Help! Hamster Hematoma

TheHamsterHamster · 02-18-2018, 08:24 PM

Our hamster Luna is around 1.5 years old was injured two weeks ago last Thursday night. It appeared at the time her left front leg/shoulder was dislocated. We took her to the vet the next morning who did an exam and found her arm was OK, but there was a bump - she wasn't sure what it was (cyst etc) but tried to drain it with little result. She gave us antibiotics and indicated to come back in 2 weeks if not resolved. Since that visit, the bump grew to the size of a walnut. Luna has never acted like she was in pain, still running around and having fun - only having to drag this large ball around.

Doing research on the web is where I found information that suggests it was a hematoma - not a cyst/tumor. We handle her all the time and never felt any bumps until the night of the injury. The web indicated we needed to allow a couple weeks for her body to heal/absorb the clot and not have it drained so we've waited but it's getting to the point I think she is miserable so we called and scheduled an appointment with a new vet. Unfortunately, the appointment is several days away so I wanted to post something on this site to see if anyone ever had the same situation.

CMB · 02-19-2018, 12:55 PM

One of my dwarf hamsters has a lump at the moment. It seemed to come up really quickly. She had some fluid taken from it and it has been analysised. The vets aren’t sure what the problem is.

I’m checking it to see if it is getting bigger/smaller and will be taking her back to the vet so they can check to.

Hope your hamster recovers soon.

cypher · 02-19-2018, 02:02 PM

I would keep an eye on it, if it gets worse then speak to your vet & see if you can get an earlier appointment, I'm not sure about treatment for haematoma, I think sometimes if they're drained they tend to fill up again but only your vet can really advise on the best treatment really. hope your ham it heals soon & your ham is ok.

SKB_Hamsters · 02-19-2018, 03:32 PM

My vet diagnosed my Pumpkin with a hematoma, after I noticed a small lump which was purple in colour. And my vet said due to the colour it was a hematoma although I was told to keep and eye on it just in case it got bigger just in case it was anything else. Pumpkin has had her hematoma a few months now although I keep noticing it almost gone and then it refills again with blood - although it doesn’t cause her with any bother. My vets said they prefer leave hematoma alone on hamsters (and other small animal) as they can’t be sure on the amount of blood which can be lost which could be a shock to their system.

Can you see Luna’s lump - if you can what colour is her lump?

I hope the lump isn’t anything to serious.