HELP scent gland tumor (?)

[Gerbilnamedcheddar]

Please help!
I am owner of a gerbil.
Cheddar and his brother, Cheese lived happily together. Sadly, cheese died suddenly earlier this year from unknown causes.
Cheddar has been healthy and happy... Until now.

Cheddar is 2 years old.
When I was holding him yesterday, I noticed that he had a pink lump on his scent gland.
I think it may be a tumor (I don't know how to upload pics, but I have them)

My questions:
What should I do?
Is it life threatening?
I understand that many undergo sergery but isn't it risky for something his size to undergo surgery?
Also does anyone know high the risks are with surgery?
And if he gets through surgery, is the shock going to make him I'll?

Thank you.

[betty]

Nearly everyone on here who has had the Scent Gland Op has been fine afterwards. My 2.5 year old gerbil has his operated on and he is now 3.5 and still going strong. I would always recommend it in a younger gerbil who is otherwise in good health. And of course the more we get operated on the more vets need to learn how to perfect the op to make it safer for the next gerbils.

I would suggest that you try to find a local vet who has had repeat experience of this type of op as it increases the expertise of the surgery and more importantly of the aftercare (to most dangerous bit). You don't want someone trying the op out for the first time on YOUR gerbil do you?

Getting the op done sooner makes no difference to the risks of the op itself, but it will a) reduce the chances of the tumour bleeding and/or getting infected, and b) if the tumour gets too big it will become inoperable anyway and the choice is taken away from you.

I am not sure of the regrowth rates as it isn't something that is discussed on here that I have seen - perhaps that would be something to start a new thread on? Has anyone had a regrowth and if so - did they operate early on or later on?

Anyway, the tumour will shorten your gerbils life in the sense that as the tumour grows and bleeds, becomes itchy and possibly becomes ulcerated/infected, your gerbils quality of life will be decreasing. This could be quick or it could take many months...

If you don't have the op though, it will depend on how long you can hold out on watching the tumour grow as to how long you leave him alive. Sounds terrible of course, but noone wants to see their gerbil in pain...

It isn't always an easy decision - and there are times when I wouldn't recommend the op - but only you can decide what you want for your gerbil as it is you who loves and cares for him.