Another lump on Bailey - Page 4

herbi7 · 06-20-2018, 01:24 PM

Thanks everyone. Interesting what you say souffle , about the eye/brain/tooth connection. I had begun to suspect as much, a bit like the ear/nose/throat in humans. All these lumps have been around the eye either above or below it except one on his jaw but the times I have caught him in pain it's his mouth he picks at. I was all ready to have him pts last time we were at the vets but we hadn't tried painkillers at that point and the vet thought it wasn't right to call time at that point. I wish you guys could pop in on us and check him out! The vets I have seen have been kind and gentle people but all inexperienced with hamsters. I find these times with pets so hard decision-wise. I don't want him to spend the last few weeks of his life with painful toothache and goodness knows what else! And the times he's tried to run on his wheel he can't properly because his back legs don't follow him. he's hard to read because he's still got life in him and is still eating well. He's cleared up his porridge today after not wanting much first thing. I wish it was clear-cut! Just about to go and check on him again and give him his meds.... Thanks for your kind words, everyone! Xx

Coco61 · 06-20-2018, 02:00 PM

Herbi, I have been following all this about Bailey. I am so very sorry indeed. I can't really give any advice but just wanted to you to know others care too. Poor little fellow. These times are so very hard. You can only care for him, watch him carefully and then decide what is best for him. You have such a bond with him that he will be trusting you to help him however he needs it.
If you want your vet to take a second opinion over the phone, I am sure my vet would give it. They are very experienced and specialise in small furries and exotics. Have a look at the website. CJ Hall in East Sheen. You could always ask you vet to call them as I know they take referrals and give advice because they are specialists.

herbi7 · 06-21-2018, 04:59 AM

thank for the kindness and info, Coco! will check them out. My little man showed no signs of wanting to give up yet last night, he ate a full tea spoon of porridge although not all in one go and proceeded to make a huge nest and snuggle down. He lets me do his eye drops now without complaining. Hope you can see these pics ok, one is him starting to tuck into his porridge, the other shows a slightly blurry side view of his sore face without any fur! It's not as red as that this morning, i think the eye drops help it be less sore. His lump has gone down again and his eye has opened back up but until that fur grows back i wont be happy as it must still be troubling him if he's scratching at it to that extent.

cypher · 06-21-2018, 06:03 AM

Aww bless him tucking into his porridge, he's such a sweet little man & it's good to hear he still enjoys his porridge & is up to making a nest, it doesn't sound as though he's giving up in spite of it all.
I was just wondering about the eye drops though, when I had drops with steroids in I was told not to use them for more than five days, so I'm wondering if they might be having an adverse effect in some way even though they seem to make him feel better.
It might be worth checking with the vet about that. You can use human drops for dry eyes just to soothe them & help with inflammation.

herbi7 · 06-21-2018, 12:02 PM

Thanks cypher, yes he is very sweet! Thanks for the tip on the eye drops, I'll check with the vet. I'm only using them when his eye has been infected and swollen up so lately it probably hasn't been more than 5 days but it was over a week initially. Is it normal for them to scratch their fur right off? That bare skin bothers me

cypher · 06-21-2018, 10:56 PM

That might be ok with the steroids then, not sure about scratching the fur off tbh but it doesn't strike me as unexpected with all the irritation he's had, as long as the skin isn't broken & open to infection I don't think you need worry too much about that really.

Charlie Dunn · 06-22-2018, 02:39 PM

Dear herbi I gave been following this thread. I am so very sorry to hear that Bailey is still having problems. The poor wee thing. He has been through so much and is lucky to have such a kind and caring owner. I really hope he manages to fully recover from this and the signs are good with his eating and nesting. Best wishes Charlie

herbi7 · 06-23-2018, 08:58 AM

Thanks cypher and Charlie D. The skin isn't broken cypher so at least that's something. It looks less red and sore than it did. Bailey is just being Bailey today, pouching his food, burying it in his usual places and pottering around. I've given him his old wheel back (9 inch silent runner) which is a bit heavy for him but he doesn't keep falling off it like the 6 inch silent spinner! He's used it a little and I think he prefers to have it, he's built another huge nest right underneath it.

livedinhogwarts · 06-23-2018, 02:35 PM

I've recently been following your thread. I'm so sorry to hear about the health problems Bailey has been having, bless him. It's so good to hear that he's been more like his usual self today, and hopefully it's a sign he's improving!

I can't really offer much advice other than what others have already said, but I really hope he makes a full recovery. I'll be keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers x

cypher · 06-23-2018, 10:14 PM

Bailey's coping with all this remarkably well herbi, good to hear the skin doesn't so sore now & he's still doing his hamstery things!