AboutSandra Conti-Todd Expertise NOTE:
I am sorry for any long delays in responses. I have been going through some personal issues with my life but things are looking up for me and I am getting my life back on track again and will promise to be here for all rat lovers to help guide you on proper care. Love to all of you!
To request a telephone consultation, please email sandyscrittercity@yahoo.com. in order to schedule a date and time that is feasible for both you and I. There is no time limit on weekends or after 99pm M-F or if your cell phone carrier is Verizon Wireless. There is no charge for a telephone consultation. I offer my advice free of charge since my goal is to simply keep your rats happy and healthy for as long as possible. My reward is knowing that people learning as much as they can on rat care in order to provide the best care possible. Thats all I need to know. You cant put a price tag on love:)
As one of the top experts here at allexperts for 2008, I am happy to be able to help advise others on the proper care of pet rats.
I am a rat care specialist/advisor for area vets and have 20 plus years experience working with rodents.
I can advise you on the most current treatments available to your rat for common and also complicated ailments that seem to affect domestic rats during their life time. I do telephone consults and have even had some wonderful Vets call me to compare notes/stories. I also have training in animal behavior with the main focus being the study of rodent behavior.
I also have experience with wild rats, raising one myself .
Experience My expertise
Includes the following:
1. Education on prevention of tumors, lung and heart disease and disease of the kidneys too.
2. Up to date treatments for tumors in rats,both benign or malignant tumors.
3. The most current treatments used successfully to treat lung and heart disease
4. Prevention and treatment of the mycoplasma organism that our rats are plagued with since the day they are born, among other common ailments that attack our rats, just to name a few.
My job as a rodent consultant is to educate the owner on proper care of the animal but in no way does my advice take the place of seeking professional treatment by a qualified Veterinarian.
However, I will contribute to this site by answering your questions about raising pet rats and any problems that may arise regarding their health, diet, husbandry and over all well being of the rat to **the best of my ability.**
Organizations I maintain my website, Critter City and update it often to keep up with current treatments concerning pet rat health care. Please click the link above to take you there!
Publications My own website of course, and also I have brochures on rat care that are found in various animal clinics in my area.
Education/Credentials
Mentored by highly noted exotic specialists in my area. I am a member of the ASPCA.
Awards and Honors Was honored by being chosen to be one of the top 50 experts of 2008
Past/Present Clients My past clients have been through various animal clinics and I also am mentor to new rat owners that reach me through here and my website too.
Question QUESTION: Hi,
My daughters rat, Lucky, has developed what I think is a cyst under her neck. I believe it's a cyst because you can move it around. She is perfectly normal otherwise. The cyst now is about the size of a radish. She will be 2 years old around September. Is there anything we can do? Should we be worried?
ANSWER: Hi Tammy
It can be one of two things: an abscess or a mammary tumor. This area is one of the areas where mammary glands are found (under her neck).
UNLESS you tell me she is spayed, that will perhaps change things a bit.
A few things...did it come out of the blue? Is there a hole or "crater" in the center? Is there a scab at all?
As far as being able to move it...both abscesses and mammary tumors can move about easily. When they are firmly attached is when the chances of it being cancerous are higher.
What you can do is hold a warm compress on it a few times a day the best you can. In another day or two, if its an abscess it will come to a head and burst OR get a scab which you can help it along by removing the scab and getting the funky gunk out for her. IF it doesnt burst after a few days it is more than likely a mammary tumor and this should be removed by the vet. They are easily removed and recovery is usually fine as long as the vet is experienced. She is NOT too old so dont let anyone tell you she is too old for surgery. A vet that says that is just scared to do it and this is their way of backing down without looking like he or she doesnt know what they are doing...they probably dont. ;)
If you want, you can read up on mammary tumors on my site (with photos of various tumors on ratties) and also if you need a vet and want to learn about how to find the right vet and WHY you need the right vet, I also have a page about that with a URL to the AEMV to help locate a vet that will take care of rats in your area, if you dont have one, that is.
If you decide to not remove it, you can find out what to expect to occur over time as the tumor grows and becomes vascular.
She is at the right age for mammary tumors unfortunately. These tumors are fueled by estrogen levels that start to rise after menopause usually after 18 months old.
Hope this helps and feel free to write if you have more questions!
Sandy
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QUESTION: This information helps a lot. She has not been spayed to our knowledge. We got her from Pet Smart, so I assume they didn't do it either. The cyst did come up suddenly and seems to be growing. How much could this surgery possibly cost? That's another issue. I would like to find out how to find a vet in our area. Thanks again.
ANSWER: Check out the vet page on my website. There is a link to the AEMV and there you will find a vet in your area that is good with rats.
The cost depends on the vet mostly. Anywhere from $80 to $300 again, the vet is the one that calls the shots. I can tell you that the gas they use that is the safest is about $50 to $60 and the rest is labor and that isnt much, esp if its an exotic vet. They fly through these things and the smaller the job the faster they are done. A general vet may charge more if it takes longer. You cant go wrong with an exotic vet. they know what they are doing and wont waste your time, money or put your rats life on the line by guessing their way through things.
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QUESTION: One last question. Lucky has always had a little bladder control problem, but today when we took her out, instead of pee, it was a dark brown liquid. She seems lethargic, but we've traveled almost 8 hours today. I'm guessing the brown whatever isn't good? What do you think is wrong?
Answer Sounds like blood in her urine which can means a urinary tract infection!
She will need oral antibiotics now to get rid of it if that is what it is. It could be other things that I wont bother going into, but the more practical diagnosis with a happier outcome would be a urinary tract infection.
