Coconut's first vet visit

Coconut, my sole girl rat, went to the vet this morning to have a lump on her back checked out. She's done really well, as she is over 2 years and this is her first significant medical issue. She charmed the vet and nurses, climbing up into the vet's arms and smooching, which my boys are usually too suspicious and upset to do! Unfortunately this won't be her last visit, since her respiratory state is not the best for surgery. I'd tried to improve it with antibiotics but she (or whatever strain she has) proved resistant to those and we're now trying another, before the vet removes the lump.

Coconut is "holding her weight well" which is polite vet talk for, "She's a bit porky, despite the tumour." At about 380 grams, uh huh. I've got male rats who weigh less than that. A rat going to the vet is usually too nervous to eat, but Coconut polished off the Cheerios I provided as a journey snack. If we can sort out the respiratory issues, the surgery will go ahead in about two weeks and I'll be more nervous than Coconut will.