Tumours
Tumours are fairly common in rats, the most common type of tumours are Mammary Tumours (found mostly in does) and these are mostly benign. There are however a great variety of tumours that can develop, so consult your vet if you find a suspicious bump anywhere on your rat's body.
The most effective treatment for tumours is surgery, although this is not always possible so prevention is the key. The most important factor to consider in tumour prevention is diet, this needs to be controlled from an early age. Try to feed your rat a low fat, low calorie diet which is also low in amines and nitrates. It is also important, when considering which breeder to get rats from, to choose a breeder that has been selectively eliminating tumours in their lines, although this may be a difficult way of breeding as tumours mainly occur after 1 year of age, when the rat is past breeding age.
The most effective treatment for tumours is surgery, although this is not always possible so prevention is the key. The most important factor to consider in tumour prevention is diet, this needs to be controlled from an early age. Try to feed your rat a low fat, low calorie diet which is also low in amines and nitrates. It is also important, when considering which breeder to get rats from, to choose a breeder that has been selectively eliminating tumours in their lines, although this may be a difficult way of breeding as tumours mainly occur after 1 year of age, when the rat is past breeding age.