Huge hole on hamsters belly.

[littlemisseslee]

Hi everyone.
I have a russian dwarf hamster called bongo, hes roughly 18 months ( got him from the adoption centre at petsathome).

A long time ago (over 6 months) i noticed a small red lump on his stomach, took to a vets and was given oral antibiotics for it. it shrunk slightly and the vet said it was ok as bongo had kept eating throughout and drinking, running around etc. Size of lump stayed the same. Hes not the friendliest hamster in the world so I dont handle him but try and peek at his belly to check. Last night I saw his belly and this lump is now huge but has a huge deep raw looking hole in the middle. Really is huge!!! Takes up most of the back part of his belly.
Hes still eating, drinking and running around. No squeeling etc but it must be painful even though hes acting completely normal.
He has a really lovely large home.
I dont know whether to get him put down when he seems to still be happy? I want a vet to have a look and not just blindly agree to put him down as if there is another option il take it! Vets round here are for some reason charging loads or dont have an apppointment.


Help?! What would you do.

[souffle]

I'd have him seen. It could be that the scent gland has become infected and has developed an abscess which has now burst and left the draining hole. These usually smell pretty horrid. This may be healable with bathing to drain it and antibiotics to treat the infection.
If it is a tumour lump that has broken open and is now raw it is likely that he may have internal damage too so I really would see a vet and find out exactly what is going on before making any decisions.
I hope the vet can help you make a decision about the way forward.

[littlemisseslee]

Will definately get him seen. But torn about getting him put down due to the fact that hes running around, eating, drinking and still being his usual self.

[racinghamster]

So sorry to hear your little man is having to deal with this littlemisseslee, but soufflé is right. Only a vet could say what the best way forward would be and what the likely cause is. It`s either a burst abscess or a tumour that has mastasized. Depending on Bongo`s quality of life, the decision to carry on will depend on to his well being and whether the vet you see suggests put to sleep. A small red lump near or on the scent gland is usually a scent gland tumour and I`ve dealt with these on two gerbils I had. Both were removed surgically. One at a late stage and one at an early stage. But once they grow and become infected and burst or mastasize (spread internally to other organs/tissue) it can be too late to operate.

Best wishes to you and little Bongo. Just a reminder though that these lumps and bumps can be a common thing in dwarf hamsters and gerbils who have scent glands on their underbellies. x

Edited to add: See if your Pets At Home has a veterinary service? Some stores do, some don`t. I think they are called Companion Care? They are supposed to be good. x

[Thin Lizzy]

See what the vet says, you're rushing ahead of yourself thinking the worst. He's running about, eating and drinking fine.