Mrs. Snuggles Had Her Surgery

Dropped Mrs. Snuggles off at the vet this morning and picked her up at 1:00 today. She's still a bit groggy, but grooming herself and eating and drinking.

She seems a bit bewildered by it all, but she should be fine in no time. She's in her own recovery enclosure being kept warm.

Dr. C said it was a pretty nasty tumor, but he thinks that he got it all, but if it comes back, to bring her right in to see him.

Once she heals, she gets to live out her retirement being spoiled rotten and loving on other rats' weaned babies - she loves to mother other rats.

Congrats Robin...I mean Mrs. Snuggles :D

I am glad to hear she pulled through without issues. Sounds like she will have a great retirement and well deserved.

Glad she is doing well.

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I am so glad to hear she is doing well Robin!

Well, I spoke too soon. I got brave enough to pick her up (was afraid of hurting her) and noticed she'd already taken out half of her sutures. So, she's back at the vet waiting for Dr. C to finish another surgery so he can suture her back up.

I imagine this is going to be a challenging recovery.

The good thing was, the wound was clean and not bleeding though.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Well, I spoke too soon. I got brave enough to pick her up (was afraid of hurting her) and noticed she'd already taken out half of her sutures. So, she's back at the vet waiting for Dr. C to finish another surgery so he can suture her back up.

I imagine this is going to be a challenging recovery.

The good thing was, the wound was clean and not bleeding though.

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Get her a donut...you know one of those things they put on dogs after surgery...if nothing else she will look really really cute. :D

well i hope it goes well....again haha

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

Get her a donut...you know one of those things they put on dogs after surgery...if nothing else she will look really really cute. :D

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I don't know if they make Elizabethan collars that small, but I guess I could fashion one like it. Only problem is the incision is pretty much where the collar would sit.

Shoot Robin I was hoping she wouldn't pick at them. I think that's why Becky was suggesting a certain suturing technique so as to avoid this. Hope the next set stays in long enough for her to start to heal. Thankfully rats heal incredibly quickly so even a couple of days of stitches staying in should really do a lot for the incision.

I wonder if the top of a sock with arm holes cut in could fit over and stop her getting easy access to the wound. She probably won't like it but at least she'd be picking at it and not the incision. Haven't a clue if this would work...just a thought.

Glad to hear she's come through the surgery well.

Thanks Joanna - she's back home again. He said that he sutured inside and out and covered with glue. It certainly looks much more "locked down" than before! ;)

I'm glad to hear that Mrs. Snuggles is doing better. My her stiches stick around a bit longer this time! :hug:

Glad she is home (again ;) and seems to be doing well. She is one lucky rattie to have a "mom" like you. The collar idea would be great for icanhascheeseburger :D

She's napping now, so all seems to be good. I chuckled when I saw the re-stitch - can we say overkill? I can almost hear my vet muttering under his breath "let's see you remove THESE stitches!"

Told ya so... ;)

They will try to remove anything within reach, and even if it's NOT in reach. And believe me, you can't make an e-collar too small. I have one from when my dwarf girl was spayed(twice because the vet forgot an ovary in the mayhem) and it's about the size of a half dollar. We made it out of x-ray film and some medical cloth tape. She ABHORED it, haha. *evil rat glare*

I'm glad she made it through surgery. Those mammary tumors are always very well connected. I've taken some off that were bigger than golf balls, and the rats have done fine(I hate waiting that long).

Does he have her on antibiotics? It's really important since they can have very bad reactions to the suture, especially if it's too big of suture, and they can react to the glue too.

If she rips if open again, make her an e-collar. I can always take pictures and PM them or email them to you so you can see how they work. Also, make sure to have some regular, unopened super glue around just in case. The medical glue will fall off within 7-10 days depending on how much he used. It stays pretty stiff and can annoy them a bit(ITCHY!). The Children's advil works great too(as does children's benadryl if you want them to GO TO SLEEP! little stinkers). :)

Yay Miss Rat!

please dont take this the wrong way, but are these regular rats that your getting surgery for?

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Originally Posted by patthesnakeman

please dont take this the wrong way, but are these regular rats that your getting surgery for?

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Why would I take it the wrong way? Yes, she's my first breeder rat. All my breeders are beloved pets as well. Her surgery cost me a grand total of $25.

Becky, no he didn't put her on antibiotics, so I probably need to take you up on your offer of the Baytril. She's in her own enclosure and is remaining pretty quiet for the most part. She's being a very good patient.

Just another update on Mrs. Snuggles' recovery. She had a quiet evening and day today - she's in a smaller Sterilite tub so that she's not moving around excessively. She's eating regularly, and when I pop open the lid, she's ready for some scritches. Her demeanor hasn't changed a bit.

The incision site is clean and intact! So happy that this girl could be saved, and I'm going to be watching her like a hawk for any future growths that might pop up.

Oh wonderful to read Robin! Glad the old sweet rattie girl is doing well. :)

I am glad to hear that she is on the road to recovery.

p.s. If you give her the "hawk eye", it might make her a little nervous. She might think she is about to get eaten.

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Originally Posted by muddoc

I am glad to hear that she is on the road to recovery.

p.s. If you give her the "hawk eye", it might make her a little nervous. She might think she is about to get eaten.

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Haha! This girl isn't afraid of much - she's easily my most social rat, and my little squishy!