Sunshine's operation - Wednesday 3rd October 2007

Performed by Vet Jason Burgess, Wood Veterinary Group, Quedgeley, Glos and assisted by Veterinary Nurse Ruth

Templeton Sunshine - my beautiful buff dumbo doe had a large tumour under her armpit which took a long time to grow.

Over the last few months it grew more rapidly and having spoken with my vet we decided that as Sunshine had not shown any signs of illness during her life and at the age of 2 years and 2 months she was still too busy to be put to sleep - always lifting up her lump to get in and out of the tardis.

I rather cheekily asked my vet Jason if he would mind me watching the operation and taking photos - you see, many of us have had lumpy rats and many of them have had "lumpectomies" but I had never really known what went on between the time I dropped my rat off at the vet until the time I picked her back up.

What follows now is a day in the life of Sunshine - the day she had her operation - please be aware that there follows photos taken during the operation - if you feel squeamish - do what I had to do half way through the op - sit down with your face between your knees and try to stop shaking *laughs*.

8am - Sunshine gets ready to go - weighing in at 489g - her carrier is all ready for her.

You can see the size of the lump in these photos.

9am - arrive at Wood Veterinary Group, Quedgeley to have her pre-op checks and operation.

9.40 up in the hospital area for a through clean and to have the operation area shaved.  The 2nd image is the machine used to monitor the heart rate and oxygenation levels in the blood (I think that is right!) 

Click on any of the operation images to see a larger version.

9.55 - into the operating theatre - a room I was surprised to see consisted of mainly theatre equipment from a general hospital theatre used for humans.  We were all gowned up and I stood in the corner with my camera at the ready - determined not to pass out with the first sight of blood!

Jason feels right around the lump to see what is attached to the skin and to find the best place for the incision

To reduce the loss of blood he decided not to use a blade to make the incision but used the blue apparatus you can see above - it cauterised (burned) the flesh - not a pleasant smell!

Here you can see the lump.  Jason has had to separate the lump from the skin and very slowly work round the lump - watching out for any blood vessels on the way.  There was one major vessel there which was tied off.

More time spent removing the lump - it was a lot more complicated than I had ever imagined.

Almost there - the lump is almost out

Phew - well done!

You can clearly see the skin still attached to the left side of the lump - this was never going to be removed - and although Sunshine has lost a lot of skin - there was plenty left to stitch up.

The hole left in Sunshine's side after the lump had been removed

Jason starts to do the internal stitches - I had never realised there were somany stitches inside the wound - I did not count how many he put in - partly because by this time I was outside the theatre with my head between my knees feeling decidedly wobbly.  The smell in there from the burning away of the tumour was absolutely horrible beyond belief.

A photo taken through the window with me still outside the theatre! 

Jason and Ruth are working really hard on my gorgeous girl.

Jason puts in some external stitches to close the wound

His stitching is so neat - maybe I should ask if he will make some hammocks for me!

A small pipette of super-glue is used to try to help keep the skin closed. 

Next the extra small stapler is used.  I am so glad that they now use small staples that completely close and do not spin round and fall out.  The staples are not designed to do the job of the stitches, but to help hold everything together - it is a big wound and could easily re-open.

Here she is - she has made it this far - she is still anaesthetised and just stitched up.  The latex glove in the background was filled with hot water and placed either side of Sunshine to help keep her warm.  She had a heat mat underneath her too.

Finally Ruth gives Sunshine a clean-up - It amazes me how much care and kindness is shown by someone who does not even know my rat.

Meet the offending lump - the vet said it was a self-contained tumour which made removing it easier.  Even so - it was huge. 

Sunshine weighed in at 405g after her operation.  The tumour weighed in at 84g, that meant the tumour was almost 20% of Sunshines body weight.

I would like to thank Jason (the vet) and Ruth (the vet nurse) for the care and attention they gave to my special girl. 

Sunshine has come out of the anaesthetic and lifted her head but I have come home without her.  I will pick her up at 3 and update the site accordingly.

This operation has cost me £120 - that is 1 consultation which lasted almost half an hour, one operation which took almost one and a half hours with one vet and a veterinary nurse plus a follow up consultation.

Having seen exactly what goes into a operation that I shamefully thought would be half an hour comprising of cut open, cut out lump and then stictch up would be all that they did.  I will never complain about vets costs - honest.

Day 1 after the operation

Sunshine wakes up and wonders what is for breakfast!

The wound is starting to heal up nicely - she is still on metacam to help with pain relief. 

You can see she can stretch well - but I have noticed that she tends to walk to one side - I think I would too!

Day 2 after the operation - good news - sunshine weighs in at 430g - that is a whopping 25g gained in 2 days!

Sunshine tucks into her 3-times daily taste of nutrical.  SHe absolutely loves the taste - I have been giving it to her daily for over a month now but she is having more than normal at present to help her recovery.

The wound is looking so much nicer today - absolutely no signs of infection yet - no redness or heat radiating from the large area.  She is feeling much happier today too.