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Old 09-04-2015, 01:54 PM   #1
rosieintherain
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Unhappy Swollen mouth, lump under chin

I think I need some reassurance really - we got home tonight to find that our Chinese hamster appears to have quite a swollen mouth - there's almost a lump under her chin, and fur seems to be missing from either side of her face. She's running around fine and eating and washing her face, so fine in herself, but she looks awful.

We phoned the emergency vet who advised us to wait until the morning as she's acting fine in herself. She's currently hurtling around in her wheel and diving into her food bowl which has made me feel somewhat better, but obviously I'm extremely worried. I would take her to the vet now, but honestly it's £150 just for a consultation, no treatment - and although we have money set aside for this, as the vet has advised that we wait I'm hoping it really is the right thing to do.

Any advice? She's about 2 years old and they said it was probably a tooth infection or something of that sort. Her face just looks so...wrong...though that it's been a bit of a shock and I'm just sitting here in tears. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing by waiting, but I'd rather have the money for treatment if needs be than taking her in and distressing her by rounding her up and popping her in her travel case if it's not necessary this evening.

Thanks in advance x
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Old 09-04-2015, 02:19 PM   #2
KMPlays
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Default Re: Swollen mouth, lump under chin

I'm far from an expert, but I'd say as long as she's eating and drinking fine she'll be okay till the morning.
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Old 09-04-2015, 03:37 PM   #3
kyrilliondaemon
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Default Re: Swollen mouth, lump under chin

I agree, if she's eating, drinking and acting normally I'm sure she'll be ok to wait until the morning. I hope the vet thinks its something easily treated when you do get her seen
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Old 09-04-2015, 08:44 PM   #4
BrainGirl
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Default Re: Swollen mouth, lump under chin

Is the fur actually missing or is it possible she's got it wet with something and the fur has parted and flattened? It doesn't sound terrible, especially as she's still eating. Hopefully it's an easy, painless fix!
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Old 09-05-2015, 01:02 AM   #5
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Default Re: Swollen mouth, lump under chin

So sorry to hear your Chinese hamster has something going on with her mouth but the vet will give you a better prognosis and outcome rosieintherain. I imagine you will be popping along with her today? Do let us know how she gets on.

She may have an abscess that can be drained, so stay positive. x
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Old 09-05-2015, 04:17 AM   #6
Thin Lizzy
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Default Re: Swollen mouth, lump under chin

£150 for a consultation?
Surely, they'd charge less for a hamster? I'm speechless!
Is there another vet you could go to? Sounds like your ham needs a course of antibiotics.
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Old 09-05-2015, 05:01 AM   #7
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Default Re: Swollen mouth, lump under chin

It does sound as though it's not too serious if she's eating & running around ok, I can imagine how worried you must be though.
Good luck at the vet, hopefully it will be something that's easily treatable.

Lizzy I'm guessing the £150 would be for an emergency out of hours consult.
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Old 09-05-2015, 08:10 AM   #8
rosieintherain
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Default Re: Swollen mouth, lump under chin

Thanks everyone; I appreciate it.

We took her along this morning and the vet had a look at her. It's not her teeth, which explains why she's fine eating and drinking. Unfortunately we don't really know what it is - she's a lively little thing and wouldn't let the vet get close enough to look inside her mouth or get a good look.

There is a lump on her face which is pushing her eye shut a little which is why she looks so awful. It could be an abcess and we're hoping that as it came up so quickly that's probably the case. However, vet said it could be a growth or tumour. We've got a week's worth of antibiotics to try, and am v much hoping she'll respond to that.

Vet did say though that at her age it may not respond even if it is an abcess, and if it's something else the chances of her pulling through an operation to remove it are very slim, so there won't be anything they can do. At that point I think it will just be a case of monitoring how she's doing. If it doesn't go away and starts to impact on her eating or comfort to the point where she starts to go downhill badly, we've been told to consider putting her down.

So, all in all not entirely helpful, but short of sedating her there and then there was nothing they could do. I don't want to put her through anything unnecessary and if they can't do anything if it's a tumour anyway then we may as well try the antibiotics and wait to see.

Keeping fingers tightly crossed as I'll be devastated to have to make a decision like that. I love her to pieces and the fact that she's poorly is horrible. Nothing to do but give her lots of love atm and hope for the best.

(And Lizzy, that was for emergency out of hours appointment. Today was about £40 including antibiotics so not a problem.)

Will let you all know how she gets on x
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Old 09-05-2015, 08:32 AM   #9
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Default Re: Swollen mouth, lump under chin

Really hoping it is an abscess & she responds well to the antibiotics, keeping my fingers crossed it's nothing more serious.
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Old 09-05-2015, 09:10 AM   #10
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Default Re: Swollen mouth, lump under chin

Sounds like a typical vet analysis for a small animal really unless they knock the animal out and do a proper assessment. Really do hope the antibiotics start to kick in if this lump is infection. Did the vet say give it 7 or 14 days and then go back?

If she`s managing in herself rosie it`s all you can do for now really and give her love. I saw an emergency vet one Sunday with my female Chinese (couldn`t urinate and was passing blood). £72 later, I came away with a small bottle of Baytril. She died during the night. Makes me wonder if these vets even do enough sometimes when it`s a small rodent. But then they are small and delicate to so the risks of surgery there. x
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