Possible Tumor?

I feel on one of my older rats(about 16 months old) that she may have a tumor on her side. Its about the size of a ping pong ball. I was planning on keeping her until she dies naturally since she was my favorite rat but not now. Is it safe to humanely euthanize her and feed her to a snake? I am just worried that the tumor like growth may pass something on to the snake. I'm not asking what you feel is morally correct to do with a "pet status" feeder but rather if it is safe to do or not.

It's never something that I've personally felt comfortable doing, but I know a ton of people that feed rats with tumors to their animals and seem to have no problems.

Not sure if that helps ... I have a feeling Becky will have a much better answer. ;) :P

-adam

Thanks. I just have a feeling that someone will come and say it is morally incorrect to do.

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

Thanks. I just have a feeling that someone will come and say it is morally incorrect to do.

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Yeah, but that would just be an "opinion" ... and we all know what those are like ... do what you feel comfortable doing and ignore the background noise. ;)

-adam

I am really just looking for a scientific reason if there is any that says it isn't safe, if there is no scientific reasoning that says it not safe, I won't do it. Can cancer be passed down from consumption of an infected rodent?

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

I am really just looking for a scientific reason if there is any that says it isn't safe, if there is no scientific reasoning that says it not safe, I won't do it. Can cancer be passed down from consumption of an infected rodent?

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I am almost 100% certain that it cannot ... but I am sure that Becky would know for sure when she finds this post. :sweeet:

-adam

It's probably a mammary tumor and no, it cannot be passed onto anything. Mammary tumors are benign anyway and don't seed off like malignant ones do. The only way to pass on a malignant tumor would be to do surgery and move part of the tumor elsewhere to grow(I've had it happen on tumor removals before).

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

It's probably a mammary tumor and no, it cannot be passed onto anything. Mammary tumors are benign anyway and don't seed off like malignant ones do. The only way to pass on a malignant tumor would be to do surgery and move part of the tumor elsewhere to grow(I've had it happen on tumor removals before).

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I knew you'd bail me out! ... Thanks Becky! :D

-adam

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

I feel on one of my older rats(about 16 months old) that she may have a tumor on her side. Its about the size of a ping pong ball. I was planning on keeping her until she dies naturally since she was my favorite rat but not now. Is it safe to humanely euthanize her and feed her to a snake? I am just worried that the tumor like growth may pass something on to the snake. I'm not asking what you feel is morally correct to do with a "pet status" feeder but rather if it is safe to do or not.

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Rats are cheap enough, I would just euthenize it and get a different rat to feed :snake:

Again, I am looking for any scientific reasons why it isn't safe