Please! Your thoughts: Sandy's health

[vanilla-yazoo]

I'm so sorry to hear how poorly she has been. Is her tummy firm to the touch? I am experiencing pyo, so I can say what nemmy is like with closed pyo. I really hope it's a tummy bug she sounds well other then the hiding in her nest, nem is out chewing on things, poos an aweful amount when handled.
My definate diagnosis from the vet was when she squeezed her, (I dont blame her, nemmy isn't a friendly girl, and bit her) some puss came out, and it stunk like mad, has there been any thick yellowy cream liquid in the cage? It will smell verry off, acidic, you can tell it's bad by the smell.
I really hope it isn't this.
Fingers crosses for you and your girly.

[Demecat]

I'm starting to think it could be a tumour.... especially since she's sleeping a lot.

[MzWiz0915]

Vanilla-yazoo: I have not found any pus/discharge in the cage, and I haven't squeezed her. Her belly is part firm and part normal feeling. More towards her right side she has a firm mass that I can feel when I gently prod her belly. The left side doesn't have this mass. The mass is irregular shaped. She has been "growing" more round at an alarming rate the past couple of days. Last weekend she looked normal, she was just started to act off.

Firedrake: thanks for the idea though, they may be worth calling. I really appreciate you taking the time to think about this.

Demecat: I think it's more likely a tumor or bowel obstruction...or maybe bladder....ugh, I just don't know enough about all of these things. Luckily I don't have much experience with seriously sick hamsters thus far.

[vanilla-yazoo]

I dont think its pyo then by that discription, just thought ild add what to look out for.
if there is any vet you can take her to it would be best. i hope its something she will get better from and be running around soon!

[MzWiz0915]

I've been up all night, alternating between school work and hamster research. Based on how rapidly the "mass" is increasing in size I think it's likely an obstruction in her bowel. She's had quite an appetite the past few days. Last week we had a scare with loose poos and I decided to hold off on the fresh fruits and veggies until she was back to normal. Now I think she's gone the other way. The mass even feels like a bunch of hamster pellet shaped poos all stuck together. I think that the obstruction is interferring with her ability to pass urine now as well, perhaps compressing the urethra, because when she curled up in my lap to pee on me she only got two or three drops out.

So, based on my readings I have found some home remedies that are safe to try for 1-2 days before the vet visit in this situation.
-A few drops of vegetable oil or olive oil (as a natural lubricant) and small portions of dandilion leaves or lettuce (which are natural laxatives)

This is the least intense treatment so this is where I have started. I got her out of her nest and she had a couple rock hard dry poos in her fluff and her bum looked sore. I gave her the lettuce peices with veg oil on them. She devoured it and washed them down with plenty of water.

Then about 15 mins later, seven slippery poos arrived and she started to scurry about like her old self!!! I know it was momentary relief, and she has a long way to recovery, but this gives me hope!!! She even spent time grooming herself, since she got the oil all over her face and arms

I put her in her cage to rest after a few minutes of running about. Afraid she'll over exert herself. The information I read says to give her a few drops of oil and a small portion of fresh greens three times per day along with her dry food.

Today is a crazy busy schedule for me, but I'm going to do my best to get here around midday to try again I've missed my spunky little trouble maker so much since she's been sick!

[MzWiz0915]

Here's some pics of my poor little girl trying to get the oil out of her fur!

[souffle]

I think the most likely cause is an abdominal tumour. These are not uncommon and they can be from the reproductive tract or arising in another organ. Sometimes they can be quite discrete and are actually easy to remove but only from the womb or ovaries. If they are in the bowel it is impossible to remove then reattach the bowel walls as they are too tiny unfortunately. If it was a Pyo a spay would remove the whole womb and she could well make a good recovery.
This could be easily diagnosed by a scan of the abdomen. Any tumour compresses the bowel by pushing against it and it can cause the bowel to not move properly or to block up. We did have a hamster with such a tumour and he lived and coped with it for a long time but we had to do what we called 'pooping runty' This involved, several times a day, massaging his tummy and working the poops towards the anus. You can do this as the hamster runs through the hands. He would pass upwards of 20 poos and then settle.
I would not give a lot of oils and things as you may end up with a very upset tummy with inflammation. I think she had the diarrhoea because there is a partial blockage and liquid is seeping past the stools that are backing up there.
Fluid from kidney failure or heart failure can build up in the abdomen. This affects the balance and fluid can move out the bowel and make them really constipated. There is no cure for these heart or kidney problems.
I'm afraid she does not sound well with the sleeping. The way forward for me would be to have the scan and take it from there.
Depending on where the blockage or tumour is would determine what I did. I might go for an op if there was one tumour in the reproductive tract bearing in mind it is risky and she will take time to recover. If it had spead with multiple nodules and was in the bowel my choice would be to let her fly there and then to the bridge because I would know this could not be fixed and she would become uncomfortable very soon. Depending on her state of health a spay would be an option with a pyo but would need done soon before she gets the toxins in her system.
Only you can decide and it is a very hard task but you have to out of love. I hope your heart will tell you the way forward.

[Hamtastic]

I hope for some sort of relief for your Sandy and you. It's so stressful to watch our loved ones become ill and be uncertain about causes or treatments and watch them get worse. Big hugs for you both <3

[firedrake13]

Sounds like you atleast found a way to give her a bit of relief right now, and I'm glad for that. Keeping everything crossed for you and Sandy that it's nothing serious.

[MzWiz0915]

She's actually doing a lot better tonight! I haven't given her another piece of greens with oil on it because she's passing formed, soft stools (sorry if my description bothers some, I work in healthcare, not much grosses me out).

Her bum was a bit dirty today so I warmed a baby wipe up to my body temp and cleaned her. She only seems to pass stools with my help right now though. She doesn't like it, but I think she kind of appreciates the help because she doesn't nip me, just clicks away angrily and then when I put her down to rest she takes her frustrations out on the towel.

Sandy is much less bloated today!!! She's about half as round as she was last night. Later when she wakes up I'm going to try to get a urine sample to test with the diagnostic dip sticks I took from the nursing lab.

I'm also going to try her with electrolyte-infused water tonight when I change her water. Since she's going through a lot right now, better safe than sorry. I'm really glad I picked up the mix at the store when it was in stock, I thought it'd be good to keep in the hammy healthcare supply kit.

Still planning to keep her appointment with the vet this weeked, but I'm very hopeful it's just a bowel obstruction! Keeping my fingers crossed

Thank you all so much for your advice and support!

Souffle- thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, I have reread your post several times and I am going to hold off on giving her another bit of greens with a few drops of oil, and only give it again if her stools become too hard or stop comming.