cancer may have seizures.The rat may lose its appetite.
Step 2: Look for tumors on the belly.
Rats can develop tumors quickly.Look for them along the abdomen.When you touch it, it will be a solid mass.Rats with extensive mammary glands are more likely to have tumors along their abdomen.Female rats are more likely to get these types of tumors than male rats.Non-cancerous or cancer-causing tumors can be benign.Malignant tumors are more aggressive.
Step 3: Take your rat to the vet.
If you think your rat has cancer, take it to the vet.They will be able to tell you if the lump is benign or tumors.Not every lump is a tumor.A cyst is one of the things that lump can be.What's wrong can be solved by your vet.
Step 4: There will be a few diagnostic tests.
Your vet will look at your rat to see if it has tumors.They may recommend an exam to help diagnose the issue.
Step 5: Discuss the pros and cons of removing a tumors.
If a rat is female and snoozing at the same time, removing the tumor can result in continued good health.You should consider the age of the rat and the possibility that the surgery won't improve the quality of life for your small friend.Your vet can help you make this decision.Rats only live for a few years.Making the tumor smaller without removing it completely can increase the rat's quality of life.The pituitary glands can't be operated on.
Step 6: Ask about spaying.
Female rats have higher levels of hormones than females who are snouted.If your rat is in good health, it's a good idea to have her neutered before having the tumor removed.Rats with tumors are more likely to grow.If you decide to go through with the surgery, you should consider the fact that new ones could grow in and you may need to have it done again.
Step 7: Expect a day surgery.
The surgery is usually an outpatient.Drop your rat off in the morning and pick it up at night.If you can't care for your rat on the first day after surgery, some hospitals will provide boarding.
Step 8: A small cage is needed for the rat to recover.
The healing rat may be delayed by the other rats licking the surgical area or chewing the sutures.If possible, use a hospital cage.A hospital cage is a small cage with no levels which helps keep your rat less active while healing.
Step 9: It's a good idea to add some extra warmth to your rat.
Adding warmth may benefit your rat.Place a thick towel over the heating pad.If you put the cage on top of it, make sure it only warms one end.If your rat gets too hot, it can move to the other end.You can heat up a pet-safe heating pad in the microwave.Wrap it in a towel.
Step 10: Check the sutures to make sure they're intact.
Rats can chew through the stitches and leave a wound open for an infectious disease.If your rat does this, you'll see an open wound where the surgery was done, and you need to take it back to the vet.If your rat chews on the sutures, it may need to wear a collar.
Step 11: Pain medications should be given.
Buprenorphine or butorphanol can be prescribed by your vet for the first day after surgery.NSAID's like meloxicam, flunixin meglumine and carprofen will likely be recommended by the vet after that.If your rat is in more pain than the NSAID can handle, your vet may recommend you go back and forth between the narcotic and theNSAID in the week or so after surgery.
Step 12: The bedding needs to be changed every day.
You want the rat's environment to be free ofbacteria while it heals.Use bedding made from soft fabric, such as felt, fleece, or t-shirt material.The fabric that ravels should be avoided.While your rat is healing, don't use litter-type bedding as it can stick to the surgical site.
Step 13: If possible, use a cage without levels.
Your rat won't be able to climb in a regular cage as its health declines.Take the levels out of the cage and keep them on one level.That way, your rat won't try to jump off the level.The other rats don't need to be moved.When their rat is sick, they will usually comfort it.Fleece, flannel, or t-shirt material can be provided.
Step 14: Under the end of the cage, place a heating pad.
It may get easier as your rat weakens.Put a towel on top of the heating pad.If your rat is too warm, put it under one side of the cage.You can heat a heating pad in the microwave.It's meant for pets.Put a towel around it and put it in the cage.Make sure the heat is on the lowest setting because you don't want it to get too hot.
Step 15: Pain medication should be given to you.
If your rat seems to be in pain, ask your vet to give it pain medication.If it's in pain, it may make noises.Talk to your doctor about how often you should give your rat pain medication.
Step 16: As your rat becomes weaker, feed it with a syringe.
As time goes by, your rat may have trouble eating.You can feed it without a needle if that happens.If you want to give the food to the rat, you have to put it in a larger syringe and push it into a smaller one.The needle should come in from the side behind the rat's front teeth.Allow the food to eat as you please.Use any foods your rat likes to eat, such as mashed avocado with added mayonnaise, mashed banana, baby food pudding, cereals, fruits, or dinners.You can also add maple and brown sugar to oatmeal.When feeding the rat, try to keep it interested in one food at a time.
Step 17: The rat water can be given through a needle.
Add 4 grams of sugar to a cup of water.Let the rat drink a little at a time by filling a small, needleless syringe with water.The rat will get more energy from the sugar.You should do this as often as possible.It's best to try once an hour.
Step 18: Discuss the possibility of killing your rat.
You may eventually want to consider this option if treatments haven't worked or you decided to care for your rat at home.Euthanasia is the most humane option if your rat is in pain and doesn't want to eat.Discuss this possibility with your doctor.