bad news

It turns out that the problem with Kieran's left ear is actually a tumor growing there. There is also an infection that produces the gunk I've seen, but it's a secondary problem to the tumor growing in his head in the ear canal. :(

The vet gave me an antibiotic and eardrops to hopefully help with the infection part and improve his symptoms, but of course that won't help with the tumor. I've also been given medication to counteract the digestive problems with antibiotics, because last time when he got some for his bumblefoot sores he got bad diarrhea fairly quickly. And of course for these sores I still wash his feet twice a day and apply two different salves. So five meds in all to apply and give him every day. Elderly rats have health like elderly people with almost as many meds. And none of this will even get to his worst problem.

I guess there is only hoping that it will be a slow growing tumor, and he'll still have some time feeling okay. Not the news I wanted to get after yesterday. :(