RCReptiles.com

[Herphero]

She is prego and will probably have babies in 4-6days.
She has like a knot thing on her neck that just showed up.
What could this be?

[jokerswrath]

could be cyst or a tumor

[PyMama]

I have no clue...maybe an enlarged gland of some type ...
She looks like my rat! LOL except mine is not preggo...its a male.

[deborahbroadus]

[Herphero]

Yea i just have 2 snakes that only feed on weaned.

Separate question. If a rat has a disease and the snake eats it, can the snake become infected with anything?

[deborahbroadus]

[NickMyers03]

look like a tumor

[markstockham]

A rat can get mastitis just like a dairy cow, or even a human. Just throwing it out there because of the fact that the lump is located above one of the teats.

[deborahbroadus]

[Herphero]

I found this too:
Mammary Tumors

The most common tumor in rats is the benign mammary tumor, most being a fibroadenoma (fibro--from connective tissue, aden--from a gland, oma--a benign tumor). These tumors are often stimulated by estrogen and usually occur after a rat stops ovulating at around 18 months of age. About half of all female rats will get a mammary tumor, and it's common for them to get several during their life. The most common locations for mammary tumors are in the armpits and in the belly or groin area, although because female rats have widespread mammary tissue, they can occur anywhere on the body. It's a good idea to feel your rat all over frequently so you can identify tumors early.

Mammary tumors often start out squishy and flat, and then become more firm, but they can also be quite hard from the start. Because the tumors grow so quickly, a portion will sometimes outgrow its blood supply, die and become necrotic and filled with pus. It is also common for mammary tumors to contain milk. Benign mammary tumors are usually distinct lumps just under the skin that are only loosely attached. When you feel the lump, you can usually move it separately from the skin and underlying muscle. If your rat gets one of these tumors, you can be 99.9% sure it's benign. If a tumor feels tightly attached to the underlying tissue, this can be a sign that it is malignant, but some benign tumors also feel attached.

A much less common cause of a lump in the breast area is a blocked milk duct. I know of one case. The firm 1/2" X 1/4" lump was attached to the nipple but not anywhere else. This rat had weaned her babies only a week or two before the occurrance, but blocked milk ducts can also occur in non-nursing females. The treatment of warm compresses every 4 hours cleared it up in a week. from "Pet Rat Care Information"

Is mastitis the same thing? And, should I be expecting death soon? Or should I put her down after the pups are weaned?

[Herphero]

Referring to the last paragraph from that post, This lil tumor thingy popped up just 6days after all the rats were weaned.

[markstockham]

[deborahbroadus]

[markstockham]

off another dam or another teat. But chances are it was a tumor, in either case I wouldn't keep her around long enough to see if my other rats could get it.

[Herphero]

She was feeding some pups from the last litter, along with the other female in the colony. About 5 days after no more pups (weaned) the tumor thing shows up. She is prego and expecting soon, along with the other female (who looks much bigger). I cant feed her off as I dont have a snake big enough, I cant kill her cuz she is pregnant. Reading those articles, it seems female rats that have pups get tumors.

I think ill just have to wait it out on this one.