I think Smokey has a tumour :( - Page 2

cypher · 05-19-2016, 11:01 PM

Good luck at the vets, be thinking of you both.

flowerfairy · 05-20-2016, 02:40 AM

Best of luck at the vet's.

Scarlett Empress · 05-20-2016, 10:46 AM

Thank you cypher and flowerfairy I really appreciate your good wishes.

Oh dear I have been crying about this at work today! I feel a bit bad really - one of my colleagues has a husband with terminal cancer, another's husband is having major heart surgery next week, and there's me bawling my eyes out about my hammy! But I do love her so much.

I let her play in her carrier last night so it's a bit familiar to her and has some of her scent on, I have filled it with ripped up loo roll but I'll put some loo roll out of her nest in there too. She was very perky last night and still acting like her usual self.

Pebbles82 · 05-20-2016, 11:08 AM

We all cry about things we care about - a pet or a human x Is it tomorrow you are taking her to the vet?

Scarlett Empress · 05-20-2016, 11:15 AM

Yes it's tomorrow Serendipity - 12 noon - wish it was earlier in the morning so I could get it over with! We have to go to the branch in the next town to see this particular vet, as that's the first appointment we could get with her - it's a shame we couldn't see her at our local branch so Smokey didn't have the journey, it's about 20 minutes.

Pebbles82 · 05-20-2016, 12:47 PM

I'm sure she will be fine - she'll have you with her, and will soon settle again when you get back. Good luck x

cypher · 05-20-2016, 10:58 PM

I totally agree we cry about the things that matter to us & so we should! You can't compare a ham to a human, love is love & it hurts when we're concerned about someone we love, including our fur balls.
The journey doesn't sound too bad at all for her, I'm sure the morning will drag but it will soon be over, be thinking of you both.

Scarlett Empress · 05-21-2016, 06:49 AM

Thanks again Serendipity and cypher - well, Smokey was not too impressed by her travel arrangements! To start with, she was quite excited that I had attached a big chunk of cucumber to the side of her carrier - once she'd eaten some, and realised she couldn't pull the rest off and pouch it, she spent the journey trying to figure out how to get out of her carrier...

The vet was lovely - she was Australian, and quite straight speaking which I prefer - she gave Smokey a VERY thorough exam and Smokey only nipped her once, so I was quite proud of her.

Not good news though. The vet said it was likely either a thyroid tumour, or more likely lymphoma - she said it didn't feel like an abscess or cyst. She went through all the options - she could have taken some samples to find out exactly what the mass was, but she said that given Smokey's age, she would be cautious about operating on her. If she'd been a lot younger, the vet said she wouldn't hesitate, but she felt I needed to weigh up the possible recovery time from an op, against how much longer she had left of her life anyway. And there was the possibility that it could be something that they would remove and then could grow again, or it might have spread to elsewhere in her body - she did give her a good feel all over and couldn't find anything else, but there were actually two masses where I had felt the lump, one much smaller. She weighed Smokey too, and she has lost weight since I last weighed her, which I thought she had (haven't managed to get her to sit still and be weighed the last couple of weeks) but she said her lungs were nice and clear, no sign of dental disease or uterine problems (first time anyone has sniffed Smokey's back end that closely!) but she couldn't get her to sit still long enough to check her heartbeat properly. The vet said she was a lovely big girl and very cute, and gave her lots of nice cuddles after she had finished examining her.

So with weighing things up, there didn't seem any point putting her through tests to find out what it was, if an op didn't seem like a good idea.

I have brought her home to carry on enjoying her life as long as she can - she has slowed down a little over the last couple of months, which I had put down to age, but she still runs around and climbs and investigates new things, she had a lovely playtime last night and I let her sit in the box of Harry Hamster.

The vet put some Metacam in two little vials so that if it looks like she needs it, I can give her some, but if I think she is starting to struggle and not enjoy her life so much, then I will have to make the call and have her PTS as I don't want her to struggle on, she has always been so energetic and full of life.

I am really sad about this but it's what I expected really. I like to think she's had a good life since I adopted her, and I have been so lucky to own such a lovely hamster.

cypher · 05-21-2016, 06:58 AM

I'm sorry it wasn't more positive news, it is hard but if it were me I would be thinking exactly the way you are, the vet does sound lovely & very thorough which is always reassuring, at least you know you're getting good advice & the support you need if or when you need it.

She's such a lovely girl (always been a favourite of mine!) & I have no doubt her life with you has been the best a ham could wish for & I hope it will continue to be for some time yet, spoil her & cherish her & try not to think to far ahead just now.
Hugs to you both.

Pebbles82 · 05-21-2016, 07:01 AM

Nice you had a great vet

And good she gave you some metacalm just in case. I hope Smokey continues to enjoy life for a good time yet.