Cancer Tumor

[cinnycinnamon]

For about the past week, I've noticed a lump on Billy's cheek. And yes, the lump is getting bigger. It saddens me to see this happen to my beloved Billy. But despite the lump, Billy is still being himself-eating, chewing on his boxes and wood toys and fixing up his house. I'm afraid that if I bring him to the vet, they will tell me the best thing to do for Billy would be to have him PTS. That's what they told me to do for Peaches when she has a tumor growing in her belly. But I know he's not ready to go to the Rainbow Bridge. At least not yet. Billy will be four years old in March.

My question is this:

Should I take Billy to the vet and see if the growth is removable? Or would it be too risky because of his age?

I've since moved Billy outta his "condo" and into an "apartment" (meaning a 20 gallon long to a 10 gallon).

Here he is right now busy working in his house-

[RitzieAnn]

I'd say let him be. As long as he's active. Neela had a cheek thing... She was good until all of a sudden.

gerbilforum.proboards21.com/index.cgi?board=health&action=display&thread=1168454293&page=1

[sien]

Why let him be? He has a lump on his cheek, which is not exactly comparable to a tumor in the belly.

A lump in the cheek area could also indicate an abscess. Although he's quite old already, go to the vet and let them see if this really is a tumor. If it isn't, and its an abscess, it's perfectly removable, also with medication and not necessarily an operation. As long as Billy is active, the higher the chance he survives the stress of it all.

Gerbils become 3-5 yrs, but I know gerbils that became 7!

Theres no harm in checking, and it might turn out just fine. Give him the chance, you can't be sure its cancer. Abscesses grow too (obviously).

Oh and, even if its a tumor, its probably not as severe as a tumor in the belly (which is more likely to be attached to several organs). If you let it be removed and he survives, that would be wonderful! If it is a tumor and you let it be, high chance that he'll develop tumors elsewhere, which can lead to severe pains.

If your vet decides its better to let him put to sleep all too easily, maybe you need a vet that is more specialized in rodents. I think billy deserves a chance

[cinnycinnamon]

Hi Kristi and Sien,

Thank you both for your answers. And thanks for the link, Kristi about your Neela.

I will hafta see how much money I have left in my checking account if I plan on taking Billy to the vet. I have Wednesday off so if I have enough money left over, then that's what I'll do. I'd gladly charge the vet visit, but since my minimum payment is already at $400.00 dollars, I best better not use my card anymore. I'm struggling already just trying to make the minimum payment. Most of the charges are from bringing Bubby (my diabetic cat) to the vet.

I don't Billy to feel any pain. So I will see what I can do for him.

Thank you again for your advice you guys.

[SilverGerbil]

Hey Cinnycinnamon!

Wow he is quite old isnt he! He's doing well your a lovely gerbil mummy! If it doesn't seem to bother him i wouldn't want to put him at stress with a vet trip...though you may want to get it checked out just incase it may be a tumor or something.

Im hoping it may just be built up fluid in his cheek and nothing majour!!

Good luck at the vets, can't wait for any news on the little guy!!

Good luck billy!!!

xoxox

[cinnycinnamon]

Thank you Silvergerbil. *waves hi to you*

I wish I had some extra money stashed away just for times like this.

It makes me feel like a bad mommy cuz I can't afford to take Billy to the vet like I wanted to. When I took Teddy in for his exam, it costed me $80 something dollars. I had to bring Teddy back to have his scent gland removed, it costed me $140.00 which was fine at the time cuz I had the money. This time, I just don't have it.

Sein, the vet I take my four legged children to (including the cats) specialize in rodents. It's an animal hospital. They do a wonderful job, but they are a bit more expensive. Peaches' tumor was huge and she said it would continue to grow and that's why the vet suggested I have her put to sleep. For me, it's more difficult to hafta say goodbye to one of my gerbies at the vet rather than finding them in their tank already expired. I cry the entire way to the vet while driving and cry even more driving home with my gerbil in a box ready for Lee to bury. I hope that doesn't make me sound mean and I hope it made some sense. I just can't handle it the other way-it hurts waay too much.

Billy is still active as of tonight and eating. I appreciate everybody's thoughts and advice. It really means *alot* to me. (((HUGS)))

[RitzieAnn]

Yeah, I know the feeling. I didn't have the money for Neela either, but she was active up until the end, and hopefully his will be the same.

[angielouise]

Oh I'm so sorry to hear about poor Billy . I think it would be worthwhile getting it checked - it may just be something simple and affordable. But it is a concern with his age, obviously. I did see on another gerbil site when I was searching for info on Rocky's ear tumour that there was a gerbie that had a HUGE lump in his cheek which they removed successfully - I'll see if I can hunt it down.

[cinnycinnamon]

Thank you RitzieAnn for understanding.

Angielouise, as much as I'd like to take Billy to the vet to get his "lump" checked out, I just can't at the moment. *shakes head no* Money is tight for us right now. Bubby my cat also needs to go to the vet as well. But I can't take him, either. He needs to have a blood test run on him and some other tests. But that's another topic for another thread.

I'd love to read about that gerbie who had a HUGE lump on his cheek removed, though if you can find it.

[sien]

I cry the entire way to the vet while driving and cry even more driving home with my gerbil in a box ready for Lee to bury. I hope that doesn't make me sound mean and I hope it made some sense. I just can't handle it the other way-it hurts waay too much.

No ofcourse that doesn't make you sound mean! It just shows that you care for your animals very much.

But, for me personally the what-if-it's-just-fixable-and-he'll-live-another-long-time-after is such a big reason to go to the vet. I understand about the money, but quite some vets (my dad does too) let you pay the bill afterwards, when you have some more money. It's worth asking?

Oh and, even if the vet says its better to put him to sleep: it's still your gerbil. If you think he'll be fine for a couple of more weeks/months/whatever, thats your choice.

[SilverGerbil]

My vets when we had to take darcy to the vets (his story is on the other pets page) the emergency vets cost £450 ($930) and the actuial surgery cost £1420 ($2937) Which was a great deal of money. But the vet surgery let us pay it off in parts. My mum decided to pay £700 ($1448) one time and the rest the other. But we could have payed in installments.

Im sure your vets would let you?

I know its heartbreaking to have an animal unwell, i cried until Darcy came back from the vets as i was so terrorfieghed of loosing him. ((hugs)) Let us know what happens yeah?

xoxox

[RitzieAnn]

I've spoken with LOTS of vets in my area back home... actually, almost every single one in the county, and only ONE would allow me to make payments, and that's because I've had an account with them since I was 18 (so about 4 years) and my mom has been going there for as long as I remember.

The only exception was one vet saying if it was emerancy care totaling more than $2,000, then they'll accept payments, otherwise it's due at the time of service. And pocket pet care in the US is OUTRAGIOUS. It's cheaper to vet a rabbit than a gerbil/rat/hamster

[SilverGerbil]

That's just ridiculous! That really is. Vet's really play on the heartstrings of the owners. Their pet is unhealthy and needs treatment yet the costs are through the roof which means either htey have to let their belovid pet go without treatment or get in debt with the payments!!!

In the US dont you have an organisation that will give you cheap or free vet care? We have one over here in the UK my friend Kassy gets it and its brilliant when her animals need vet care.

xoxox

[RitzieAnn]

Silvergerbil- I've sent a PM, so we don't take over Cinny's thread.

[SilverGerbil]

Ah ok ritzie sorry Cinny!!

xoxox