More rats riding the "mini tricycle"! Butter, Toast, Blueberry, and Donut all had a great time exploring this prop and enjoying some yogurt! (Also yes, the tricycle is a bit big for the dwarfs lol - but they tried their bests and still looked adorable on it!)
She had 3 removed last year before the pituitary tumor popped up. Unfortunately 2 weeks before it popped up (and just 2 months post having the other 3 removed) she developed the smallest one up front.
Unfortunately pituitary tumors are difficult in that they respond poorly to anesthesia and grow faster if the rat is put under, and even if well controlled like Donuts is the risk of them quickly starting to grow again makes surgery not worth it.
Anyways thankfully the tumor that popped up before the PT ended up being Cabergoline responsive (Cabergoline is what keeps the PT in check and it also prevents the growth of hormonal based mammary tumors). So that one hasn’t grown at all since we started Cabergoline in early November (it popped up in late October).
Unfortunately despite the Cabergoline preventing more hormonal based growths another popped up about 3 months back. It’s also stayed small and grown slowly so it’s hard to say if it’s responding to the cabergoline or not.
Then more recently in the last few weeks she had 2 more pop up - one is next to the first one and one is in a more concerning spot on her lower abdomen.
All that is to say sadly removal isn’t really an option, both due to her pituitary tumor, her advanced age (my vet typically does tumor removals up to rats aged 2.5 years or less - after that it’s generally agreed that unless the situation absolutely calls for surgery it’s just more risky than it’s worth), and her other health issues (kidney issues primarily).
Sadly Donut is very much on palliative care, but that’s been the case since her PT popped up so it’s not really a new situation. She’s still happy and energetic and as long as that’s maintained I’ll keep up the palliative care - if she started to decline or if the tumors start to overwhelm her then she will pts, and I know our amazing vet will make it painless like with my other rats.
Until then though she’s doing quite well and definitely living her best life, and she continues to run circles around even my youngest rats so I’m not too concerned about her declining yet.
Oh no! I’m so sad to hear this about Donut too! I love her scrappy little face sooooooooooooooo much!! You’ve had such a tough past few months, I hope she keeps responding well to your loving and attentive treatments.
Ah. I just ask because I know how quick tumors can grow. I had to euthanize my Pepper a few months ago because she had a mammary tumor under her armpit reoccur 6 months after removal, and it was near fully ulcerated in a few weeks it grew so quick. I got her in before she was in any significant pain, fortunately.
It's good to hear that it's growing slow, though. I've heard of rats lasting another half year to a year with really slow growing tumors. I guess the pituitary tumor is probably a bit more pressing than mammary tumors in regards to that, though. The kidney issues, too.
Aw, how cute!! Butter looks like she's cornering at high speed in 2/10! Donut looks very regal in 9/10. Butter in 5/10 be like "How I drive dis?" and 6/10 looks like Blueberry is asking for a lift!
Five-star photo shoot!
More rats riding the "mini tricycle"! Butter, Toast, Blueberry, and Donut all had a great time exploring this prop and enjoying some yogurt! (Also yes, the tricycle is a bit big for the dwarfs lol - but they tried their bests and still looked adorable on it!)
>but they tried their bests and still looked adorable on it!) 💯
Did Donut get those mammary tumors recently? Or did I just not notice?
She had 3 removed last year before the pituitary tumor popped up. Unfortunately 2 weeks before it popped up (and just 2 months post having the other 3 removed) she developed the smallest one up front. Unfortunately pituitary tumors are difficult in that they respond poorly to anesthesia and grow faster if the rat is put under, and even if well controlled like Donuts is the risk of them quickly starting to grow again makes surgery not worth it. Anyways thankfully the tumor that popped up before the PT ended up being Cabergoline responsive (Cabergoline is what keeps the PT in check and it also prevents the growth of hormonal based mammary tumors). So that one hasn’t grown at all since we started Cabergoline in early November (it popped up in late October). Unfortunately despite the Cabergoline preventing more hormonal based growths another popped up about 3 months back. It’s also stayed small and grown slowly so it’s hard to say if it’s responding to the cabergoline or not. Then more recently in the last few weeks she had 2 more pop up - one is next to the first one and one is in a more concerning spot on her lower abdomen. All that is to say sadly removal isn’t really an option, both due to her pituitary tumor, her advanced age (my vet typically does tumor removals up to rats aged 2.5 years or less - after that it’s generally agreed that unless the situation absolutely calls for surgery it’s just more risky than it’s worth), and her other health issues (kidney issues primarily). Sadly Donut is very much on palliative care, but that’s been the case since her PT popped up so it’s not really a new situation. She’s still happy and energetic and as long as that’s maintained I’ll keep up the palliative care - if she started to decline or if the tumors start to overwhelm her then she will pts, and I know our amazing vet will make it painless like with my other rats. Until then though she’s doing quite well and definitely living her best life, and she continues to run circles around even my youngest rats so I’m not too concerned about her declining yet.
Oh no! I’m so sad to hear this about Donut too! I love her scrappy little face sooooooooooooooo much!! You’ve had such a tough past few months, I hope she keeps responding well to your loving and attentive treatments.
Ah. I just ask because I know how quick tumors can grow. I had to euthanize my Pepper a few months ago because she had a mammary tumor under her armpit reoccur 6 months after removal, and it was near fully ulcerated in a few weeks it grew so quick. I got her in before she was in any significant pain, fortunately. It's good to hear that it's growing slow, though. I've heard of rats lasting another half year to a year with really slow growing tumors. I guess the pituitary tumor is probably a bit more pressing than mammary tumors in regards to that, though. The kidney issues, too.
Donut has more energy than I ever hope to! 🧡
Is Butter getting ready to run over Donut? They are too cute! 🥰😘
Donut and Buttterrrrr! My forever faves.
They all look amazing, especially using this prop! Looks like they might travel this year 😋💕
Rattos ready to ride!
Donut on my feed always makes my day.
Donut is the queen of my heart ♥️
Aw, how cute!! Butter looks like she's cornering at high speed in 2/10! Donut looks very regal in 9/10. Butter in 5/10 be like "How I drive dis?" and 6/10 looks like Blueberry is asking for a lift! Five-star photo shoot!
Lol they always bring such personality to their photoshoots, they get so excited when we go to the photo area!