Large swelling on upper arm/chest

    Diese Seite verwendet Cookies. Durch die Nutzung unserer Seite erklärst du dich damit einverstanden, dass wir Cookies setzen. Weitere Informationen

    • Large swelling on upper arm/chest

      My 4 years old persian has rather suddenly developed a large growth or swelling around his upper arm/chest - looks a bit like the old fashioned arm-bands children used to use when swimming - it seems to encircle his arm (rather than a tumour hanging off the under arm flesh) but also looks attached under the skin of his chest.

      I hadn't thought this was a usual place for jirds - or normal gerbils - to have a growth? Any ideas. what it might be? My exotic vet could scan or x-ray tomorrow, but not sure what treatment options would be possible from here.

    • How would we tell if it was lymph node material - would that show on a scan or xray?

      We have had an xray as it got bigger, and seems to be a hardened mass right across the armpit/chest area and most likely encircling the humerus. It has also started to crack open (or be scratched) on the chest side.


      Vets are considering an amputation - do Persians do well with a front limb missing?

    • What else is it? Tumour cells, benign or malignant? Sebum? Proliferating mammal glands?
      So far no experiences found here on the board with amputations of front legs, only with hind legs,
      maybe @snapcracklepop or @Sif&Idun know more?
      Forelegs have different functionality, i.e. eye cleaning...

      Derzeit ohne :gerbil:gerbil:gerbil:gerbil:gerbil . Alle 49 erfolgreich totgepflegt ;(
      Meine Erfahrungen müssen nicht mit jenen anderer Poster*innen oder gängigen Forenmythen im Einklang stehen.

      Dieser Beitrag wurde bereits 1 mal editiert, zuletzt von Gerbilus ()

    • Yes - I know the front hand has many functions in jirds, which is why I am not sure about amputation vs euthanasia.

      The vet said they saw 'active' tumour cells - but they were not malignant. No infection. It wasn't a full lab analysis, just inhouse - but I will certainly ask more about it when I next speak to them.

      The growth has developed with a forearm shaped dent in it so we know it is reasonably solid itself or the skin on its outside edge has thickened somehow. It is also starting to break on the surface (not sure if splitting itself, or if he is catching it while eating, or because it is irritating). We have started on some anti-inflammatories in the interim.

      Are persian tumours more likely to be benign overall - or is malignancy common do you know?


      Thanks again by the way everyone.

    • Jaffar&Friends schrieb:

      Are persian tumours more likely to be benign overall - or is malignancy common do you know?
      Can't say, persians are only kept sporadically. Most of the gerbils tumours are benign, but after a while when they are grown the size is obstructive, they are bitten or scratched open or they squeeze other organs with fatal results.
      Derzeit ohne :gerbil:gerbil:gerbil:gerbil:gerbil . Alle 49 erfolgreich totgepflegt ;(
      Meine Erfahrungen müssen nicht mit jenen anderer Poster*innen oder gängigen Forenmythen im Einklang stehen.

    • Can you post pictures (also of the xray if possible)?
      I mean you could try amputing it. If your gerbil has problems with daily tasks like eating or cleaning you can still euthanize him. You could help him with eating by giving him porridge and his partner could take over the cleaning part for him.

      Maybe consult another vet? One that would try to cut off the mass itself instead of taking off the whole leg.

    • Yes, I will get the images attached shortly - but it was agreed that the mass was around the arm, not sitting to one side of it. I am sure when they go in for the op they will see a better picture with the skin out the way. If it is encapsulated in of itself, then they will of course not take such drastic action as to remove the arm unecessesarily.

      Vets willing to operate on rodents are few and far between in the UK sadly - let alone those who genuinely care about rodents too. I have always been happy to travel for vets - so having found a pro-active rodent vet so close to home is a real bonus for me.

      And we fully agree on the aftercare - if it isn't working for him, the same options are open to us again.

    • I can't seem to get the images attached - but to report: the operation went extremely well.

      The growth (unidentified as yet) was a hardish gelatinous pale pink blob in two parts - both of which came away almost whole away from the bone itself, so the arm was (at least temporarily) saved. It was VERY vascular and there was constant cauterizing required - this also left a huge amount of spare skin (the ulcerated part was removed).

      He seems alert, and is using the leg for movement currently and he is in a soft one-level hospital enclosure for today. The wound is quite large but sofar it isn't bleeding and he isn't chewing at it.

      Fingers crossed overnight.

    • Hello Jaffar, sorry to hear the reason of your post here. Don't have time to read in depth right now, but I have lost 3 persians to fast-growing tumors now.
      2 on back by shoulders, one at neck.

      The neck one I had operated (I didn't react quickly enough by the other two and they were dead within about 6 weeks) and removed, but it grew back in double time - I guess they didn't catch all tumor cells.

      Oh, and I lost a 4 year old male to a testicle tumor about half a year ago.

      Looking back, I think that the tumors are tricky but removable with success (a son of my Pilsener got a back tumor at age 3 mos. which was removed when marble sized and is still alive).

      Have pictures somewhere, but have to look

      At any rate, good that it was removed and fingers crossed, pls, keep us updated

      "It's a strange and beautiful world" :rolleyes:

    • Back shoulder tumor female about 4,5 yrs old. mouse died


      neck tumor female about 4,5 yrs old. 2 weeks later split and was open, tho one couldn't see it. mouse euthanized.

      Testicle tumor male persian about 4,5 yrs old - dissected him myself. mouse was euthanized because he could hardly move anymore
      "It's a strange and beautiful world" :rolleyes:

      Dieser Beitrag wurde bereits 2 mal editiert, zuletzt von snapcracklepop ()

    • These persians were all of the same line from the Zoo Pilsen. I don't know the fate of all 29, but 4 of the 29 died of tumors.

      And no, the tumors are not likely to be benign. Unfortunately. Will grow quickly and split if mouse lives long enough.

      My experience would be to remove as soon as noticed, weeks later when too big mouse died or had to be euthanized.

      "It's a strange and beautiful world" :rolleyes:

    • I don't want to frighten you, just confirm you did the absolute right thing in having your persian operated. I feel bad about having not interfered in time...tho I guess this teaches us something too.

      How is the Persian supply in UK?

      In Germany almost impossible to find, have been looking for six months

      "It's a strange and beautiful world" :rolleyes:

    • I am now very worried as we have removed the tumour - but worry that some was left.

      He is up and about just over 24 hours later, eating, pooping and using that arm. I am now just going to be keeping a much closer eye on him - although we always knew that if it returned or he didn't cope the PTS was the first option. I am always looking to improve knowledge - but not at the expense of the individual animal.

      I wonder, have you ever sent your tumours to a lab for cytology? My guys tumor was very jelly like, a bit like the back of uncooked pork crackling. I have the chance to send it off, but not sure if the results will be useful to the jird community?

      And there is now a few pockets of Persians, but they only come up sporadically. I waited nearly 2 years before my first purchase, but think I could get Persians easily again if required.

      This guy was with his brother and a friend - but I haven't wanted to put the injured guy back in yet as he appeared very weak yesterday, and I was worried they might over groom him in that state. I am also now thinking I might not have been able to properly medicate him (antibiotics and antiinflamatories). So there is that...

      Can Persians use 1.5mg/ml meloxidyl/loxicom (dog version) - or do they always use the cat version (0.5mg/ml)?

    • Jaffar, try not to worry...and a big big hug to you.

      You are doing your best, and so is your Persian. I think that a professional can well exhume the tumor in one piece. Esp. if you said it seemed to be in a sack/one piece

      Don't forget that four is pretty good already, I would equate it with...65 human years?
      The 6-8 yrs old is a bit of a fallacy in my opinion. At least nowadays, they might have been longer lived years ago. Most of my persians who didnt die young lived to about 5.

      4 is OK
      4,5 is good
      5 is great
      everything more methusalem

      "It's a strange and beautiful world" :rolleyes:

    • Jaffar&Friends schrieb:

      I wonder, have you ever sent your tumours to a lab for cytology? My guys tumor was very jelly like, a bit like the back of uncooked pork crackling. I have the chance to send it off, but not sure if the results will be useful to the jird community?
      So completely different from the "meaty" tumor of my persian male's testicle tumor? Whitish-pinkish, no fleshy firm reddish?

      I guess sending it off to be examined would help us, but if its a tumor its a tumor. Or do you think it might be something else? Never heard of a lymph node or whatever in that size. Many of the Pilsener had swollen ankles...a kind of gout...most pulled thru and it didn't come back. We think it was some kind of auto-immune thing, but it was "just" swollen, not huge. Fur was a bit motheaten too.

      Try to upload pictures please...just downsize them to about 500k or so and they should be fine.
      "It's a strange and beautiful world" :rolleyes:

    • Jaffar&Friends schrieb:

      This guy was with his brother and a friend - but I haven't wanted to put the injured guy back in yet as he appeared very weak yesterday, and I was worried they might over groom him in that state. I am also now thinking I might not have been able to properly medicate him (antibiotics and antiinflamatories). So there is that...
      It's a group of three? I don't find that Persians overgroom and pick at a fellow jirds wounds...they sort of more avoid him...
      Did you ask the vet how the post op medication is? Our vets give us an syringe with antibiotics for like 1 or 2 weeks, premeasured. That is their job to figure out the downsized proportions. Then its like give mouse "1 ml twice a day" or something like that.

      Healthy jirds usually heal well and quickly. I personally did not find that AB, antiinflammatory, pain medication made much of a difference. The thing took its course and was not THAT influenced by medication. Which doesnt mean you shouldnt do what the vet says, but don't overdo it. We always inject the medication into a waxworm, which they love and will always eat.
      "It's a strange and beautiful world" :rolleyes: